This year, Edina High School’s performing arts departments will come together to host the third-annual Winter Jubilee concert. Winter Jubilee performances occur on Friday, Dec. 11th Saturday, Dec.12 at 7P.M. in Fick auditorium.

Winter Jubilee features performances from the top EHS Band, Orchestra, Choir and Thespians.  “Winter Jubilee is the only show of the year where you can listen to all three top ensembles at the high school at once; it’s amazing to listen to them play together,” said senior Symphony Orchestra member Sammy Ausman. Winter Jubilee is a crowd favorite. “There will be a lot more people attending these two concerts than any other concerts because it includes all the top musical ensembles from EHS,” said senior Concert Band member Xander Idrogo-Lam.

Winter Jubilee features an extensive and challenging repertoire of holiday themed pieces. “My favorite piece to play would probably be ‘Holiday Rhapsody.’ It is a band feature only and I love playing festive music. It is very difficult to play, however this makes it much more satisfying to perform because of all the hard work the band has put into it,” said Idrogo-Lam. “My favorite piece to perform is ‘Lullaby.’ [Our Orchestra conductor] Mr. Gaudette always tells us before we play it that his mom is going to be crying in the audience if she hears it,” said Ausman. This adds pressure to the entire ensemble.

Students love performing at Winter Jubilee for many reasons. “My favorite part of the Winter Jubilee is the opportunity to play festive and exciting music, it goes in sync with the season and is joyous to hear,” said Idrogo-Lam.“My favorite part of Winter Jubilee is listening to all of the different top music ensembles play,” said Ausman.

However, getting ready to perform at Winter Jubilee was not an easy task. “A challenge of the Winter Jubilee is that there are going to be three different ensembles on stage at once. This means that until the dress rehearsal, I will never have heard the whole group actually perform [the songs] ‘Patapan’ or ‘Fum Fum Fum,’” said Idrogo-Lam. Orchestra members felt similarly. “One of the challenges is that we only get to rehearse one time all together before the concert. You really have to be prepared for that rehearsal since it’s your only opportunity to listen to the other sections parts before the concert,” said Ausman. In addition, “the band will most likely have to play softer than we’ve been practicing so that we do not cover up the choir or orchestra, and it will be difficult to have different conductors (Mr. Henderson, Mr. Gaudette, and Mr. Kile) all conduct us, as we are not used to all of their different conducting styles,” said Idrogo-Lam.

Despite all these challenges, the Winter Jubilee is sure to be a unique experience that will surprise and excite audience members. Tickets are available either online or on the night of the performance.