Story by student reporter, Brianna Parker

Locals will be rocking to the Christmas tunes Thursday. Thomas County Central High School Bands program is celebrating the holidays by hosting a concert.

The event will take place in the TCCHS gym at 7 p.m. on Dec. 15. The concert is free and open to the public. It will include a variety of Christmas tunes. The school’s gold, blue, jazz, and marching bands as well as the dazzlers all will be performing.

“If you would like to hear the ‘sounds of the season’ from a variety of different ensembles, please come,” enthused TCCHS Assistant Band Director Paul Johns. “There will something for everyone at this concert.”

To prepare for the event, students had to get in the Christmas spirit early and start practice around the end of October. They have been practicing during their band class periods and after school.

“We’ve been practicing very hard and I believe our concert will showcase how far we’ve come since the beginning of the year,” senior gold and jazz band member Logan Leik said.

Johns said the songs the bands are playing shift from traditional Christmas tunes to others that are not played too often. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “All I Want for Christmas is You” are two tracks to expect.

“There is so much variety in this concert,” stated Johns. “With the variety of slower pieces, fast pieces, and toe-tapping pieces, there should be something for everyone at the concert.”

Senior Austin Kelley, who plays the baritone saxophone, said his favorite selection is “Frosty the Snowman.”

“It is my favorite because I love Christmas music,” he said. “This tune is very bright and happy.  This song features the saxophones and I enjoy playing with my section.”

The performance will be full of Christmas spirit and will hopefully spread holiday cheer to Thomas County.

“I hope that the people who attend our performance will not only enjoy the concert but appreciate the hard work that goes into the whole production,” dazzler and percussionist Georgia Smith said.