This past Friday, December 9, 2022, the Steinbrenner band held their annual Winter Holiday Concert, which celebrates the season and gets the school into that classic holiday spirit. The symphonic, concert, jazz and wind symphony bands were recognized, as well as a performance by the Legends, Steinbrenner’s color guard. This year’s ticket sales also went towards their trip to London scheduled for 2024, to play in the New Year’s Day parade. 

However, the preparation for the concert doesn’t happen in a snap, “We started practice at the end of October, and practiced every day and every Tuesday after school,” said junior Riley Sheehan. 

The two months of rehearsal were well worth it however, since the melodies were well put together, and the band replicated the sounds to each song exceptionally well. But having to partake in such songs leaves many of the band members with their favorite and least favorite song to perform.

Overall, the least favorite piece to perform is Sussex Mummers’ Christmas Carol which senior Joshua Boyles described as, “extremely slow, and no one knew what it was.”

But one of the favorites was Sleigh Ride, “We got to bring our alumni back up, and we had the fun horse mask, and it’s just a fun song to play,” said Sheehan. 

The band’s concert consisted of 13 songs, all bringing nostalgia in some type of way. From “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” to “Suite” from the Polar Express.  

The concert finale was a performance by the Legends, in which they showed a rendition of “Hot Chocolate” from the Polar Express. It was well received, and beautifully showed the skills of the guard that you might not see on the football field. 

As a whole, the annual Winter Holiday Concert is definitely something to check out next year, or even any of the concerts in the future. Hearing holiday songs live easily get students in the mood for the season as well!