By: Hayley Strahs and Owen Fugit

News Editor and Editor-in-Chief

The Los Gatos High School (LGHS) choirs and bands performed their winter concert on Dec. 3. Multiple choir and band ensembles performed, led by directors Maricel Riley and Ken Nakamoto, respectively. The musical groups held their joint concert at the McAfee Center at Saratoga High School, where they typically perform. Five choirs performed: the freshman Concert Choir, the upperclassmen Mixed Choir, the upper-register Treble Choir, the A Cappella Club, and the lower register Tenor-Bass Choir. Each group had its own unique set of songs. Classic crowd favorites such as Let it Snow mixed with lesser-known songs such as Exsultate Justi in Domino came together to deliver an incredible performance for parents and friends alike.

Singers enjoyed the performance for its creativity and holiday spirit. During the Tenor-Bass performance of Billy Joel’s The Longest Time, three student soloists were featured, sophomore Liam Swinnerton-Davis, junior Nico Deschaux-Beaume, and junior Joseph Soria. The Tenor-Bass performance garnered a thunderous round of applause and set the stage for a round of stellar performances from the subsequent ensembles. 

The following week, the choral department also visited RJ Fisher Middle School for a choral exchange, performing songs and talking with interested students about singing in high school. In January, the LGHS Treble Choir and 13 qualifying choral students will perform at the All-State Honors Choir in Sacramento, followed by a spring concert later in the semester.

Symphonic Band kicked off the second half of the concert with Rhythm Stand by Jennifer Higdon, featuring unique rhythm patterns written in a fun swing style. Next, they played Percy Grainger’s short yet mighty Ye Banks and Braes O’Bonnie Doon and ended their set with Chasing Sunlight by composer Cait Nishimura.

After a short transition, the Crescent Ensemble took the stage. As the name suggests, members in this group sit in a crescent shape across the stage. The group, entirely composed of sophomores and upperclassmen, began their set with Focal Point by Brian Balmages and Neoncore by Jennifer Jolley, both from Suite Treats, a collection of five band pieces. Next, they performed Yukiko Nishimura’s timely Under a Winter Sky, which utilizes volume and speed to simulate a snowy night. Finally, Crescent Ensemble concluded with Triumphant Fanfare by Richard Saucedo, which sophomore Ellenore Hammer enjoyed because “I got to play tom drums and it was a fun part [to play].”

Finally, the auditioned group, Wind Ensemble, performed their two pieces: Diamond Tide by Viet Cuong and the world premiere of Kingdom by Ben Horne. Junior Haley Wong described the concert as “hectic, loud, super high energy” for all involved, ending the semester on a powerful note for all involved.