The combined bands of West Bainbridge and Hutto middle schools will continue their tradition of getting local citizens in the Christmas spirit Tuesday, Dec. 9, when they present their annual Christmas concert at the Decatur County Memorial Coliseum.

The concert, which will include traditional Christmas favorites like “Up on the Housetop” “Frosty the Snowman” and “Jingle Bells,” will begin at 7 p.m.

The West Bainbridge band is directed by Spence Salter, a former outstanding member of Decatur County School System Director of Bands Paschal Ward’s award-winning marching and concert bands. Joy Grimsley, former director of the Cook County High School Band in Adel, directs the Hutto band.

Ward says the experience the annual Christmas concert gives the middle school bands is very important.

“The Christmas concert gives our middle school musicians a chance to show their parents, other family members and the public what they have learned and how talented they are,” Ward said. “They and their outstanding directors work very hard, not only during the Christmas season, but throughout the year. Their performances at the spring awards concert at Bainbridge College are always outstanding. I am extremely proud of them.”

In the overall band program, which begins in the sixth grade and runs through the 12th grade, we have more than 500 musicians, Ward said.

The middle school bands provide a feeder program and help lay the foundation for Ward’s BHS bands, who annually win superior ratings during the marching and concert seasons.