TORRINGTON – High school students from Torrington, Lingle/Ft. Laramie, and Southeast performed in the Goshen County Christmas Gala Concert at Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) on Monday. The concert is an established and well-loved tradition between the three county high schools, and the EWC auditorium was packed with family and friends. The bands opened the concert and performed Appalachian Snowfall, arranged by Bob Phillips and George Megaw and directed by Lingle/Ft. Laramie High School Director Erin Jespersen; The Winter Storm by Aaron D. McMichael and directed by Torrington High School Band Director Gary Glass; A Horse Drawn Buggy Ride, an adaptation of the traditional Sleigh Ride by Ron Dekker and directed by Southeast High School Director Brittany Weglin; and Carols!, a medley of Christmas songs by David Shaffer and directed by Glass.

The choir students then took the stage, accompanied by LuAnn Nelson, Lorrie Morgan, and Joyce Trowbridge. The choir sang Appalachian Snowfall, arranged by Craig Courtney and directed by Torrington High School Choir Director Katy Fody; Noche de Paz (Silent Night), arranged by Ruth Morris Gray and directed by Jespersen, featuring Sawyer Massie on flute; The Man with a Bag/Santa Baby, arranged by Paul Langford and directed by Weglin; and Brightest and Best, arranged by Shawn Kirchner and directed by Fody.

In addition to the performances, the directors recognized students who have been selected into honor groups. For band, Sawyer Massie, Kaylee Johnson, Callie Martin, Addison Hansen, Cole Tregemba, Brody Harrison, Randy Jenkins, Kiki Flores, Cathryn Reimer, Madison Copenbarger William Knowlton were selected for the 2024 North Platte District Honor Band. Sawyer Massie and Madison Copenbarger were selected for the 2025 Wyoming All-State Band. Madison Copenbarger was also selected to the 2025 Wyoming All-State Jazz Band and the 2024 University of Montana All Star Band. Brayden Duffield was selected for the 2024-2025 All State Marching Band.

Many choir students were also selected for honor choirs. Students selected for the 2024 North Platte District Honor Choir include Ty Fogle, Anna Frederick, Laney Grubbs, Meghan Hooper, Jayden Judkins, Brooklyn Leithead, Asha Mathias, Serenity Minter, Amathyst Parrelli, Cheyanne Rosenlof, Francesca Saland, Tashara Sinner, Avery Van Gundy, Lillith Beck, Lizzy Boche, Hallie Fuller, Nora Jespersen, Kaylee Johnson, Jayden Judkins, Tessa Larkin, Briley Leithead, Makenna Matthews, Shelbi Morgan, Vanessa Shepherd, Brenly Shipp, Karis Walker, Laney Walter, Keegan Black, Jaden Burkart, Elias Bustamante, Brody Harrison, Cayson Morris, Rico Ramirez, Harrison Rodriguez, Gideon Boyd, Sebastian Brumley, Connor Coxbill, Gatlin Davis, Barrett Eichenberger, Marcus Jones, Cruz Lopez, Joaquin Ramirez, Allen Rose, Robin Wick, and Mason Wilkes. Hallie Fuller, Nora Jespersen, Brenly Shipp, Keegan Black, Elias Bustamante, Sebastian Brumley, Allen Rose, Robin Wick, and Mason Wilkes were selected for the 2025 Wyoming All-State Choir. Kiki Flores, Lillith Beck, Nora Jespersen, Elias Bustamante, and Mason Wilkes were selected for the 2025 NAfME All-Northwest Choir. Kiki Flores, Francesca Saland, Keegan Black, Elias Bustamante, and Mason Wilkes also were selected into the 2024 Nebraska High Plains Honor Choir.

The gala was an evening of music and festivity, with both the band and the choir performing with excellence and with so many Goshen County students to celebrate significant accomplishments.