Last Wednesday, on a decidedly damp evening, the exterior of the field house rather resembled a beehive, although a black and white one. From its doors streamed humming, and many voices buzzed inside. Surely this was a celebration. For the String Jam Honeybees, that is.

Hundreds of students from grades 3 to 12 and their parents joined together for Wayland’s 20th Annual String Jamboree, which was a smorgasbord of delights. The chefs? Jane Ezbicki and Susan Memoli, concocting some of the finest dishes by the greatest composers. The menu? High school appetizers of the thrilling “Molly of the Shore” alongside the scrumptious classic, “West Side Story,” which was topped off by a nice flavoring of drums from Aaron Rosenthal. The middle school main courses featured a solid “Allegro from Concerto Grosso, Op.6, No.1,” followed by the inspirational “Oregon Trail.” For dessert, elementary students joined with “Two Appalachian Songs: Once I Had a Sweetheart, and Cindy,” the must-have “Ode to Joy,” and the all-time-favorite, “Twinkle-Twinkle.” Tim Caradonna also supported the orchestra with a sprinkling of his piano-playing skills.

It was a joyous event that mingled laughter, music, and community. Ezbicki began the tradition twenty years ago. For her and for seniors Tully Cheng, Peggy Wang, Neal Dandekar, and Samantha Gupta, the evening was bittersweet, as this was their last String Jamboree. Ezbicki will be retiring this year.

The high school orchestra will be performing the High School Instrumental String Concert on April 2nd and will join with brass and wind sections for the Massachusetts Instrumental & Choral Conductors Association (MICCA) Adjudication Festival on April 4th.