A Winter Concert

Wahkiakum School District students performed holiday music for a good sized crowd at Monday night's Winter Concert.

The sixth grade band started the evening with five tunes including Jingle Bells and Good King Wenceslas. They were followed by the sixth grade choir, who looked a little nervous but were soon smiling.

According to the music teacher, Darla Mead, the choir had struggled in practice with one selection so much they finally let her know it just wasn't working and they wanted to do something different. Instead, they sang "Do You Want to Build a Snowman", a song they picked out themselves.

Emmi Grangroth, a poised sixth grade student, performed a pretty piano solo straight backed and with ease, not even letting a falling page of music disturb her.

When the seventh and eighth grade combined band took the stage, Jake Leitz could be seen, all business, in the back row reminding his fellow bandmates that they needed to put their instruments into the rest position.

They played four tunes including the familiar "Carol of the Bells".

Tuba player Jack Leavitt told about his experience playing in an all tuba band last Christmas and then performed a solo, stopping briefly when he hit a wrong note to make the audience laugh.

He was followed by the high school choir, who sang three songs including "The Christmas Song", and then the high school band took the stage.

"The high school band is so small," Leavitt joked on stage to teacher Darla Mead, "it's just like sixth grade band all over again."

They played "I'll Be Home for Christmas", "Santa Baby" and "Happy Holidays".

"They've all improved so much since last spring," one pleased audience member said.