As marching band season comes to a close, band students begin to prepare solo pieces to perform at University Interscholastic League (UIL) competitions for the upcoming concert and jazz season. Students are selected for either season based on skill level and experience. Students that are selected to perform in jazz band compete in multiple competitions across the school district.

“Being a freshman in Jazz 1 has inspired me to work harder for what I want to achieve, and this achievement has made me feel very accomplished,” freshman Christian Nino said. “I’ve been learning jazz for three years now, and I’ve been practicing every day to be the best I can be.”

While band students are practicing for their competitions this upcoming season, it is also time for their annual fundraisers. The band sells luminarias and fruit baskets to raise money to support the next year’s marching season, as well as to pay for new instruments and have featured musicians come and work with students.

But as they look ahead to the new year, the band still has one last concert to get wrapped up before 2020.

“Personally, Christmas season is one of my favorite seasons to play and perform,” junior Nataly Garcia said. “It gets people into the Christmas spirit, and there’s a lot of positive energy within the band during this time.”

The band is practicing for their upcoming holiday concert on Dec. 17.