The James A. Garfield music programs hosted two festive concerts in the Iva Walker Auditorium, celebrating the season with performances from student musicians spanning grades five through twelve. The events, held Sunday, Dec. 15, and Tuesday, Dec. 17, showcased the hard work and talent of the school’s band and choir programs under the leadership of band director Theo Cebulla and choir director Joel Logan.
The JAG Bands presented their “Sounds of the Season” concert on Dec. 15, featuring performances from the high school, middle school, fifth, and sixth-grade bands.
The high school band’s performance began at 2 p.m., featuring a medley of holiday classics, including selections from the iconic Peanuts animated films and “The Christmas Star” from Home Alone. The audience also enjoyed lively renditions of “Hark the Tubas Sing,” “Krampus,” “A Rollicking Hanukkah,” and the timeless favorite, “Sleigh Ride.” Following their set, the Garfield Jazz Band entertained guests in the Commons area, where attendees were treated to hot cocoa and cookies arranged by the Band Boosters.
At 4 p.m., the middle school band, comprised of combined seventh and eighth-grade musicians, took the stage to play five holiday hits, including “Mele Kalikimaka.” Notably, this group rehearsed separately until a few weeks prior to the concert, when joint practices were arranged. Cebulla expressed his gratitude to the middle school teachers for accommodating the additional combined rehearsals. The Garfield Jazz Band again provided entertainment in the Commons following the performance.
The elementary program began with a lighthearted opening act titled, “Are You More Musical Than a Fifth Grader?” Audience members, including elementary principal Justin Christopher, were invited to play instruments such as the tuba, trombone, trumpet, clarinet, and flute. This interactive segment was designed to ease nerves for the fifth-grade musicians making their debut performance. The young musicians showed their musical progress with eight songs. The evening concluded with a performance by the sixth-grade band performing “Sleigh Ride”, “Let It Snow”, and “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”
On Dec. 17, the spotlight shifted to vocalists as the JAG Choir and Elementary Youth Choir performed a selection of holiday carols and classic choir numbers in the Iva Walker Auditorium. Directed by Joel Logan, the choirs highlighted their growth as singers throughout the year with a program celebrating both the season and their dedication to musical excellence.
