By James Greatrex (’13) and Landon Falgoust (’13)
The De La Salle concert band and Jazz Ensemble performed their annual Christmas concert for the parents, friends, students and it could not have gone better.
On Wednesday night, they performed the full concert for parents, friends, and family. This concert included the eighth grade band students, and an appearance by Santa during the last selection “Christmas Festival.”
On Thursday, over four-hundred students gathered in the cafeteria to listen to the Christmas songs, both classic and modern. “I still enjoy playing at the Christmas concert and there is always something exciting and new to perform, although I do miss Mr. Romano dressed as Santa Claus,” Gary Hemelt, a senior percussionist, said. Gary is one of the many seniors on the band.
Another senior is Nick Arceneaux, who plays the bass for the Jazz Ensemble. “I like playing music for people who actually want to hear it,” he said.
The other seniors include Maggie Willis, Allison Arnold, Drum Major Maggie Frazier, Sidney Cerami, Noël Usannaz, Christian Priola, and Dwayne Lockett.
One special treat this year was “Twas The Night Before Christmas” – Cajun style. Senior Noël Usannaz read from the Cajun version with full Cajun accent of Papa Noël and his alligator-pulled pirogue.
This concert also marked an important first. It was the first Christmas concert put on by first-year Dirctor Mr. Duncan Pray. “It was a great first experience and I’m looking forward to the future concerts,” he said. “I have the students to thank for their hard work and dedication to put on a great concert.”
For some students it was also a first. One of those students was Nicolette Cash. “I was happy to receive a solo on my first time,” Nicolette, the only oboist, said.