Woodland band performs before Oregon Symphony concert

Woodland — The Woodland High School Beaver Band performed at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on Oct. 21. The students played for attendees for “The Phantom of the Opera” as part of the Oregon Symphony’s Prelude Concert Series, in which local youth and community bands perform in the lobby before the symphony’s show. Bryana Steck, music teacher for Woodland Public Schools and director of the band, reached out to the symphony after seeing a colleague’s ensemble playing in the concert hall’s lobby during a prior visit. The students performed for 20 minutes in the lobby of the mezzanine level. “The kids were nervous about playing in such a fancy venue in front of an audience of musical connoisseurs, but the appreciative applause set the entire band at ease,” Steck said in a release from the district. “We even heard clapping coming from attendees downstairs in the lobby.” The students also received free tickets to that night’s symphony performance.