The holiday concert happens every year at First Flight, but this year’s will be very special for Cezette Barnes.

She is going to retire and get married to Don Tyler. Her last day teaching will be Dec. 18.

“My retirement is bittersweet,” Barnes said. “I am sad about having to leave, but happy to start a new chapter in my life.”

Before the new chapter can be written, Barnes will close the book on her career with the annual holiday concert. The 12th Annual FFHS Winter Concert takes place Tuesday, Dec. 8, starting at 6:30 p.m. The concert will feature performances by the string orchestra, choruses, concert band and honors jazz band. The concert is free and open to the public.

Barnes and Tyler plan on traveling to places like Paris, Italy, Mexico and Central America. They are planning a wedding that will happen sometime in the spring. The students that Barnes teaches seem happy for her, but sad to see her go.

“I like that the people in class are free to be themselves,” freshman Courtney White said. “We spend our whole day under the pressure of school work and social standards, but then when we walk into chorus it feels like no one will judge you for who you are.”

Most of Barnes’ students have known her for three, four, even seven years, so it will be hard for them to see her go.

“Many of my students started studying music with me in the sixth grade and stayed with the program until they graduated,” Barnes said. “It is easy to become very attached with these students in those years.”

In that time, Barnes has helped many students become better singers — and even better people.

“Ms. Barnes has helped me since sixth grade,” senior Hannah Blizzard said. “Because of her, I can hold notes longer, hit very high notes I didn’t think were possible for me to hit. But most of all, she’s given me confidence in my singing and my life.”

John Buford will be Barnes’ replacement. Buford has been teaching the choirs at First Flight elementary and middle schools. He has worked with Barnes during concerts involving all three schools.

“I am excited to continue the great work and excellence that Ms. Barnes brought to First Flight,” Buford said. “I have really enjoyed working with Ms. Barnes. I think we’ve made a great team. I will miss her enthusiasm and her dedication to the students.”

Tuesday’s concert will open with the orchestra playing “Fantasia on Greensleeves” and an arrangement of “The Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy.” Then the choruses will be performing “Winter Wonderland of Snow,” “Believe” from “The Polar Express,” and “Peace on Earth,” among other selections. The concert band will close the auditorium part of the performance with “Hill Country Holiday,” “Greensleeves” and an arrangement of “Suite from the Nutcracker.”

The honors jazz band will be performing in the rotunda after the concert. Their charts are “Blue Rondo a la Turk,” “Sir Duke,” “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” and “Hard to Handle.”

Freshman Hayley Miller completed this story for her Intro to Publications project. She can be reached at [email protected].