On Tuesday, December 17 at 7 PM, families of Harriton instrumentalists braved the relentless snowstorm and gathered in the school auditorium for the annual Harriton Winter Instrumental Concert.

Mr. Joseph conducted three musical groups: concert band, jazz ensemble, and symphony orchestra. Collectively the groups played fourteen pieces. The performances gave the audience a welcomed break from the never-ending snowfall and slippery roads. Needless to say, the musicians left their audience wanting more.

The concert band, comprised of woodwind, brass, and percussion instrumentalists, started off the night with three captivating pieces. Their final piece was a memorable arrangement of songs from the movie adaption of the popular novel, The Hunger Games. The familiar melody was clearly a crowd favorite.

The jazz band, an extracurricular musical group, performed five songs. Known for its exceptional performances, the ensemble did not disappoint! Their final piece, “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” was especially impressive, as junior Ben Appel conducted the piece.

The symphony orchestra began their performance with the cheerful Christmas classic, “Sleigh Ride.” The orchestra repertoire consisted of several other recognizable pieces, including Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 5” and Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker Suite.”

­­­During a lull in the program, Mr. Joseph spoke of Eden Harris’s impending trip to Nepal to help build a school. A high school junior, Eden is involved with “Build On,” the community service club responsible for organizing the trip. In order to fund her trip, Eden has been collecting donations and fundraising. To support her endeavor, Mr. Joseph presented Eden with a mug that said, “One person can make a difference” and encouraged performers and their families to donate to her cause.

To end the night, the concert band joined the symphony orchestra for two combined numbers. The first piece, an arrangement of the suspenseful James Bond theme, “Skyfall,” was a big hit with the audience. The final piece, a joyous compilation of holiday melodies entitled, “Celebration,” began with a brass fanfare and ended with tumultuous applause.

Join Harriton instrumentalists for another night of music at the Spring Instrumental Concert on May 1, 2014.

Thank you to all those who helped make the 2013 Winter Instrumental Concert a success!