Heather Wright Photo

 When Janelle Wiens went to her first Lambton Concert Band show, she loved the music so much she asked when the next concert was. When the little girl learned it was Dec. 19 – her birthday – in Petrolia, she had to be there. So the youngster took four of her friends to the Victoria Playhouse for A Victorian Christmas. She got a huge surprise when she was called to the stage, introduced and asked to lead the closing number “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.” Director Tessa Canton lead her to the podium, handed her the baton and said “it’s easy!” and the music started, with Janelle, now 9, leading the band. Afterwards, she still looked a little shell-shocked admitting she was a little scared to be leading the concert band in front of a nearly packed audience.