With holiday lighting, festive sweaters, and a large snowman inflatable, the Rock Ridge Orchestra’s annual winter concert on Dec. 14  got everyone in a festive mood and excited for the upcoming holiday season.

The orchestra performed four songs: “Overture to William Tell: Finale,” composed by Gioachino Rossini and arranged by Sandra Dackow, “The Pink Panther,” composed by Henry Mancini and arranged by John Caponegro, “Holiday Salute,” arranged by James “Red” McLeod, and the finale, “Christmas Eve Sarajevo 12/24,” a Transiberian Orchestra Rock Arrangement.  

“The Pink Panther,” featured guest percussionist Patrick O’Rourke on the drum set, and “Christmas Eve Sarajevo 12/24,” also featured sophomore Andrew Takach on the electric bass and eighth grader Maneesh Getni on the electric guitar. “It felt crazy playing with a high school orchestra,” Getni said. 

A lot of hard work went into preparing for this concert. With multiple periods of practicing these songs, as well as some after-school practices, the musicians showed great effort in making this concert enjoyable for all. In addition to the music, director of orchestra Teresa Gordon also planned a scavenger hunt for guests in the audience. Guests had the opportunity to find little paper Christmas trees hidden around the auditorium and they had the chance to win presents, such as a Starbucks gift card and a Regal gift card. 

This concert allowed people to come together and listen to light-hearted holiday music performed by the orchestra and have fun listening to these students’ hard work in preparing for this concert.

Gallery • 9 Photos

Sruthi Sakala

As a guest appearance, 8th-grade Stone Hill student, Maneesh Getni played the electric bass during “Christmas Eve Sarajevo 12/24,” “It felt good [performing with] a high school because I just [did] the same thing last night but it was for middle school,” Getni said. “This time I could see advanced players.”