The music of Johann Sebastian Bach, Johann Pachelbel, Antonio Vivaldi, Michael Hopkins, and Leroy once again filled WHS’s Milo Peck Auditorium last Thursday night, December 2. Dr. Paul Pierce, the Orchestra Director, delightfully welcomed the audience for the orchestra’s first in-person concert in more than a year. Families and friends were in full support of the performers and were thrilled to listen to the magnificent music of the Baroque period.

The orchestra opened the night with Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, the most popular and the shortest of Bach’s Brandenburg Concerti. The audience was entertained with its vibrant, fast-paced melody. They followed it with the graceful yet energetic Pachelbel’s Canon in D, before moving into holiday songs as part of both Christmas Medley and Christmas Festival.  The audience was encouraged to sing along during segments featuring classic Christmas tunes such as Jingle Bells, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Silent Night, and The First Noel. Other songs played were Allegro in D, Inverno, and I’ll Be Bach for Christmas.

It was an overall success, with the audience happily applauding the orchestra at the end of their wonderful performance. Despite initial doubts, the concert was pulled off without a hitch.

The coronavirus pandemic has affected the performing arts sector including public school bands, choirs, and orchestra. Concerts were unable to take place to minimize the spread of disease. This was the first concert in a planned three-part series taking place throughout the month of December. The final concert in the three-part series throughout this month is tonight, December 16 at Windsor High School, featuring the high school band.