During second period on Thursday, December 8th, 2016, students excitedly piled into the auditorium for the annual Winter Concert to hear holiday favorites, provided by the band, orchestra, and chorus students. Chorus students dressed in holiday attire, as orchestra and band students adorned their instruments with lights and tinsel.

As students entered the auditorium, the Trojan Jazz Band played their entrance music, Deck The Halls- And All That Jazz, starting the assembly with a bang. The Guitar Ensemble, under the direction of Mr. Taylor Fletcher, then played Greensleeves, a holiday favorite, as audience members made their appreciation known with energetic applause.

Eager for what came next, students were taken by surprise when Just For Show and Chamber Ensemble, under the direction of Mrs. Michelle Graham, started singing Carol of the Bells in the back of the auditorium, with darkness surrounding them. The attention immediately focused on the front, when Midlo’s Vocal Ensemble beautifully sang Winter Wonderland, with faculty and staff quietly singing along. City Lights serenaded the audience with We Wish You A Merry Christmas, officially setting the whole school in a festive mood. Under the direction of Mr. Gordon Rawls, the Trojan Band delighted the crowd with Joyful and Triumphant. Junior Sarah Harkness expressed that she “loves to watch the crowd cheer after working so hard on this piece”.

Midlo’s all-female a capella group, Pitch Perfect, displayed their talent with the song, Run to You, leaving the crowd wanting more. Rhythmic Drive, Midlo’s all-male a capella group sang, All I Want for Christmas Is You, arranged by John El-Jor, with soloists, Carter Seaborn and Will Johnson. Both a capella groups then joined in a heartfelt rendition of Hallelujah, which left some audience members speechless in amazement.  Under the direction of Mr. Taylor Fletcher, the String Ensemble played Dueling Jingle Strings, and Chamber Ensemble showcased their skill, with soloists Tom Simonick and Carter Seaborn, with the song I Saw Three Ships, leaving the crowd humming the tune. Just For Show provided the last performance before the finale,Wassail Song. The group’s harmonies rang perfectly around the room, bringing smiles to crowd’s faces.

The big finale brought the Trojan Band, String Ensemble, and Chorus together. Sleigh Ride was first, providing the audience with percussion sounds of wood smacking to sound like whips, and trumpets to sound like a horse’s neigh. The band, orchestra, and chorus played in perfect harmony with each other. For the Hallelujah Chorus, several teachers and staff members came to the stage to sing along with the chorus. At the end of the song, the auditorium filled with applause and cheers for the fantastic performance. Trojan Band played the exit music, Clash of the Carolers, a song of interrupting holiday carols to end the show.

In the afternoon, third grade students from Watkins Elementary bounded off their yellow school buses with excitement, as they headed to the third holiday concert of the day. Their huge smiles and happy steps proved a great reward for the talentedMidlo students, as they found the energy to perform once more.

This annual Midlothian High  Holiday Concert proved another success and failed to disappoint. Happy Holidays, Midlo!