For the first time ever, the concert band and wind ensemble performed two separate winter concerts. Both concerts were held in the Pavilion Dec. 8 and 9.

“Everything has been on the rise. It’s been an increased level of participation and enthusiasm from the community and the students. These concerts were by far the best we have given,” band director Zachary Borquez said.

The band program struggled in the past with a lack of students and funding. Many listeners, however, crowded the Pavilion.

“The school [has] needed this for a long, long time,” band member Weston Pollock said.

Band member and senior Nathaniel Driggs attributed the program’s recent success to Borquez.

“[Borquez has helped with] growing our program and getting it to be where it should be,” Driggs said.

Between the concert band, wind ensemble and jazz band, students performed renditions of a wide variety of songs ranging from “Les Miserables” to “Lush Life.”

To select songs, Borquez searches through the school’s archives with his students, and they often sight-read the music.

“We want variety in the program as far as styles, and speed, and tempo and volume,” Borquez said.

The students also get to choose “crowd pleasers.” For the winter concert, they chose a version of “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.”

To balance out these modern pieces, Borquez introduces more traditional music as well.

“There’s a wealth of literature that are staples in the concert band just from an [educational] stand-point — their quality, the compositions themselves,” Borquez said.