It was a packed house Wednesday, Dec. 18 when the Dartmouth Middle School sixth, seventh and eighth grade bands performed a selection of holiday songs. 

It was an array of tunes, even a few Halloween pieces, but much of it was what attendees have come to expect over the years, according to band director John Sousa.

Eighth grader Grayson Edgecomb said he loves the “holiday spirit, which gets everybody up, especially with the Santa hats on. 

He added, “It makes everybody a lot more happy and plays better.”

Sophia Carvalho, an eighth grader, noted, “It’s something we do all the time and it’s like a yearly thing, so it's nice to have this last holiday concert before we go to high school.”

“We can all dress up and really be festive. I think that really adds to it,” she said.

During the concert, Sousa gave a shout out to Carvalho, Martine Kahalife and Leah Freits for all making it to districts this year. 

He highlighted their perseverance given that each didn’t make it after trying out in the seventh grade, but they kept going.

“It takes a lot of self drive,” Sousa said, noting that students don’t receive help through school for it.

Kahalife said she’s always looking for her next challenge to improve her skills on the clarinet because she has so much fun with it.

In regard to the concert, she said, “I think Mr. Sousa and all our staff makes it really special because we get to learn all this music throughout all these three years and then eventually be ready for high school band, which is like ‘the big leagues.’” 

She added, “In general, we really have to thank them for everything because they help us with everything.”

Freits said the concert was exciting for her because the sixth and seventh graders looked up to them and this was their moment to show them the role models they are.

Eighth grader Gianni Rogers said he loves looking into the crowd and seeing both familiar and new faces. 

Looking back on his time in the band, Rogers said he’s proud of how far he’s come by putting in the effort in the last three years to improve himself as a musician. 

“If you work hard, you can really achieve a lot,” he said.

Sousa said he was pleased with the nights’ performances, noting the two younger bands are the first to begin learning their instruments in the sixth grade — whereas in previous years they have started in the fourth or fifth grade. 

He said, "Ultimately, my hope is that our students have a very positive and enriching experience as they grow and develop in the band program."