The gymnasium at Senator Riley Middle School was packed for their year-end band concert performances last week.

Not only were there the usual concert band performances you would expect but the number of musicians has been growing over the last year.

Senator Riley band teacher Paul Stelter says they even had to expand their program this year.

"Last year we had two concert bands and one jazz band and then this year we have three concert bands and two jazz bands. And that growing back to where things used to be had been so exciting and fun to watch. We were able to run two band camps this year, one for each - the grade sevens and grade eights."

The grade 6 Concert band led off the night at 7 p.m. with three songs; 'Let's Go Band' by Alberta Ahronheim, Zombie Stomp by Rob Grice and Quintessence by Joseph Compello.

Stelter then conducted the grade 7 Concert band through 'Yellow Submarine' by the Beatles which had many people sing along, Celtic Dance with an arrangement from Michael Sweeney and revived an 80's song from Europe 'The Final Countdown'.

The grade 8 Jazz Band then got to perform other hits from the 80s including 'Take on Me' by A-Ha and then they had the audience playing along to a version of 'YMCA' by the Village People.

The Highwood High School's Senior Symphonic band also played a key role in the evening's performance. 

Both schools work closely with one another and often perform together in some way shape or form.

Jace Stearn and Dylan Wiest, band teachers from Highwood stepped in to conduct the theme to 'How to Train Your Dragon' by John Powell and 'Back to the Future' by Alan Silvestri.

The grade 7 Jazz Band then jumped up to perform 'Rockin' the Boat' by Brad Ciechomski and a 60's classic 'La Bamba' by Ritchie Valens.

The fun continued with the grade 7 and 8 Jazz Bands taking the audience down to 'Funkytown' by Lipps, Inc as they segued into 'Pictures at an Exhibition' by Modest Moussorgsky and then jammed on 'Thriller' by Michael Jackson.

And then the big finale combined members of the grade 7 and 8 concert band along with members of the Highwood High Senior Symphonic Band for a magnificent performance of 'The Mandalorian' by Ludwig Göransson.

Stelter was really impressed with how the evening's performances went and was thrilled with how it all wrapped up.

"That last song we played together, it really pushed the grade 7's and 8's who played it but bringing in Highwood to flesh it out... what a sound. Having conducted my 7's and 8's before, they were good, they knew what to do and then adding these mature musicians it was just wonderful."