The bands at Gretna have a long history of successful seasons. Though there are eight different groups in the high school, they all have one thing in common – their endeavor for excellence through hard work and dedication. On Dec.15, the Concert Band had their Christmas Concert. Classic Christmas songs such as “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” “The Holly and The Ivy” and many more were performed by the bands.
Now that Christmas break is over, the band is moving on to their next event, which is on March 12 at the high school. The Brew is set up to receive donations for the group and give students in jazz and percussion a chance to play. The events organized for the performances throughout the year help the musicians to improve not only their ability to play their instruments but also their performance skills.
For many students in concert band, being a part of this group can be hard work. The concert band practices each school day during first hour. At rehearsals, students warm up and tune their instruments before diving into their concert music.
“I started at a really small school and the whole grade joined band, so I did it too, but then I fell in love with it,” said senior Izzy Shousha. “The best thing is definitely the close friendships you make and all the memories.”
There are multiple directors in the concert band who contribute to the program. Alexander Woodside, in his second year as the head band director at GHS, said he enjoys helping students find their passion and love for music.
“The best thing about our band students at GHS is their commitment to excellence,” he said “We have so many students that aren’t satisfied with ‘good enough’ and really push themselves to achieve their potential. Their drive to never be complacent and to pursue excellence at all times makes the band culture such a motivating environment to work in.”
Not only is being in the band a fun and rewarding commitment for the directors, but also for the students. Although it is a very time-consuming and difficult activity, being able to learn and perform music to a crowd is satisfying for the musicians.
“The best thing about band for me is the people, I’ve made so many friends through band and I love them so much,” said junior Caroline Mix. “We improve our performance by practicing daily, practicing outside of class, and applying the corrections that our director gives us.”
Through the tough practices and hardcore schedule that the band season brings, the students and directors put in immense effort to put on the best show they can. The GHS Band will only continue to work harder to finish off their semester and ultimately the year.
