CRESTVIEW — It was no surprise to Crestview High School band director Jody Dunn that a crowd had lined up just outside the Pearl Tyner auditorium, prior to the Christmas concert Tuesday night.
"There are a little less than 500 seats available in the auditorium. We usually have an excess of that," he said.
Click here to view video highlights from the concert>>
Friends and family members of students who performed in the concert filled the auditorium to listen a variety of Christmas music selections.
Attendees fortunate enough to get inside the auditorium were able to listen to six different ensembles, including four concert bands and two jazz bands, Dunn said.
Each ensemble performed renditions of holiday classics. The school's concert and symphonic band performed selections from "The Nutcracker" and "O Magnum Mysterium," among others.
The school's jazz ensembles performed other holiday favorites, like "Winter Wonderland" and "Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer."
Using the jazz ensembles for background music, Azyia Taylor, Nick Watson, and Elizabeth Dunn earned applause following their solo performances of "Christmas Time Is Here," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "Jingle Bells."
Performing before a large crowd was nothing new to senior Foster Lux, 16, who played a clarinet in the wind ensemble at the end of the concert.
"I like the crowd … when you get to hear their feedback and how much they enjoyed it," she said. "I just like performing before other people, because they can enjoy it as much as we do."
In addition to being in the 2014 Okaloosa All County Band with 31 other band members, Foster, who is the band's drum major, also made the 2014 Florida All-State Symphonic Band.
Foster said her final year performing in the CHS Christmas concert is "bittersweet."
"It's sad to go, but it is about time (to)," she said.
Kathi Peyton attended to see her 17-year-old daughter, Shayna Clay, play the school's concert band.
Peyton said in addition to seeing her daughter's own performance, watching the other students' are just as enjoyable.
"I like it mostly to see the other kids' talents," she said.
Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHS band Christmas concert continues to draw crowds (VIDEO)