Though the fall marching band season has come to an end, it is only the beginning of competition season for those involved in the Oakmont-Overlook Marching Spartans Winter Percussion and Winter Guard. The winter ensembles are competitive groups that meet during the winter, starting rehearsals in December and competing through March and into early April for NESBA Finals.
The Winter Percussion and Guard shows play hand-in-hand this year, as they both play into the well-known story of Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Below are previews from the Winter Percussion’s Gavin Stone and Winter Guard’s Sophie Newell, where they both share snippets of what their respective ensembles’ shows will entail.
Winter Percussion Preview: Down the Rabbit Hole!
Get ready for this year’s Winter Percussion show entitled “Return to Madness.” The thrilling show is based on the famous story of Alice in Wonderland, and follows Alice as she takes a trip through Wonderland. There is something off, though.
Alice, played by senior Lila Mallory, returns from a long confinement in a rustic, echoing asylum to a world that feels as bewildering as Wonderland, though far less magical. Once a curious girl who chased white rabbits and spoke boldly to queens, she now struggles to trust her own thoughts, which flutter around her like mischievous playing cards whispering doubts.
The first movement features soloist Cara Landry, senior, who plays the role of the White Rabbit along with the other snare drums, luring Alice into this false “Wonderland.” As Alice falls further into the rabbit hole, she encounters the Mad Hatter, played by senior Gavin Stone, along with the other tenor drum players. The bass drums portray the Cheshire Cat, which haunts Alice in the back of her mind throughout the whole production.
The second movement portrays an exciting tea party which features a horn quintet. During the third movement, it is revealed that Alice has mistaken wonder for madness as the rest of the ensemble changes into white lab coats. As the strain of proving her sanity grows heavier, the boundary between reality and imagination begins to blur once more, and Alice finds herself teetering on the edge of another fall down the rabbit hole, where wonder and madness are impossible to tell apart.
Winter Guard Preview: Off With Her Head!
This 2026 Winter Guard show is titled “The Red Queen,” and the show begins by showing what the kingdom is like when the Red Queen, played by senior Sam Kender, is in charge. The opening act shows the tyrannical rule that the people of the kingdom are subjected to. The other members of the guard are running around the floor following the rule and living in fear of the Red Queen.
This dynamic quickly changes when Alice, played by junior Chloe Kruse, enters the kingdom. The guard becomes very curious about Alice, and very quickly, all attention is drawn to her. The guard begins to follow her around, and she soon takes the place of the Red Queen. Though the kingdom seems peaceful, this quickly changes when the Red Queen realizes she is losing her power.
This leads us into the final moments of the show, where the Red Queen orders the guard to find Alice and defeat her. The guard falls right back under the Red Queen’s rule and begins the hunt for Alice. The final moment of the show ends with the guard circling the Red Queen and Alice for their final battle. This is when Alice finally defeats the Red Queen for good and takes her throne.
Oakmont’s winter ensembles are extremely excited to show off all of their hard work at their first competition in Melrose on March 7. You can also see the winter ensembles as well as Oakmont’s Concert Band, Concert Choir, Jazz Band, and Select Choir perform at the Winter Concert on Tuesday, March 3, at 7:00 PM.
