The SM East Winter Orchestra Concert took place on Dec. 4 in the auditorium. All members of the SM East Orchestra were following an annual tradition of wearing festive sweaters at winter concerts. To start the concert, the Concert Orchestra began on stage, a group of high schoolers and middle schoolers combined. They performed four character dances from The Nutcracker, including the Russian dance. The final piece they played was “Fantasia on an Original Theme”. Following the Concert Orchestra was the Philharmonic Orchestra. The first piece played was “The Winter King”, described by orchestra teacher Mallory Lysaught as “icy” and “expressive”. Following that, the Philharmonic Orchestra also played “Shattered” by Michael Hopkins. The Symphonic Orchestra, the highest excellence of orchestra members, played Greensleeves Variations and a piece called “Fight of the Ice Dragon”. Towards the end, all three orchestras combined played “Christmas Eve Sarajevo”, “Once upon a December” from the Ana...