Belmont is starting to sound a lot like Christmas.

The schoolB次元官网网址檚 musical departments are already ringing with the jingle of the holiday season in preparation for a West Shore tradition with more than 50 annual performances behind it.

B次元官网网址淓very year when we come to our Winter Concert, it is a big celebration of everything we have worked towards,B次元官网网址� said music director Mandart Chan. B次元官网网址淚t boils down to our seven performance ensembles.B次元官网网址�

A director at the school for four years, he is confident the 120 students performing everything from classic motown hits, contemporary jazz and even a classic circus march from the 1800B次元官网网址檚 and a handful of originals will be well worth the price of admission and the proof is in the familiar faces.

B次元官网网址淲e have quite a few of ex-Belmont  parent that come back year after year,B次元官网网址� Chan said. B次元官网网址淭heir children have graduated eons ago, (but) they keep coming back because they know (what) they are going to get.B次元官网网址�

Two-time Winter Concert performer Melissa Thomson brings her alto saxophone to her third and final appearance in her graduating year B次元官网网址� and feels the burden of mixed emotions her final time out.

B次元官网网址淚t is really fun and a great way to kick off the season ... It is going to be a great experience,B次元官网网址� the Grade 12 student said. B次元官网网址淚 might cry at the end of the year concert but I am pretty excited for the Winter Concert.B次元官网网址�

The performers fill the schoolB次元官网网址檚 south gymnasium with music, Dec 6 at 7 p.m. B次元官网网址� and bass clarinet player Katie Gray is excited about making her second appearance in one of the biggest musical nights of her year.

B次元官网网址淢usic is one of my passions and it is a lot of fun. Everyone is friendly and awesome and everyone enjoys what we do,B次元官网网址� said the Grade 11 student. B次元官网网址淚 think it is all about sharing everything important, both with the people you like to be with and the people you love.B次元官网网址�

That relationship is something Chan relishes year after year and is still a big part in why he looks forward to this performance every winter.

B次元官网网址淭he best part is seeing the faces of the students and their parents after the concert. After the lights go up you can see all these smiling faces going wow I canB次元官网网址檛 believe we just did that,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e have been working everything for the last four months for this one night.B次元官网网址�

Admission is by donation with all proceeds going back into the Belmont music program. Non-perishable food donations will also be accepted on behalf of the Goldstream Food Bank.