On the night of December 4, 2024, the Oakwood musical ensemble delivered an impressive performance at the annual Oakwood Winter Concert. The event showcased the hard work of the string orchestra, band, chorus, and tap ensemble throughout the 2024-2025 year’s first semester, delighting the audience with their commendable dedication to the music.
The string ensemble, conducted by Chris Nunnally, opened the concert with a performance of the iconic Bittersweet Symphony by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, arranged by Todd Parrish. They then concluded their segment of the night with their rendition of the second movement of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, also arranged by Todd Parrish. The piece’s distinct baroque stylings and dynamics made it a fitting conclusion to the Orchestra’s captivating musical display.
Soon after, the band took the stage with their opening featuring the colorful and triumphant Capstone March by Tyler Arcari. They followed with a performance of As Summer Was Just Beginning (A Song for James Dean) by Larry Daehn, characterized by its somber yet gorgeous melodies. The band’s spectacular portion of the evening culminated in a lively performance of the catchy We Don’t Talk About Bruno by Lin Manuel Miranda from the Encanto movie. And with their final piece, the band bid farewell to their director Alison Mossey as she concluded her time with the ensemble.
The music stands and chairs were exchanged for risers as the chorus entered the spotlight. They kicked off their performance with a rendition of the wonder-filled song that is Pure Imagination, originally from the Willy Wonka films, arranged by Jay Althouse. Their rendition of this iconic piece featured solos from senior Nicholas Paz and eighth grader Gracie Bonds. This number was succeeded by the delightfully descriptive Earth Voices by Jerry Estes, which is split into three parts, the Wind, the Rain, and the Sun. Their grand finale featured the beautiful song, Keep your Lamps by Victor C. Johnson, a climactic, drama-filled end to their segment of the evening. The impressive performance was a testament to the hard work and dedication of Cory Whaley, the new chorus director, marking his debut concert with the choir.
And finally, the Upper School Tap ensemble brought the evening to a close with a vibrant performance of Rhythm by Casey Macgill and the Spirits of Rhythm, as skillfully instructed by Cherita Lytle.
Our annual Winter Concert was a remarkable showcase of the hard work of both the students and the ensemble directors. As we bid farewell to Mrs. Mossey and welcome Mr. Whaley to our musical Oakwood community, we remind ourselves of how far we’ve come as young musicians, and how we can continue to grow accompanied by the skillful guidance of our instructors.
