We’ve all heard the phrase “practice makes perfect.” The band, orchestra and choir lived up to the saying on Dec. 6, at the annual winter concert. With an abundance of holiday-themed pieces, the students showed off their skills and hours of practice. At 6 pm, family and friends filed into the auditorium to watch the musicians’ hard work pay off. 

The band was the first to take the stage. Senior Lamont Harvey who plays on the drumline felt as though the group was well prepared for the spotlight. 

“We practiced every class since Homecoming and mixed it with practice for basketball games,” Harvey said. “We had to go back and forth between concert and marching band.”

As the band wrapped up their finale, the orchestra was standing by, ready to perform.

“I practiced an hour and a half every day for a month, and I got private lessons to prepare for the concert,” Marley Gardner, freshman, said.

Gardner plays violin and has been in the orchestra for six years, dating back to elementary school. Folake Adewale is also a freshman, playing in her first high school winter concert. 

“The concert was really fun, and the pieces were interesting to play,” Adewale said. Her personal favorite song was “Chant, Chorale, and Dance” by Bill Calhoun. 

“It had a lot of staccato movement, which are very short, fast notes,” she said. “Although the advanced orchestra sped it up a bit, I still think we did good.” 

After the orchestra finished, it was finally time for the choir. Both Marquess Pearson and D’avion Reed, first year choir students and seniors, landed a solo at the concert. 

“It was stressful and nerve racking,” Reed said. “I don’t like singing in front of people.”

Although Pearson initially considered himself more of a dancer, he was recruited by choir teacher Caroline Ibnabdeljalil after performing in last year’s musical, “Sister Act.” 

“Mrs. I. (Ibnabdeljalil) tells me I have a lot of raw talent,” Pearson said. “Singing is something that can be learned and perfected with time.”