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By Christoph Dundas

AHS Band Director

It is a busy month for the Austin Public Schools Music Department with students performing nearly every day! The month kicked off with TubaChristmas on Dec. 2, hosted by Discover Austin, with five APS students among a group of 30 tuba and baritone players.

The next day, five AHS extracurricular ensembles—Jazz Band, La Fiera, Flute Choir, Choralaires, and Austinaires—performed to an audience of over 300 at the Paramount’s Sounds of the Season show.

Our students love performing at the Paramount Theatre! It is a beautiful space that we can fill with sound, and we had a big, enthusiastic audience cheering on our students.

The Sounds of the Season performance started a stretch of 16 performances in 19 days for the Austinaires show choir.

“December is a full month as we perform for wonderful audiences all over Austin,” said choir director Kalle Akkerman. “We love seeing so many familiar faces, and we are excited to perform for many new people as well.”

Along with the Austinaires, the Choralaires have traveled around town for several performances as well.

La Fiera chamber strings had a pair of community performances on Dec. 14-15, and orchestra director Gene Schott explained the value of performing the same music multiple times.

“It is great for our kids to see the way that different audiences respond to the same music, and to give our students the opportunity to keep growing as musicians with each performance,” He said.

Concerts at school started this week with six different fifth-eighth grade instrumental ensembles performing on Monday night. Fifth, sixth and seventh grade bands performed, followed by sixth, seventh and eighth grade orchestras just half an hour later. On Thursday the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grade choirs performed a big night of choral music! Band teachers Colin Zidlicky and Ethan Wightkin, along with orchestra teachers Leah Motl and Jacob Crosby and choir teacher Nathan Berthelson, did an excellent job preparing young students for their performances and showing audiences the growth at each level. It is amazing to hear what the hundreds of young musicians can accomplish through hard work and dedication!

December wraps up with the Austin High School Holiday Concert on Monday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. in Knowlton Auditorium. If you arrive early, several extracurricular ensembles will provide   music throughout the building starting at 6:20 p.m. The concert will feature selections from Mixed Choir, Treble Choir, Concert Choir, Wind Ensemble, and Symphony Orchestra, and will continue the tradition of a mass performance of Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” with AHS Choir alumni invited to join on stage! Don’t miss this concert! Tickets are available at the door ($7 adults/$5 students, free for Austin High School students), but come early as lines will be long!