THOMASVILLE – The notes of Christmas cheer soon will sound throughout Thomas County Central High School. 

The school’s bands program, known as “The Best of the Nest,” will host its annual Christmas concert in the gymnasium 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14. Blue, gold, marching and jazz bands will perform as well as dance group, the dazzlers. Admission is free.  

“I would tell others that it’s very entertaining,” freshman blue band member Morgan Ward said. “We play many songs that people will recognize and be able to sing along to. Also, there are many different groups performing…so you will never be bored. We have worked very hard, and it’s always nice to have people come and hear everything we have accomplished.”

Concert preparations began in October and “all ensembles have improved immensely since working on our Christmas music,” TCCHS Assistant Band Director Paul Johns said.

“This concert is important because it gives students something to play, practice, improve, and then display their improvement to the public,” he said.

TCCHS Band Director Michael Thomas believes many people may not realize how much of a production this concert is, both for its student performers and the school’s bands program.

“Our students display tremendous skill in preparation to bring musical relevance in honor of the season; however, we never get to ‘dress rehearse’ the program,” he said. “It is carefully planned but only executed live at the actual performance.”

To offer a different musical experience for the audience and performers, the works to be performed change each year.

Junior Liam McGuire, who plays trumpet in the blue and jazz bands, really likes “Themes from the Nutcracker” and looks forward to playing it so little children can hear the familiar tunes from live instruments rather than a movie. He’s also fond of a piece called “Hot Chocolate” from “The Polar Express.”

“Every kid knows it,” he said. “It’s upbeat, very fast and exciting to play.”

The program’s directors appreciate the diversity of this year’s show represented amongst the various ensembles.

“You may hear traditional Christmas music such as ‘Joy to the World’ and ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing’ to lesser known Christmas music such as ‘Christmas Island’ or ‘Sing We Now of Christmas’,” Johns said. “This many ensembles playing creates a very diverse concert; there should be something for everyone.”

Hearing a live performance of a song by student musicians is a special Christmas treat, too.

“It’s not something that you get every day,” Cumbest said. “It’s a whole other experience to listen to the school kids play something. It’s more heart-touching than just some famous person [playing it].”

Thomas feels many Christmas tunes are “overplayed commercially.”

“It’s such a stirring moment to hear this program coupled with the skill and diversity of our TCCHS performers in live presentation,” he said.

A good performance, Thomas continues, means students gain “a special connection to the audience through live music and the works presented.”

“They represent their attained skill before an appreciative audience, but most of all, the Christmas concert serves to focus our thoughts and expectations on the actual reason for the season for us all,” he said.

*Thomas County Central High School Creative Writing student Alina Akimbekova contributed to this article.

BOX

What: Thomas County Central High School Bands present Christmas Concert 2017

When: Thursday, Dec. 14, 7 p.m. 

Where: TCCHS gymnasium

Admission: Free