If there were any nerves among the fourth graders of the Minot Forest Elementary band and chorus they were well-concealed at Tuesday night's concert.

The students sang and played for a large crowd inside the high school auditorium, under the direction Russ Hart.

The winter concert was the culmination of a lot of commitment and hard work from all involved, said Hart.

“The school is very supportive of the program but so are the parents,” he said. “We have our rehearsals before classes five mornings a week, two for band and three for chorus.”

Because the students cannot transport their instruments on the school bus they have to be brought to school by 7:40 a.m. and then picked up at the end of the day.

“I’ve been very happy with the turnout," Hart said. "Not one morning have I had less than 30 students.”

The evening concert opened with the 45-member band running through an eight-song repertoire, with one of the students introducing each number. Fourth grade teacher Shelly Jensen had come to help out with the students and said she was very happy with what she was hearing.

“It’s really phenomenal,” she said. “Because they practice before school, we don’t get to hear them. And it’s just great to see so many kids up there. There are over a hundred kids involved.”

Parents were equally excited, with the concert providing the first occasion to watch their children performing with the entire group. Bethany Cardinal was there to hear her daughter Zoey, who will be 10 next week.

“Zoey started flute this school year and she loves it,” she said. “She practices quite a bit and she gets up with her brother who’s in middle school and gets herself ready. We really look up to Mr. Hart. He’s done an excellent job.”

Participating in band and chorus is integral to the children’s development according to Hart.

“It give them the sense of working with others and also working in parts. That gives everyone a chance to shine individually but also gives them a good feeling of being part of a greater whole.”

Their performance level will be even higher by the time the spring concert comes around, he added.

“The main push is to have them continue through the years,” he said. “We want to build a whole network to keep the leaves on the trees.”