The concert featured the sixth grade combined band, concert band and symphonic band, which got to play before a large and supportive audience.

“The kids are really excited,” Brad Beyer, TBJH band director, said. “Because of COVID, this is the first formal concert they’ve had in two years. It feels good to give them this experience again.”

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Beyer said the students were well prepared for the concert and the students played a variety of traditional songs, including some by Mozart as well as a variety of Christmas songs, including ‘Jingle Bells’, ‘Deck the Halls’ and the ‘St. Nick Salsa.’

News photo by Barbara Woodham Left, Isabella Grochowski, plays the clarinet, Lucy Buchinger sitting and practicing the french horn.

The students said they were happy to show the community what they have been practicing for over a month.

“I’m a little nervous,” Lucy Buchinger, a sixth grade french horn player said, as the students squeezed in a few last minutes of practice before the big show.

“I think we are going to do very well,” Jocelyn Wise, a sixth grade saxophone player, said.

Isabella Grochowski said that she tried a few different instruments, but currently plays the clarinet. She wants to play the saxophone.

As the band began to play, the audience took lots of pictures and videos. At the end of each performance the crowd cheered and applauded and even yelled out encouraging and supportive comments to the students.

News Photo by Barbara Woodham A Thunder Bay Junior High band plays during a concert on Tuesday.

“I was nervous, but we did good,” said Aidyn Pokorzynski, a trumpet player, relieved after the concert was over.

Concert attendees seemed to have enjoyed the concert and were very proud of their children and students. Beyer, who took over the band program over the summer said Thunder Bay plans to have a competition in February and another concert in the spring.