On Wednesday, October 9, 2024, the Southwest Instrumental Music Organization is putting on a fall concert in the auditorium at Southwest High School. The concert, featuring Band, Jazz Band, and Orchestra, is based around the theme of Postcards From Around The World. 

This global concert theme is of great importance to Reid Wixson because it helps to represent underrepresented artists, of all different backgrounds and cultures. This includes the “bowing” of a string instrument, which is the position of the bow on the instrument, and whether it goes up or down. This could also include the time signatures of the music which means the amount of beats per measure. For instance, in one of their pieces there is a 7 count: 1, 2, 3 – 1, 2 – 1, 2 count , compared with the average measure which has an 8 count.

Along with Wixson, the students have put a lot of effort into this performance. For some, Wixson’s class is their only musical outlet, so they put in as much work as possible. For a quarter of the students, it is their first ever performance at Southwest. 

“The auditorium will be a great venue for our first concert,” Amelia Schilling (‘28) said. She recalled setting up chairs for the performance space at Anthony Middle School and shared that “everyone is so excited to begin the journey of playing in the amazing auditorium.”

As Wixson said, “The first performance is always a good fire and motivation for the new students.” 

 “I am really excited for the upcoming concert because it is my first concert here at Southwest,” Auggie Godfrey (‘28) said, first chair French horn player for jazz band and symphonic band.

With the stage being a more professional space than new students are used to, and the crowds being much bigger, it can cause a lot of nervousness. Wixson did say that the difference between the first performance and the last performance of the year is amazing because the students’ confidence has just soared.

There are a lot of emotions that go into performing music, and after speaking with Wixson, he said “Most students gravitate towards one or two pieces, but different people seem to like different pieces we are performing.” Wixson also explained how the different classes do not know what the others are performing. So not only will the audience have a wonderful time watching the recital, but the performers will get to watch the other classes perform as well. Wixson and all of Southwest Band hope to see you there at 7 pm!