The Homewood High School fine arts program hosted the annual Holiday Spectacular on Dec. 12 and 13 featuring the band, jazz band, Star Spangled Girls, show choir, and for the first time ever, the theater department and color guard.
Including the theater department and color guard marked a significant expansion for the entire fine arts department, providing more opportunities for different activities at HHS to be showcased.
“This year, it truly is a fine arts show with the new additions,” said Terrace Cobb, assistant band director and color guard instructor.
With more acts in the performance, Cobb has been busy helping organize the show as he conducts the chamber of winds, pit orchestra and teaches new numbers to the color guard.
The band begins practicing for the spectacular as soon as football season is over, trading the field for the stage filled with Holiday spirit.
“We started preparing for this middle of November, right after Veteran’s Day,” Cobb stated.
For some participants, like senior Star Spangled Girl captain Abby McElheny, the holiday spectacular gives them something to look forward to after the conclusion of football season.
“It’s a good way to get over the fact football season is over, especially with it being senior year,” she said. “But it is also such a fun performance to be a part of.”
McElheny enjoys the atmosphere and pressure of being a Spangled, something the team gets to show off at events such as the spectacular.
“The adrenaline rush you get from performing in front of people is just so much fun,” McElheny said.
All the hard work paid off as every VIP seat sold out before the show and the auditorium was packed through the back row with families, friends, students and faculty.
Something special about Homewood and the fine arts department is the ability to bring together a wide range of people which Cobb touched on as being his favorite part of the spectacular.
“Seeing the community come out to support is so cool,” he said. “Seeing the hard work of building the show pay off is rewarding.”
