By Chloe Voke
The winter orchestra and band concert on Thursday, December 11th was a clear success, even after a rocky start to the season, as the show—originally planned for early fall—was postponed due to scheduling conflicts, but the extra time helped the musicians deliver a polished, energetic performance. This was the orchestra’s first major concert of the year after Broadway Night, and fourth‑year senior violinist Aiden Desormiers said the group had been working toward this moment all semester, explaining, “We’ve been practicing the whole year… and we’re cool, we’re collected, and we’re ready to go.” The setlist featured The Polar Express, a Hanukkah medley, and traditional orchestral pieces, with students from Niguel Hills Middle School joining in to showcase the program’s future talent. The two‑hour concert ran smoothly, which Desormiers credited to the group’s strong connection, saying, “The music sounds so good because of the connection between the group […] we have fun while we rehearse.” He reflected on the performance and praised the ensemble for doing a great job, adding, “We have fun playing music with each other in class, and we are really pleased with how the concert went,” and noting that their piece from The Polar Express with the band and with Niguel Hills Middle School’s band and orchestra “really added to the night.” The show was an overall success and beautifully spread holiday spirit for all who attended.