The weekend of 17th - 19th November was a busy one for the musicians. Sunday afternoon found them at Christ Church for the advent service, but their main performances were on Friday and Saturday evenings.

On Friday, the evening opened with the Intermediate Band under the direction of Mrs. Rachelle Hugg, Their best-known piece was "Jupiter", from Holst's "Planets Suite", in an arrangement by head of music David Hugg. The two other items were "Serengeti", by John Higgins, and "Jefferson County Overture", by John O'Reilly. All of their pieces were well-chosen, lively audience-pleasers, which the students obviously enjoyed playing.

The Intermediate Choir continued the upbeat theme while taking us round the world with "Waltzing Matilda", "Shoshone Love Song", the French carol "Noel Noel" and the African rhythms of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight". Piano accompaniment was by Mr. Shingrin Shishak and Jeerana Sindhuros.

The concert finished with three pieces by the Advanced Orchestra: Mozart's symphony No. 25 in Gm (K183), Skaters' Waltz by Waldteufel and a lively and evocative "Folk Tune and Fiddle Dance" by Percy Eastman Fletcher.

On Saturday it was the turn of the Intermediate Orchestra, the Advanced Choir and Combined Choir, and the Advanced band. The March from the "Nutcracker" provided a melodic and engaging opening, and this was followed by the Andante from Haydn's "Surprise Symphony" and "Petite Bouree" by Angelo de Prosse - a good mixture of the popular and the less-known.

The choir pieces, agaion conducted by Miss Anne Sheehy, were: "Flo Me La", arranged by Nina Simone; "Out of the East", by Harry Noble; the traditional"Down to the River to Pray", and "Gloria" by John Rutter. The Combined Choir then concluded with the seasonal "Let there be Peace on Earth" (Sy Miller/Jill Jackson), with accompaniment from the Advanced Band Brass. Piano accompaniment for these pieces was by Ennuri Jo.

The Advanced Band, directed by Mr. David Hugg, treated the audience to some fireworks with two foot-tapping pieces: "Tournament - Rhapsody for Band" (Stephen Bulla) and a medley from Andrew Lloyd Webber's now-classic "Jesus Christ Superstar".

Congratulations must go to all who played a part in these concerts, including the AV technicians, the stage crew and ushers. It takes a lot to put on two concerts of such quality, and at Woodstock we have somewhat come to expect this standard all the time. Well done to everyone.