The student news site of Westwood High School.

Westwood Horizon

The student news site of Westwood High School.

Westwood Horizon

The student news site of Westwood High School.

Westwood Horizon

A & E

From November 17- December 31, ZACH Theatre has been putting on their unique spin on Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol. A holiday tradition in Austin, the theatre has been putting on various iterations of this classic tale for years. A grand spectacle chock full of great performances, this years show remains an amazing outing for the whole family.

Spirited Scrooge Spectacle: ZACH’s ‘A Christmas Carol’ Stuns

Mayla Montgomery, Reporter December 26, 2023

Christmas in Austin is far from the wintery wonderland many associate with the holiday. But despite the persistent humidity and warm temperatures, many of the city's favorite Christmas traditions are still...

Riya Patil 24 serves as the president of Westwood Orchestra. With this being her third year on the officer team, Patil has prioritized building a comforting community within the program. I want people to just be comfortable with where they are in their musical journey and just be supportive of each other,” Patil said.

Orchestra President Riya Patil Endeavors to Connect Organization

Avi Rajesh, Reporter December 25, 2023

Thunderous applause greets the Westwood Symphony orchestra as they take their places on the stage of the Raymond E. Hartfield Performing Arts Center (PAC). Before the conductor walks on stage, Riya Patil...

Smiling for a team photo, Warrior Pride members decorate sugar cookies together to celebrate the holidays. The team hosted a festive party during their midterm block, conducting various fun activities such as cookie-decorating and a Kahoot featuring fun facts about each member. I think it was a great end to a busy semester, Pride member Anamitra Ghosh 26 said. I had a good time relaxing amidst finals week.

Warrior Pride Hosts End-Of-Semester Holiday Party

Aarya Kale, Reporter December 20, 2023

Celebrating the end of the semester and the upcoming Christmas season, Warrior Pride members enjoyed a festive holiday party during their midterm exam block on Monday, Dec. 11. Enjoying activities to relax...

Holding hands, the choirs join together on stage and sing. Breaking traditions from previous concerts, all of the choirs remained on stage together throughout the concert. I really enjoyed singing with the entire program because it felt nice to feel supported while singing, Anika Salsberry 25 said.

Choir Hits Right Note at Winter Concert

Ellen Chuo, Photo Editor December 18, 2023

Starting the holiday season on the right note, Westwood Choirs performed at their annual Winter Concert titled “Underneath the Stars” at the Hope Presbyterian Church on Friday, Dec. 8.  Westwood’s...

Conducting, Band Director Thomas Turpin leads the Wind Ensemble at their sendoff concert. The Wind Ensemble was chosen to perform at a highly selective program, the Midwest Clinic. “I don’t think there is even a word in the dictionary to describe the emotion I’m feeling,” Mr. Turpin said. “Proud, absolutely, I’m honored to share the stage with these young artists.”

Wind Ensemble Showcases Pieces at Midwest Sendoff Concert

Jacob Chow, Heritage Staff December 18, 2023

In preparation for the Midwest Clinic, the Westwood Wind Ensemble held a sendoff performance of their Midwest program on Thursday, Dec. 14 at the Raymond E. Hartfield Performing Arts Center (PAC) before...

On Saturday, Dec. 9, band students competed at TMEA Region auditions. With 65 making a region band and 30 advancing to Area auditions, this the largest amount of students who advanced to Area in the schools history.

Band Students Set Record at TMEA Region Auditions

Jacob Chow, Heritage Staff December 17, 2023

After months of hard practice, Westwood Band members completed their Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) All-Region Band auditions on Saturday, Dec. 9. 125 members auditioned, with 65 making a region...

Reading their sheet music, Avi Rajesh 25 performs Nocturne by Gustav Holst. Students received their music for this concert in October, giving them just over two months to learn and master it.

Orchestra Sets Stage Aglow at Winter Concert

Chloe Oakley, Campus News Editor December 14, 2023

For 80 minutes, sustained string sounds reverberated around the Raymond E. Hartfield Performing Arts Center (PAC) walls, interrupted only by the occasional change of orchestra and audience applause....

The Wind Symphony plays together at the Christmas concert. For the past month, the band has rehearsed Christmas music to perform for family and friends. “I think [the concert] went great,” Kylie Bojorquez ‘24 said. “The bands did a great job.”

Band Lifts Spirits at Annual Christmas Concert

Mina Stephens, Heritage Staff December 10, 2023

Lifting holiday spirits, Westwood Band performed at their annual Christmas concert at the Raymond E. Hartfield Performing Arts Center (PAC) on Monday, Dec. 4. The Concert band began the performance...

On Nov. 17, the long anticipated prequel to The Hunger Games was released. The movie follows the story of Coriolanus Snow through his time as a mentor and a peacekeeper, but it was too much to fit into one movie, making the character development and plot feel rushed.

‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ Was Too Predictable

Hannah McDonough, Horizon Assistant Editor December 10, 2023

Sitting anxiously next to his peers, Coriolanus Snow watches the 10th Annual Hunger Games unfold before him on a television screen. The camera pans to Lucy Gray Baird, his assigned tribute, as she waits...

Waiting for rehearsal to begin, color guard captains Ari Coulekar ‘24 and Keira Humphries ‘24 stand ready with their rifles to learn new choreography for their winter guard show. The captains have made sure the members of the Color Guard are ready to have a productive rehearsal and know what equipment to have. The guard is very, very enthusiastic about everything right now, Coulekar said. I remember at the show reveal, everybody was super excited about the show and suggesting things already even though it hadn’t even started yet.

Color Guard Captains Ari Coulekar and Keira Humphries Reflect on Time as Leaders

Sabareesh Dinakaran, Reporter December 10, 2023

The captains took place under the blinding fluorescent lights of the Alamodome, ready to perform their show for the massive audience cheering them on and the judges up in the stands. The drum majors started...

With precision, Lerchen Zhong 26 delves into Claire de Lune by Claude Debussy alongside the All-Region Symphony Orchestra. The award-winning orchestra received a standing ovation after their performance.

All-Region Clinic and Concert Display Student Collaboration in Music

Serena Liu, Reporter December 7, 2023

As the conductor lifts his hands, students calmly get ready to unleash the result of hours of practice and rehearsal, their music skills sharp and clear in mind. The audience sits silently, all ears...

The new SunDancers get together to pose for a picture following the ribbon ceremony. Taking the photos, the current SunDancers cheered them on.

SunDancers Welcome New Members at Ribbon Pinning Ceremony

Mina Stephens, Heritage Staff December 6, 2023

Coming together in the Warrior Studio, SunDancers welcomed their fellow Newbies at the annual ribbon-pinning ceremony on Monday, Dec. 4.  The week prior, SunDancer contenders had to go through...

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