The cool air breezes on by as denizens of Atwater nestle themselves near the stage. Vendors get their lights and merchandise ready for on-lookers. Parents sit on the front mat of synthetic grass as their kids bobble about. Marshall musicians scrambled around as they got themselves prepared for their 4 o’clock performance for the annual Atwater Tree Lighting Festival.

As soon as the string ensemble finished tuning their strings, one of the elfish event leaders introduced them to the audience, “Right now, I’d like to welcome to the stage, our performers. Everybody give it up for the most talented Orchestra in the entire city, the John Marshall High School Orchestra! We’re so proud to call them ours! (Give it up for these guys!) Alright, guys, take it away!”

The string ensemble played a selection of Christmas songs, starting with “Joy to the World” and then “Frosty the Snowman,” to honor the holiday spirit.

“I felt like we could’ve done better,” says Aldo Ramirez, a cellist in the orchestra, “I wanted to go home.”

Although this opinion from one of the performers is a bit negative, the audience’s reception was far more mellow.

“I think you guys did a great job,” Mr Ramirez, conductor and teacher of the Marshall Orchestra, told me.

When the Orchestra rang their last note, the Jazz band got ready to play their songs, which were “Jolly Old Saint Nick” and “Jingle Bells.”

“My thoughts on the Atwater performance…I liked seeing all the stuff when it was over,” Logan Wick, bassist for the jazz band told me.

Later in the evening, our school’s dance team, FYE, performed for the Atwater Village crowd. Their performance was met by a good reception, with everyone having a good time throughout the event.

“It as great…except that part where I almost fell off the stage,” Yara Moran recalled.