When the first note was played at the concert, it was clear it was going to be an amazing performance that night. On December 3rd, 2025, the FMS Bands had their first concert! There were many wonderful student performances, as well as some amazing bands, such as the Wind Symphony, Falcon Big Band, and the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade bands. In addition, there were some exceptional soloists.
There were a lot of amazing performances by several bands. Falcon Big Band played “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “Big Noise From The North Pole”, with soloists Gabriel Diringer and Omar White. The FMS Wind Symphony played “The Witch”, “Christmas At The Movies”, and “The Saint” with soloist Yerik Gomez De La Rosa. The 6th-grade band played “Festival Of The Eternal Lights”, “Furioso”, and “Westwind Overture”. The 7th grade played “Shut Up And Dance”, “African Bell Carol”, and “Lost Woods Fantasy” with soloist Charlotte Mickey. The 8th grade performed “The Cave You Fear” and “Selections From The Polar Express,” featuring solos by William Bryan V and Gabriel Diringer. All of the songs were performed very well and provided great entertainment for the entire audience! The student solo performances showcased incredible talent as well. Amazing work!
We had a chance to interview some of the students who participated about how they prepared themselves. First, Falcon Press staffwriter Jack Flynn interviewed Evangeline Meyer:
Jack Flynn: What instrument(s) do you play, and how long have you been playing for?
Evangeline Meyer: I have been playing saxophone for almost two years.
JF: How is it being able to manage being in more than one ensemble?
EM: It was a little difficult because myself and the other 6th-grade Wind Symphony kids didn’t know if we were supposed to stay on stage or not when switching.
JF: What are some ups and downs of being in the band?
EM: Good things were that it’s good for meeting people, and it’s good for you to learn an instrument. A bad thing was that there needs to be more playing time to practice.
JF: If you played another instrument, what would you play and why?
EM: I would play the trombone because when we watched the video of the people playing the instruments, I decided I wanted to play because I liked the sound.
Next, Omar White interacted with Charlotte Mickey about her performance. She’s in the band, as well as the FMS orchestra.
Omar White: What instrument(s) do you play, and how long have you been playing them for?
Charlotte Mickey: I play the oboe, and I’ve been playing it since the beginning of September. I also play the violin, and I’ve played that since 4th grade.
OW: How is it being able to manage being in more than one ensemble?
CM: Amazing! And I get to play in two concerts!
OW: Why did you join the band?
CM: I love playing music, and the sound of the oboe makes me happy.
OW: What are some ups and downs about being in the band?
CM: An up is being able to be around people who like to do what I do. A down is being pulled out of class, and having to make up for the work I missed.
OW: How do you manage doing all of this and keeping good grades?
CM: I take a lot of work home, do lots of studying, and regulate practice time.
OW: If you could pick another instrument to play, what would it be and why?
CM: Trumpet because I want to play in Jazz Band.
Overall, the FMS winter concert was a great reminder of how talented our students are. From first-time performers to regular soloists, every student showed hard work and care. Future concerts will be held soon! The Bands of Morris concert will be held on March 25th at 7:00 at MHS. The Spring Concert will be held on May 13th at 7 pm at MHS, and the Falcon Big Band “Jazz Night” will be held on May 7th at 7 pm at MHS. As we look ahead to these performances, one thing is obvious: the future of FMS music is looking bright. Make sure to come out for one of them!
