Kennedy Music Department Welcomes Winter in Annual Holiday Concert

By Sarif Morningstar, Chief Photographer

Playing in unison with the other trumpets, Armando Muse (9) performs his first winter concert with the Kennedy band. (Photo by Sarif Morningstar)

Projecting their voices out to the crowd, the Kennedy choir soprano and bass sections spread holiday cheer through song. Choir director Mr. Bryan Stroh conducts the choir every concert. (Photo by Sarif Morningstar)

Calmly staring into the crowd, Ryan Cai (12) humbly accepts his applause. Cai joined choir as a piano accompanist only weeks before the concert. (Photo by Sarif Morningstar)

Reading his music, Harrison Arakawa (11) performs “A Big Band Christmas” on trombone. (Photo by Sarif Morningstar)

Though smaller than last year, the Kennedy orchestra still output a great performance. The orchestra is composed of mostly underclassmen. (Photo by Sarif Morningstar)

Sporting purple Sacramento Kings sunglasses, Ellis Penn (11), sets up before the jazz band performance. The Sacramento Kings gave Mr. Hammond the sunglasses after the event with Vince Carter. (Photo by Sarif Morningstar)

Taking a break from clarinet, Haley Flanagan (11) begins the vocals for the jazz band’s second song, Baby It’s Cold Outside. This is Flanagan’s first year in jazz band. (Photo by Sarif Morningstar)

Lights strung on her french horn, french horn/mellophone section leader Kaylee Kazee (11) takes a breath to prepare for the next phrase. Kazee got the lights from a separate band, Sacramento Youth Band during its trip to Santa Cruz to play in a night parade. (Photo by Sarif Morningstar)

Watching band director Mr. Jeremy Hammond’s baton for tempo, clarinetist Joseph Samosa (12) plays holiday music for concert band. This was Samosa’s fourth year in the Kennedy band, so much of the holiday music was familiar to him. (Photo by Sarif Morningstar)

The Kennedy band and color guard has over 140 students enrolled, the largest band program in the school district. (Photo by Sarif Morningstar)

Gently bowing her violin, Annabell Vue (10) plays at the winter concert. (Photo by Sarif Morningstar)

Nate Davis (Left, 10) and Haley Flanagan (Right, 11) duet to the classic song, Baby It’s Cold Outside. Vocals are rare in Kennedy jazz band concerts. (Photo by Sarif Morningstar)

Focusing intently on his music, cellist Ethan Pham-Aguilar (10) plays for the orchestra’s first performance of the year. This is Pham-Aguilar’s first year in the Kennedy orchestra. (Photo by Sarif Morningstar)