The St. Louis High School concert, jazz, and steel bands wrapped up their concert season in the high school gymnasium Tuesday, May 16, at 7 P.M. The bands perform a few times throughout the second semester but the end-of-the-year POPS! Concert is a particular standout event. During these performances, the bands play iconic songs that anybody in the audience could recognize. It’s also a fun change of pace that allows the bands to really relax and have fun.

Junior Tori Patterson, a member of the concert and steel bands, remarked, “It was really exciting, because it was our last concert of the year.”

For seniors, the concert holds a bit of sentimental value. It is the last performance of their high school careers, and the last chance to really get together and make music with friends. 

“I’m not a senior, but it’s definitely a scary thing to think about,” elaborated Patterson. “I can’t believe that’s going to be me next year.”

The concert isn’t just important for seniors, however. Freshmen enjoy the performance, as it’s a sort of rite of passage.

“It was my first POPS! concert,” shared Harley Mader. “So that was really exciting.”

The highlight of the night for Patterson was winning the junior band award. “It was my favorite part of the night,” stated Patterson. “It was really amazing seeing everyone get excited for me.” 

Mader’s highlight, however, was when the concert band played. “It was super fun to play our songs for concert band,” said Mader. “I could tell that everyone was nervous for the concert, but we pulled through and made it sound great for everybody.”

The POPS! concert concluded the end of indoor performances for the bands, but they will return to perform a few more times before the end of the year. The marching band will perform at a Loons baseball game and in the annual St. Louis Memorial Day parade. The steel band will play for the graduates at graduation, as well as play a few songs in the Highland Festival Parade.