On Dec. 5, Rock Ridge Bands held their annual winter concert, collaborating with the Stone Hill Middle School eighth-grade band to showcase a wide range of diverse music. The night began with the middle school band’s performance consisting of four winter-themed songs: “Drums of Corona” by Michael Sweeney, “Zig Zag” by Sean O’Loughlin, “African Bell Carol” by Robert W. Smith, and “Toboggan Run” by Matt Conaway, all directed by Stone Hill band teacher Brian Morton.

After the middle school performed their first three songs, Rock Ridge band director Justin Ratcliff took a moment to recognize the middle schoolers performing and talked about the importance of being involved in the fine arts in high school. He spoke about the Marching Band Grand Nationals the school will participate in next year and how the incoming freshmen can be involved. “I hope that the incoming freshmen truly make the most of their time here because it flies by so much faster than you could imagine, so don’t take any of it for granted,” senior Maanu Karthikeyan said. 

As the Stone Hill band exited the stage, the Rock Ridge Concert Band prepared to take their place. Composed of both underclassmen and upperclassmen, this group performed “#19, Treasury of Scales,” arranged by Ratcliff and “Forge the Vulcan” by Michael Sweeney. Ratcliff then announced the band’s upcoming performance at assessment, which is the state-mandated way of evaluating students’ learning of the repertoire. 

During this portion of the evening, Ratcliff also highlighted the senior members of the band program, who have been instrumental to its success over the past four years and who will leave a lasting legacy when they graduate. “Nothing will ever really match the feeling you get from being able to perform with such a talented group of musicians while also having fun and making so many amazing memories with everyone,” Karthikeyan said. “There’ll be days when it feels overwhelming and uncomfortable, but every bit of effort you put in will be worth it in the end. At the same time, it doesn’t have to be something you dread; a huge part of being a part of this program is the friendships and memories you make throughout it, and it can be one of the most enjoyable and rewarding experiences if you embrace it.” The Concert Band concluded their set with “Rites of Tamburo” by Robert W. Smith.

While seniors in band have learned a lot of lessons, they’ve also gained something invaluable: lasting relationships. “The biggest thing I’ve learned over the past four years is how much confidence can change everything,” Karthikeyan said. “[Band] helped me build friendships with some of my closest friends, and it made me a better musician because I stopped second-guessing every note and started trusting my abilities. Beyond band, that confidence has carried over into other parts of my life, like with talking to new people or trying new things. Looking back, I’m so grateful for the way band pushed me to get out of my comfort zone because I wouldn’t be nearly as outgoing and confident as I am today without it.”

Following the Concert Band, the Wind Ensemble took the stage, showcasing their status as the most advanced group of the evening with a display of complex and captivating music. “We played to [the] best of our ability and left the crowd impressed,” sophomore Lyla McKinney said. “The band truly demonstrated how practice makes perfect with pieces such as ‘Foundry’ and ‘Seagate Overture.’” Both of these songs made for dynamic pieces with their powerful percussion and electric energy.

Preparing for the concert and following the rigorous schedule of being a part of this award-winning program comes with its hardships, however. “‘Push through the suck’ is a phrase you’ll hear a lot from Mr. Ratcliff, because one of the biggest things you learn from this experience is the importance of hard work and pushing through even when it gets hard, because it isn’t always easy,” Karthikeyan said. “Laugh during rehearsals, bond with your section, and take in all the little moments, because the connections you make with the people here and the skills you learn will stick with you long after you leave.”

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Ananya Karthik

Senior Maanu Karthikeyan acknowledges the audience during the senior recognition portion of the night. “Honestly, it’s all so bittersweet, because even though I’ve had my complaints over the years with how time consuming it can be or how difficult some of the pieces have been, I’m truly going to miss every part of it so much,” Karthikeyan said.