The West Chicago Community High School music department hosted a middle school music festival on Nov. 20 to prep for the upcoming holiday concert.

It is not new for the music programs of WCCHS to invite middle schoolers to perform in the holiday concert. Students in the music department were field-tripped out for the whole day so they could focus on their individual upcoming performances. The festival began at 9:00 a.m., with Leman, Benjamin, and Winfield middle school students arriving at entrance H. The itinerary included games, divided practice, lunch, tours of the building, and a mini concert performed by the high schoolers followed by a Q&A.

“It was really scary being an eighth grader and coming here, but it was fun and I’m happy to help new eighth graders feel comfortable,” freshman Catherine Foos said.

First, students were split up based on which department they were part of. Then they participated in games such as “Elephant, Bunny, Toaster,” and “Simon Says.” This was a way for different grade levels to mingle and get to know one another before practicing.

“We’ve been planning for the festival since the beginning of the school year…we have about 150 middle schoolers this year (across band, choir, and orchestra), its a fun day for them to get a taste of what its like to be part of a high school music program,” band director Marissa Janiszewki said.

After practicing for the December concerts, the department began staggeredly sending out tour groups to show around the eighth graders and to kill some time. The tours started in the English hallway and wrapped all the way around the building until they ended up back in the music department for lunch.

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Photo by Ja'Nyah Villa

Middle school students were welcomed with open arms. Literally.

Pizza and various snacks were served to students to fuel up before their performances! At around noon, Orchestra performed “Russian Dance,” from famous ballet “The Nutcracker.” It was then followed by a performance from the Acappella chamber choir doing “April is in My Mistress’ Face.” Concert choir followed a similar formal theme with latin piece “Exultate Justi.” The band ended the show with a bang, “Mount Everest.”

After the show, the floor was opened up for the music panel to discuss and answer commonly asked questions for incoming freshman.

“They remind me how I started out in orchestra…so full of ambition and curiosity,” senior Danais Gomez said.