The music department and performers around campus are warming up to put on a show tonight.

The Winter Warmer Concert is this Friday, January 26 in the Chapel. Mrs. Garrity and Yana Pyryalina ’18 are running the event. The concert is trying to raise money and give it to the people who are less fortunate in Easthampton.

Yana plays an important role in the Winter Warmer. “So actually I started the (hopefully continuing) tradition of these charity concerts last year, and I have been organizing it in collaboration with the music department, and with the help of the community service club,” she said.

“A while ago Williston had a similar series of concerts open for the whole community,” she added, “so I guess the tradition is finally restarted, just with the addition of service to our community”.

Another objective of this concert, in addition to community service, is showcasing solo performers and music groups that are not often represented in our music program. “I was amazed by how many talented people are around us, when we have no idea about their musical skills,” she said.

For example, Yana didn’t know that “Steven Wang played the guitar so well (in addition to being a math superstar), or that Ms. Cody had such a beautiful voice!”

“I hope that this concert can let people see each other beyond the narrow labels of ‘the math genius’ or ‘the Latin teacher,'” she said. “And hopefully, after seeing these musicians, more people will believe in their ability to be a great musician too.” Yana, in addition to setting up the show, looking for performers, and making sure everything runs smoothly, is also performing.

Last year Williston collected $400 from the audience, enough to buy several warm items for the families in need.

Sophia Schaefer ’18 is co-leader of Community Service Club. “The Winter Warmer Concert is a great way for us to help our local community while enjoying a musical performance,” she said.

The club will be collecting donations at the concert, and will have also have a box in the Schoolhouse where people can put any warm clothes–coats, hats, blankets–to donate.

There are 24 performers for the concert: Tori Zingarelli, Shirley Zhou, Kenneth Wang, Mr. Tyree, Shearee “Shez” Zangmo with Emily Cho, Anaya Akpalu with Xander Rogers, Ms. Cody, Judah Ebanks with Thomas Thibault, Nozomi Asamura, Yael Trager, Rio Oshima, Kira Bixby, Anna Moran, Harrison Winrow, Steven Wang, Yana Pyryalina, Caroline Channell, Claire Harrison with Ha Phan, Josh Holmberg, and Mr. Berlanga.