STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

Felt snowballs flew around The Argyros.

And Music Director Brad Hershey donned a marching band uniform as the Wood River Orchestra performed “Carol of the Drum,” better known as “The Little Drummer Boy,” “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers” and “March and Trepak” from ‘The Nutcracker.”

The orchestra’s annual concert was filled with merriment and good cheer as Wood River High School’s Fisher Hattula, who had a solo segment during one piece, donned green reindeer antlers and dangled a snowman from his viola.

Kali Orr turned out in full Christmas regalia down to her Christmas stockings to support her mother Terri Orr, who was playing in the orchestra.

The Caritas Chorale joined the orchestra for one song. And five current and former Wood River High School students joined in for a round of Christmas and Hanukkah medleys, as well.

The holiday concert, as always, was free. But silent auction items were up for bid to raise money to purchase sheet music and rent auditoriums.

They included a dollhouse donated by Jo Harmon that opened up to showcase three floors of beds, plaid sofas, a puppy dog, Christmas tree and even a bathroom with a bottle of Lysol sitting on the tiled floor.

Photographers from the Sun Valley Photographer’s Club contributed framed photos of landscapes and apples. Among them, Steve Heidel’s amazing photograph of young skiers, including two of his grandchildren, running slalom gates at Rotarun.

First violin player Cora Ward and viola player  Fisher Hattula posed for photo ops in front of a musically-themed Christmas tree at The Argyros prior to the concert

The auction items included paintings of majestic mountains and full moons by Debbie Bouiss and Marty Lyon, a resplendent sun necklace donated by Jo Harmon and a basket full of children’s books written by Hailey author Leslie Patricelli.

Did we mention that Ketchum’s Limelight Hotel donated a night’s stay?

Orchestra members even took time out from practice to bake up homemade Christmas cookies, including baklava and  cute little snowmen cookies with orange frosting noses, bug-out eyes and red caps made with sprinkles.

Violin player Andrew Moffat told the audience how he had lived in several communities without community orchestras.

The Caritas Choral sang Eric Whitacre’s “Glow,” along with the orchestra.

“I came here and I found community,” he said.

Jo Harmon donated this lovely dollhouse for the silent auction; the house opened up in back to showcase what’s in the rooms.