While the live music from bagpipes, the symphonic band and orchestra surrounds family and friends sitting in the bleachers at graduation, this year the jazz band and choir will be performing as well.

This year will be the first time the jazz band and choir will be joining the symphonic band and orchestra at the graduation.
Music theory teacher Trevor Chaix said that before, only the symphonic band played at graduation, which only changed after he came to teach at Piedmont.

“Last year, we incorporated an orchestra as well,” Chaix said. “It was also the first year in many years where we combined a symphonic band with the orchestra to make a symphonic orchestra and you get to play different rep.”

Guitar player junior Eric Venner said that each of the bands practice the same pieces individually during their class period.
“Before graduation, we’ll all meet together and practice,” Venner said.

Venner said that the performance should be really emotional and he hopes that seniors feel the music and the weight of the situation.
Chaix said that while the bands don’t typically perform together, this experience will give them the opportunity to play as one big band.

“They all come together and perform something collectively,” Chaix said.

Other than performing at graduation, there are students who are in multiple ensembles and may be a part of jazz band and symphonic band.

“I think between jazz and symphonic bands, there’s the biggest interaction because there’s a couple of people who overlap in both,” Venner said. “For example, I have a free seventh period, so I go to the symphonic band often and play percussion in that.”

Chaix said that the two classes coming together shifts the ensembles from 30 people to an ensemble having around 80 people.

“That was a really great success last year,” Chaix said. “There were lots of positive comments from the community and students about [the larger ensemble].”

Last year, it was only the symphonic band and orchestra that played, so this year will be the first time incorporating the jazz band into the ensemble as well.

“Jazz band was the only instrumental group that wasn’t included in that, so we’re adding around 15 kids to the group just to kind of fill out the sound,” Chaix said.

Upright bass and electric bass player junior Gianluca Richmond said this is the biggest band they’ve ever played in.

“I think it’ll be really cool,” Richmond said.

Saxophone player junior Raiden Holt said that he’s really excited to play in the large group. Venner said that it’ll be very widespread and fun because there will be a lot of people there.

“I think it’ll be really fun to play for a large audience,” Venner said.