Winter Gala: a Night to Remember

What began as a medieval-themed choir experience has become Silver Creek High School’s most inclusive musical celebration, bringing together more than a dozen ensembles for the annual Winter Gala.

The Winter Gala, started in 2021, is a combined concert on the first Saturday in December every year. It takes place in the Silver Creek auditorium with performances at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., showcasing everything from Chamber Choir to Percussion Ensemble, Fiddle Group, and the combined Band and Orchestra ensembles. Each ensemble performed one to three pieces, with the full program running approximately two hours per show, not including intermission.

This year’s Gala featured approximately 200 student performers and attracted more than 250 audience members across both shows.

“The Winter Gala provides an opportunity for all of the A-Wing musicians to come together in collaboration and seasonal fun,” said Jeremy Skelton, the choir teacher at Silver Creek High School.

However, the Gala was not the first event that brought together the musical groups of Silver Creek. Originally, this annual event was known as Madrigal.

Silver Creek’s performances of Madrigal began in 2004. It was primarily a choir event, which included some orchestra; however, the band was rarely present, so adjustments were needed. The main act of the Madrigal was the theater performance, set in medieval times.

“We would have a royal court: king, queen, duke, duchess, prince, and princess; the jester would be the main master of ceremonies throughout the event,” Skelton said.

The Winter Gala began in 2021 when the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions prevented schools from serving food to guests, which was a main component of Madrigal. The venue’s capacity limitations also contributed to the change because Madrigal’s dinner theater format accommodated fewer attendees than the current concert-style Gala, which accommodates for a larger attendance due to the two-show format. In recent years, as a remembrance to Madrigal, organizers have reintroduced elements from Madrigal into the Winter Gala, including dessert art and beverages.

“We’ll have our actors in medieval garb looking for Madrigal, but then they find the Gala and fall in love with this new programming,” Tracy Knick, the theater director at Silver Creek, said.

The shift towards themes from Madrigal attempts to keep sentimental value while also uniting Silver Creek’s performing arts programs under one event.

“We don’t want to be a program of three separate entities; we want to be a bit more inclusive,” Skelton said.

Some of the benefits for performers and staff are the opportunities that arise from working with other musicians who are not typically put together.

“Every group gets to be included in the gala, and it’s a concert to showcase every ensemble,” Jorah Foote, a member of Symphonic Orchestra and Fiddle Group, said. “I also really enjoy being able to spend the day with my friends who are in different performing groups.”

Hailey Donahue, a member of the Chamber Choir and Concert Choir, stated that there is usually little mixing between the forms of music. Donahue highlights how choir performers won’t see much of what band or orchestra performers are working on, but in this concert, there is room to have all of the groups collaborate. This also allows students in different groups to learn from each other.

“I like being able to be in a performance with multiple musical groups,” Katelyn Brown, a member of the Symphonic Band and Percussion Ensemble, said. “It’s not just band, just orchestra, just choir; we get to combine everything.”

The Silver Creek Organization for Performing Arts (SCOPA) coordinates logistical preparations for the event, including auditorium decorations, food service for performers and attendees, and, as of 2025 a silent auction that runs during both performances.

Katerina Pliego, the new orchestra director at Silver Creek, finds that the Winter Gala is an exciting event, however there is much preparation to make it happen.

“It takes a lot of planning to have everything run as smoothly as possible,” Pliego, said.

While many high schools hold winter concerts, Silver Creek’s two-show format is uncommon in the area.

“Skyline High School has a music wing collaborative performance called Winter Gala, but it’s only one performance during the week,” Pliego said. “Most high schools have a winter concert where they feature all ensembles, but not to the extent we do.”

Another part of the Gala that is unique to Silver Creek is the students’ ability to add to their concert attire and to add character to how they present themselves. The flexibility that students have with their individual performances at the Winter Gala allows students to add their own persona with small details.

William Legg is the band director at Silver Creek. He appreciated how much fun the students who participated in the event brought to each performance.

“I like seeing the sort of individual little things that the kids like to wear; the hats, the scarves, the crazy ties, all those kinds of things are fun,” said Legg. “Kids get to have a little bit more personality come through.”

The preparation for the gala and excitement of it not only transcends across the three different musical departments but also spotlights the directors by showcasing their enthusiasm for their students’ education.

“The students are very well prepared, and I can’t wait for them to show off their hard work and passion for music,” Pliego said.

It is not just about participating in the Winter Gala; it is also a great opportunity to show how much music means to the Silver Creek community.

“I’m just excited to have every student share their love of what work they do in performing arts with our greater community,” Knick said. “There’s something to really love about the Gala, and that’s what were hoping to really highlight this year.”

The Winter Gala is a great opportunity to highlight all of the students involved in the musical arts at Silver Creek High School at an event that draws people in every year.

“I think that [the Winter Gala] is a real celebration of the talents of the students that we have in the A-wing,” Knick said. “We’re all working toward the same goal, and that is making [our] children shine.”