All Bands concert goes all festive

By Matthew Nash • December 25, 2024 1:30 am

Sequim School District’s bands from three schools came together for a spirited Christmas show before winter break in the Sequim High School Auditorium.

Helen Haller Elementary’s fifth grade Cougar Band made its debut at the Dec. 19th show playing with Sequim Middle School’s sixth grade Beginner Band.

Band Director George Rodes started the elementary school band this fall, and they played a handful of tunes Thursday night including “Jingle Bells,” “Hot Cross Buns,” and “Hard Rock Blues.”

The middle school’s Intermediate Band of seventh and eighth graders joined in next to play a number of classics, such as “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” Devin McBride, an all-state middle school trumpet player, performed “Sleigh Ride” and Kimira Crear played a solo of “Silent Night.”

The high school’s Concert Ensemble closed out the evening with upbeat Christmas songs, including “Jazzy Christmas,” “Santa the Barbarian” and a special performance of “Blue Christmas” by the school’s Jazz Ensemble.

The Helen Haller Elementary fifth grade Cougar Band and Sequim Middle School sixth grade Beginner Band joined to play together on Dec. 19 a number of tunes, including “Jingle Bells” and “The Hard Rock Blues.”

Benjamin Lobo plays his festively decorated tuba with Sequim High School’s Concert Ensemble on Dec. 19 for the All Bands Concert in the Sequim High Auditorium.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Sixth grader Joey Hansen plays with fellow students in the Sequim Middle School Beginner Band and Helen Haller fifth grade Cougar Band. They played a number of songs including “Hard Rock Blues.”

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Students at the Sequim All Bands Concert on Dec. 19 wore festive outfits, hats and ears, including sixth grader Chloe Piceno.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Sequim Middle School’s Intermediate Band, with seventh and eighth graders led by director George Rodes, played several songs together for a full house at Sequim High School’s auditorium on Dec. 19.