Video summary
The 2025 Winter Music Concert brought together students from sixth grade through high school to celebrate their musical progress with festive performances of classic holiday songs like "White Christmas" and original arrangements such as the playful rendition of "Noel." The event opened with a heartfelt welcome that encouraged audience patience during transitions between groups, setting a warm tone for the evening. Sixth-grade choirs showcased traditional carols while highlighting individual achievements, including recognition for students who auditioned successfully for the KCDA state honor choir. Their performances were followed by an inspiring segment featuring the sixth-grade band, whose members had recently joined junior high and completed their first three months of training through a rigorous sticker test program that demonstrated significant growth in just a few short weeks.
As the concert progressed, attention shifted to more advanced ensembles, including the junior high choir and bands who performed lively medleys and festive pieces like "Heat" with impressive precision after only one semester together. The host praised these groups for their rapid improvement from early rehearsals where many students admitted difficulty playing certain passages to confident stage presence by concert time. High school choirs delivered powerful vocal performances of seasonal favorites, featuring duets between talented soloists such as Skylin Gross and Caleb who contributed piano accompaniment throughout the evening alongside other dedicated musicians willing to work extra hours before school. These segments emphasized not only musical skill but also community spirit among students from different grade levels collaborating across age groups.
The closing moments of the concert featured high-energy performances by both the high school choir and band, culminating in a spirited finale that left audiences cheering enthusiastically for every ensemble member's hard work throughout the semester. Beyond entertainment value, the event served as an important platform to acknowledge student dedication through shout-outs like those given to Skylin Gross for her instrumental contributions across multiple groups or recognition of honor choir members who earned selection based on statewide auditions. The evening concluded with gratitude expressed toward attendees for their support despite scheduling challenges and a call-to-action inviting volunteers to assist with cleanup efforts, reflecting the collaborative nature of school music programs that rely heavily on student initiative and parental involvement to succeed.
Read the full video transcript
Heat. Heat.
Good evening everyone. While the sixth
grade choir continues to come up on
stage and get all situated, I ask that
we please turn off phones at this time.
Any ringers, anything that will go off
and disturb the concert, um, please keep
your voices off while our groups are
going and be patient with us while we
transition back and forth between
groups. All right, without further ado,
I give you the sixth grade choir.
>> [music]
>> Christmasing
[music]
of the [singing] White
Christmas
just like the ones [singing and music] I
used to know.
The tree
[music]
and children
to [music] hear to hear. Sleigh bells
[singing]
in the snow.
[music]
I'm dreaming of [singing] a
Christmas
with every [music]
Christmas
I
[music]
may
be merry
and bright
[music]
and may all [singing]
your
Christmas is
[music]
dreaming of a [singing]
white
Christmas [music]
just [singing] like the [music] ones I
used to know.
Where the tree
[music]
listen
to you to hear [music]
in the No, [singing]
[music]
I'm
dreaming of [music and singing] a
Christmas
with every [music]
Christmas
I
[music]
could your days be
and
>> [music]
>> And may all
[music]
[singing] be
[applause]
Before
the sixth grade does their last piece, I
first want to recognize some of our KCDA
state honor choir. We had a couple kids
try out for it. It was based on all the
kids in Kansas got to try out and we
have a couple more kids um including
some in the junior high choir, but
specifically two in our sixth grade
choir. So, if you'll give me help give
me a round of applause for Miss Caroline
Wordsburgger and Sher. [applause]
[applause]
>> [music]
[music and singing]
>> What does the snows
of [music] the wind as its [singing]
blows? He knows of the cross as [music]
it comes and goes of your wind.
[singing]
What does the [music and singing] snow
does see? It see children's eyes shining
joyfully. [music]
We stand up the hill happy as can be as
they zoom away
[music]
[singing]
[music] from across the air. And you
will know the secret [singing]
of winter.
We all know [music] the secrets of the
secrets of [singing]
[music]
what does the [singing] stone hearing
bells ring out their [music and singing]
cheeses
from the earth to cate [singing]
[music]
[singing] to the
things. It brings us a season [music]
that makes us want to sing
[singing]
with voices
with voices high
[music]
willing to share. Just catch a few
falling from the frosty [music] air.
Then you will [singing] know the secrets
of joy. You'll know the secrets of know.
You [singing] know the secrets of snow.
[music] The secrets of snow.
[singing]
[applause]
While the sixth grade band heads up on
stage, I first want to give them a
little bit of kudos and then kind of
tell them about their journey a little
bit. This group of kids is brand new to
the junior high. So, they just came from
fifth grade over at elementary school
and now they're here at the junior high.
they get the option to do band. And
there's about I want to say 29 29 sixth
graders and we have 23 awesome sixth
graders that chose to do band. All
right. It is a big undertaking and I'm
glad they all chose to do it back in
August. We figured out what instruments
we kind of wanted to do and figured out
where we wanted to go and now they have
chosen their instruments and they
started playing in September. All right.
So, they've been playing for about three
months. They've come a long way. Today,
we're here to show you three excerpts
from what we call our sticker tests. Uh
they have to complete the sticker test
to show how far they've come in their
journey. And we're going to show you
three of our sticker tests going from
one of our early ones to our last one,
which is which is a little bit festive.
All right. So, please help me give it up
for the sixth grade man. [applause]
>> [music]
[music]
>> You're done.
Heat.
[music]
Heat.
[music]
[applause]
Heat.
[music]
Heat.
[music]
>> [music]
[applause]
>> Can we get another hand for the progress
they've made so far?
>> [applause]
>> We will be ending the sixth grade band
portion with something a little bit more
festive. Hopefully you know what it is.
All right. Thank you.
Heat
[music]
up here.
[music and bell]
Heat.
[music]
Heat.
Heat. Heat. [music]
[music]
[bell]
[music]
Heat.
[bell]
[music]
Heat.
[bell]
>> [applause]
[applause]
>> We were now we will now transition over
to the junior high choir if they would
like to start coming up. While they're
getting ready, everyone up on stage
about a couple weeks ago, raise your
hand. Do you think you could have played
that?
>> How about at the beginning of our
journey? You think you could have played
that?
>> Who a couple weeks ago thought that was
really hard?
>> They're pretty good, I guess. All right.
Excellent. You've come a long way. I'm
really happy to continue the journey
with them. All right. Junior high or
sixth grade band. You may come off the
stage.
[applause]
Hello.
Huh?
Santa's name [music] is easy to do. Q I
S N T and another A
[music] well
Santa's name [singing] as Noel
and he [music] won't bring you gifts if
you don't learn to spell
[music]
up the hill [music]
from the Well, when could it shall start
[singing]
to yell? [music]
No. No. Well, can't believe [singing]
there's no
[music]
way here in my
town.
[music]
>> [music]
>> a moon and set [singing] sail. Then he
called out [music] to ship. Have you
seen a white?
>> No whale. [music and singing]
No whale. No ain't seen no whale.
>> I saw a couple of dolphins.
If you [music] listen to this tune, then
you probably
[music]
heard [singing] it before. It's a song
you know well. No well.
[music and singing]
Oh well. It's a song you know well. And
we put it [music and singing]
completely. So we all say oh well. Oh
well.
Santa,
[music] merry Christmas to you and the
joy is [music and singing] so
[applause]
for that fun rendition of Noel L. Uh, we
had a couple soloists. So, if you were
one of those soloists, will you please
stand? We had Miss Anna Deler and
Kirsten Connor Conrad. [applause]
With the sixth grade choir, we had a
couple people who made it into the KCDA
honor choir. Uh, for this group, we had
even more make it. So, if you made it
into KCDA honor choir, will you please
stand up and be recognized?
[applause]
Now, we will do our last song. Again,
please help us be patient while we
transition after this to junior high
band.
>> [music]
>> Let all [singing]
come and see The [music] best side.
[singing]
Keep the candles glowing.
We will [music] dance by the light.
Friends and family come to share.
[music and singing] Love and laughter
everywhere.
Sing [music] the [singing]
carol.
[music and singing]
and go [music and singing]
with
la.
Is the season to [music] be jolly
[singing]
La
[music]
we now our [singing] guide and barrel
>> [music]
>> All
for [singing] the ancient rules I
[music] care.
alone [singing]
[music]
with all [singing]
the
Jesus [music]
who
we [singing] will
[music]
[singing] go to
the world See
the ancient I
[music and singing]
[music]
[applause]
While we transition over to junior high
band up, I want to give a huge shout out
to one of our students, sophomore Skylin
Gross, who played piano not only at the
beginning before every uh everyone here
this evening before our concert started,
but for our junior high groups for sixth
grade choir and for junior high choir.
Can we give her a big round of applause?
[cheering]
[applause]
I am very grateful that when I got to
come here that I have such talented and
brilliant musicians that are willing to
come in before school, do extra work,
and help out whenever they can. Your
kids are awesome. Okay, we're going to
say a couple jokes and it looks like
they're ready to go. Okay, without
further ado, we have the junior high
band.
>> [music]
[music]
[clears throat]
[music]
[bell]
[music]
>> Heat.
Heat. [music]
>> [music]
[bell]
[music]
[bell]
[music]
[bell]
>> Heat. Heat.
[music]
>> [music]
[music]
>> Heat. [bell]
Heat.
[music]
[bell]
>> [bell and music]
[music]
>> Heat.
Heat. [music]
Heat.
[music]
[bell]
[music]
Heat. [music]
[bell]
Heat. Heat. [music]
[applause]
Heat.
[music]
Heat. [bell]
[music] Heat. [bell]
[music]
Heat. [music]
[bell]
[music]
>> [bell]
[music]
>> Heat.
Heat.
[music]
>> [bell]
[music]
>> Heat. [music]
Heat. [bell]
[music]
>> [music]
[applause]
>> One more time. Let's give it up for the
junior high band. [applause]
They've been working hard all semester
and I'm really happy to see their
improvement throughout. We've finally
made it into book two. Book two I talked
about last time. We're very happy about
that. if the high school choir will
start transitioning on up.
As a reminder, this group right here
contains half of the students from our
first hour choir class and then the
other half are students that volunteered
to come in early in the morning and sing
along. Uh we had we had shorter
rehearsals, less frequent this uh this
concert block, but we're really happy
with the progress they made. They sound
just excellent. So without further ado,
high school.
>> Have a good evening, sir.
Christmas.
[music]
only
seems [music] to hear [singing] words of
each cheer from everywhere.
We will sing songs of this year
Christmas
[music]
[singing]
[music]
wants you to Hear [singing] birds of
chem. Everywhere [music]
they
[singing]
sing songs [music] Christmas
[singing]
[music]
[singing]
to every home.
exalt.
[music]
[applause]
>> [music]
>> Bless
[music]
the basket The [singing and music] water
[singing]
[music]
is there [singing]
with my m [music]
[music and singing]
from the heart. [singing]
is a song that you [music] share or a
smile that you is the
[music and singing]
way that you live is the best [singing]
gift of all [music]
is a gift
from [singing]
the heart.
[music]
The
[music]
[singing] come to your doorstep. The
best of all is right [singing]
or [music] green. The mer
[music]
you [singing] won't see his picture in a
magazine.
[music]
The blessings [singing]
of
come from the heart. [music] It's a song
that you share for a smile that you
[music and singing] is the love that you
give. the way that [music and singing]
you live. Yes. The best gift of all is a
[music] gift
from the heart
is the [music and singing] one that you
give. the way that you live. Yes. The
best [singing] gift of all.
[snorts]
The best [music] gift [singing] of all
is a gift
from the heart.
[music]
>> [singing]
>> the heartless. [music]
[music]
[clears throat]
[applause]
A couple shout outs to give after that
song. We had uh a couple solo parts in
here that we wanted to actually turn
into duets. So, our first duet right at
the start of the piece was with Skylin
and Caleb right up there in the front.
Give a round of applause for them.
[applause]
And our second duet was right after that
with David and Vincent right in the
back. [applause]
We have one more song with the high
school choir and then we'll bring it to
finish you off with the high school
band.
[cough and clears throat]
>> [music]
>> The holy [singing]
fel tree
[music] falls again.
[singing]
[music]
I may be rushing things
[singing] again now
for we need a little [music and singing]
Christmas
every minute. Candles in the windows
[music]
at the [singing]
Christmas
minute. [music]
[singing]
The night [music and singing]
of the championship
[music]
ever [singing]
[music]
[singing]
[music]
[singing] a Little
grown a [music] little
[singing]
and I need a little angel sitting
[music] on my shoulder.
A little [singing] Christmas
[music] music.
[singing]
[music]
Hear a little singing. [singing]
Sing
sing [music]
[singing]
happy
[music and singing]
Christmas.
[music]
[applause]
>> [clears throat]
>> Sorry.
>> [cough]
[music]
>> Look at that.
Uhoh.
Uhhuh. Heat.
[music]
Heat.
>> [music]
[music]
>> Heat. [music]
Heat.
[music]
Heat.
[music]
Heat.
Heat. [music]
[music]
Heat.
[music]
Heat. Heat.
[music]
>> [music]
[music]
>> Heat. Heat.
[bell]
>> [music]
[bell]
[music]
>> Heat. Heat. [bell]
[music]
[bell]
>> [music]
[bell]
[music]
[bell]
>> Heat. Heat. [bell and music]
Heat.
[music]
Heat.
[applause]
>> [applause]
>> green and skylight. One more time.
[cheering]
[applause]
[cough] Oh,
[music]
[bell]
>> [music]
>> Yeah.
[music]
[bell]
[music]
Heat.
[music]
Heat.
[music and bell]
[music]
Heat.
[music]
Thank you.
[music]
Heat. Heat. [music]
[music]
[bell]
[music]
Heat.
[music]
[bell] Heat.
Heat. [music]
[music]
Heat.
[music]
Heat.
[music]
Heat.
>> [music]
>> Oh, [music and bell]
[music]
[bell]
[music]
[applause]
>> [cheering]
>> and Maya and our two beautiful soloists
again.
[cheering]
[applause]
All right. Thank you for sticking with
us for so long. We really appreciate
that you're here. Uh we're happy that
you were able to make it even after we
got all rescheduled and so on. Um, but
this will be our last song. A song
called You Better Slay. All right.
Heat.
[music]
Heat.
[music]
Heat.
[music]
Heat.
[music]
Heat.
[music]
Heat.
[music]
>> [music]
[music]
>> Heat.
Heat. [music]
[music]
Heat.
[music]
Heat.
[music]
Heat. [music]
[music]
Heat.
>> [music]
[applause]
>> Once again, thank you for coming out and
supporting all of our musicians. Have a
great and safe night home.
If you are able to help, we need to get
all of this gone. So, if you want to
lend a helping hand, we need chairs and
stands back in the music room as well as
percussion. Save that for percussions.