By: Annabelle Pan

Graphics Editor

With the Los Gatos Holiday Parade, winter percussion, and a concert, December has been a busy month for the LGHS band. Although the marching band and color guard season officially ended in November with the Western Band Association Regional Championships at James Logan High School, the group performed together for the last time on Dec. 6 at the LG Holiday Parade, playing festive songs such as Joy to the World, Good King Wenceslas, and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. Now that the marching band season has ended, several students joined its winter counterpart: winter percussion. Winter percussion has a similar schedule, but the only instruments in the show are percussion instruments from the Battery and Front Ensemble. Official rehearsals started on Dec. 1, and, while the 2025 percussion show theme remains a mystery, students are getting to know the new group while learning important exercises and techniques. The winter percussion season will continue into the second semester as the group learns its show music and competes. They have four competitions scheduled, mainly following the Northern California Percussion Alliance (NPCA) competitions, with the first one happening at Fremont High School on Feb. 7.

Additionally, this year, the winter guard, a continuation of the marching band color guard, is following a different competition schedule than the winter percussion. Starting with the California Color Guard Circuit (CCGC) Evaluations Performance in late January, the group has four other CCGC competitions later in the year. Their last performance is on Mar. 28 for the CCGC Championships at Independence High School.

After almost two months of preparation, the three school bands are performing tonight, on Dec. 12, at 7:00 PM in McAfee Performing Arts and Lecture Center. As is customary, the December concert features all LGHS bands and choirs, taught by Ken Nakamoto and Maricel Riley, respectively. Following the choir performance, the Symphonic Band, Crescent Ensemble, and Wind Ensemble will each take the stage to play their rehearsed music.

This concert also includes a special repertoire for the Wind Ensemble, the highest-level audition band. Instead of performing three pieces as a large band, Mr. Nakamoto split the class into three sections—woodwinds, brass, and percussion—and had each group play two pieces. During class, the groups often split off to practice their individual pieces before having a show and tell. Junior flutist Darby Hou remarked, “It’s been really fun to focus on a smaller group, especially one that we understand well since we’re the same type of instrument. My favorite thing about it is hearing the voices we usually don’t get to hear in full ensemble.” This chamber music unit helps the players focus on improving as an instrument group without having to worry as much about blending with the rest of the band. The group’s hard work in December shows their energy, talent, and commitment to producing outstanding music to share with the community.