Wareham High School students took to the stage to show off their musical abilities in the music programs annual winter concert.

The concert will took place Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 6 p.m. at the Wareham High School auditorium and music director Jason Roth said the theme for this year's concert was spooky Christmas.

"The kids were dressed in all black but it will be very festive and fun," said Roth.

The chorus, beginning band, advanced band and the jazz band performed in the concert and Roth explained he does something unique which is let the seniors have a lot of input into many different aspects of the performance, including the theme and what pieces the ensembles perform.

"I find that if the students are involved in the creative process they find the process more fulfilling," said Roth. "It involves a lot of student leadership and I think that they hold themselves accountable and feel really good."

Roth said there was "a lot of music played and sung" across the four ensembles including many classics and a few not so thematic pieces the groups have been working on in preparation for their upcoming competition season.

"The jazz band did ton of fun Christmas tunes like the Grinch and 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman,' the chorus sang a bunch of festive songs like 'Frosty the Snowman,'" said Roth. "The beginning and advanced band did a bunch of Christmas compilations."

In preparation for the concert senior and member of the choir Alissa Cardoza said they "had to practice a lot" and added that she enjoyed being apart of the decision making for the concert.

Cardoza said she first joined choir when in middle school and added she has been able to make many great friends through the music program.

"I have gotten to meet a bunch of new, lovely people and make new friends, said Cardoza.

Junior Camryn O'Connor is a percussionist in many of the bands and has been for four years and said she is most excited to play music with her friends during the concert.

"I've been able to make best friends and I've met people that I've been friends with for over four years," said O'Connor.

Roth added he is one of the few faculty members with the chance to watch a student grow across every year of high school in his music classes and said he sees kids grow not only as musicians, but as people.

"We talk a lot about being respectful, communicating well, being patient and I really love seeing [the kid's] growth in those departments and seeing them become leaders."

Next up for the music department is the Tri County Choir Festival, a music festival for many high school choirs to perform at and this year, it is being held at Wareham High School Saturday, Jan. 18 at 2 p.m.