PRESS PHOTOS BY DONNA GEWERTZ Northampton Area Middle School concert band Director Benjamin Leavitt, far right, conducts a last-minute practice and instrument check with the concert band just before the Northampton Area School District secondary bands winter concert Dec. 8. The performance, held in the Northampton Area High School auditorium, featured band members from grades 6 through 12 playing a selection of Christmas and holiday songs.

Northampton Area High School junior Vincent Matika takes advantage of a last-minute practice session with his baritone saxophone just before the Northampton Area School District secondary bands winter concert, held Dec. 8 in the Northampton Area High School auditorium. The band included students from grades 6 through 12 playing a selection of Christmas and holiday songs.

Family and friends gather to congratulate band members Trinity Pahountis (fifth from right), a junior playing piccolo; Drew Janders (fourth from right), a junior playing the marimba; and Dominick Pahountis (third from right), an eighth-grade student percussionist, on their concert night.

Pianist Lucas Mantz, a senior, accompanies the Northampton Area High School concert band during their playing of “Ride Through the Valley,” “Holiday Celebrations” and “Celtic Bell Choir.”

Autumn Maikits, a ninth-grade NAHS band member, practices on her trombone just before the concert. She will join fellow band members from the middle and high schools on stage.

Seventh-grade band member Ava Zeiner (third from right), a flutist, is greeted by family, who presented her with a gift and flowers, after the concert.

Members of the NAHS concert band presented Director James J. Sansone with an appreciation gift for being an excellent band director and mentor. The gift bag included a book of “motivational quotes,” for which he is noted as frequently using with students.

Eighth-grade student Devin Kurtz, with the seventh- and eighth-grade concert band percussion section, makes music on the chimes.

Tenth-grade student Caleigh Fenstermacher rehearses some of the Christmas-themed songs on her flute just before showtime.

French horn player Sydney Gibiser, in ninth grade, receives flowers from her mother, Stephanie Morris, and stepfather, Jaden Morris.