The North Allegheny Senior High School winter band concert took place last evening. This year’s show was titled “Wind Chills,” and the performances were certainly up to the task of warming the hearts of those in attendance. Inside the NASH auditorium, the audience was transported into a world of fond memories and cheerful emotions, thanks to the band under the direction of Todd Stefan. 

Stefan spoke on the preparation that goes into picking the pieces each year.

“I listen to a lot of music,” he said. “I also listen to the strengths and weaknesses of the band and pick a program based on that. The pieces are always something educational, for instance working on articulation.”

Stefan also touched on why he enjoys teaching

“I used to like the concerts. Over the past ten years, I have come to enjoy the journey to concerts. I talk a lot about the journey,” he said.

The first group to take the stage was the NASH Combined Symphonic and Concert bands. They began by playing “Commemoration Overture,” by Robert Sheldon, a majestic and harmony-filled piece. 

This was followed by “Dance of the River King” by Michael Sweeney, another powerful work that creates vibrant sounds due to the strong percussion. Stefan then directed the James Bond Suite, arranged by Frank Erickson, which included several numbers: the “James Bond Theme,” “Live and Let Die,” “For Your Eyes Only,” and “Goldfinger.” It was definitely a crowd and ensemble members’ favorite. 

Junior Megan Sweeney, a baritone saxophone player, said, “We get to play a variety of pieces, but my favorite piece to perform is definitely the James Bond song because it is always fun to play a nostalgic song everyone knows the theme to.”

The NASH Combined Symphonic and Concert Band ended with “Kinetic Dances,” by Randall Standridge, which utilized rhythmic flow along “Continuance,” an intense and challenging composition by Michael Kamuf.

“Continuance took lots of effort to put together. There are lots of moving pieces so we had to work together to achieve excellence,” senior Kylie Hoffman, a euphonium player, said. 

Next to take the stage was the NASH Honors Wind Ensemble, a select ensemble.

This group played six different numbers. The first one entitled “Emperata Overture” included a strong brass section along with a percussion accompaniment. 

“My favorite piece is Emperata Overture,” Stefan said.

The band then performed “Tears of St. Lawrence,” inspired by the Perseids meteor shower, and “Halcyon Hearts,” which focuses on how love never fails. 

Junior and baritone saxophone player Matt Choe  said, “My favorite song is Halcyon Hearts because it just sounds nice.”

The NASH Honors Wind Ensemble program continued with “Symphonic Suite from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” which captured all of the adventures of the Harry Potter storyline. The performers concluded the concert with two pieces, “Interstellar” and “Christmas Vacation,” leaving the audience stunned and inspired to make the most of the upcoming break.