The Wolf Pack Music Program’s annual Benefit Concert for St. Jude’s Research Hospital is happening on March 20, 2025. The goal of this concert is to raise money for the hospital through cash donations and online fundraisers that are open for the duration of the concert. The concerts follow themes that are chosen by the students, often playing familiar songs from movies, TV shows, and pop music, providing an entertaining night for the families in attendance.
This year’s theme is music from the 1990s, but there have been well-loved themes over the last four years. Current seniors of the music program shared their favorite Benefit Concert themes over the years they’ve been at West High.
Senior Christian Belmar has been in band for four years, and he says, “My favorite Benefit Concert theme was for sure the Heroes and Villains theme from [my] freshman year. We had a lot of cool songs from Marvel and Disney that year, and even some Westerns.”
“Over the years,” comments senior Kimberly Matasol, who has been in choir for four years, “I think my favorite would have to be the boy bands theme [from 2024].”
Amaya Calderon, another senior who has been in band for four years, says, “My favorite was boy bands. There were a lot of classic songs that we all grew up with as kids.”
When asked what she was looking forward to seeing at this concert, Matasol replied, “I’m looking forward to seeing the SpongeBob idea they were talking about [in the PA announcements].”
“I’m looking forward to playing Best of Smash Mouth,” Calderon adds. Symphonic Band will be playing a medley of Smash Mouth songs, and she adds that a few of them are from Shrek.
Belmar looks back on the amount of money made in past years. “I’m really looking forward to breaking $2,000 at this year’s concert. We have gotten really close in the past but we’ve never actually broken that barrier. I have hope for this year, though!”
If you like music from the 1990s, and you want to help raise money for charity, head to the Wolf Pack Music Program’s Benefit Concert!
