BATESVILLE — Holiday music will fill the air as the school concert season gets underway Sunday, Dec. 4, and continues through Tuesday, Dec. 20.

Why should people attend? “To support the diligent work, effort and talent of the community’s students,” emphasizes Pam Gast, Sunman Elementary School music teacher. 

Concerts are free unless otherwise indicated. In order by date:

About 125 band members in grades 6-12 will entertain during the Batesville Middle School and Batesville High School band concert Sunday, Dec. 4, at 2 p.m. in the BHS auditorium.

“I have written an arrangement of ‘God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen’ for the seventh- and eighth-grade bands.  We will also feature the saxophone section during the high school portion of the concert,” band director Eric Stauffer reports.

“Students often reply with how many people came to support them during the concert.  In addition, parents will have a chance to win $10 credit toward their child's Music Boosters account through trivia questions.”

Oldenburg Academy presents “The Sweet Sounds of Christmas” Sunday, Dec. 4, at 3 p.m. in the auditorium. Over 120 students are involved in the Christmas program, reveals instrumental music/orchestra director Kris Wampler.

“All are invited to this Christmas concert to enjoy the many different  facets of all different genres and periods of Christmas music.  This program contains traditional carols, modern music to Caribbean sounds with Christmas music.” Some of the selections include “Do you Hear What I Hear?,” “Christmas at the Movies,” “Christ was Born on Christmas Day” and “Soulful Silent Night.”

St. Nicholas School, Sunman, will hold its concert Sunday, Dec. 4, at 6 p.m. at the Milan High School gym. The theme is based on the Bible’s Luke Chapter 2 “and witnessing to the world who Jesus is,” says music teacher Angie Myers. “It was inspired by Father Pascal, our sacramental administrator .... His question to the children one day was, ‘Are you ready?’”

With help from classroom teachers, about 140 students in grades K-8 will participate.  “We will start off with the makeover of the ‘12 Days of Christmas,’ and we will call it the ‘12 Days of October.’ Our second-graders will play their xylophones,  sixth-graders their recorders and the whole school will sing the new ‘Gloria.’ Our youth choir will sing a new Christmas song directed by Barb Weisbrod and assisted by organist Patty Fledderman. 

A visit from Santa and cookies and drinks follow.

About 150 St. Louis School students in grades K-2 will present “Sing With us the Christmas Story” Monday, Dec. 5, at 6:30 p.m. in the activity center, notes teacher Christy Kushman. “It is a collection of traditional Christmas hymns sung by our children's beautiful voices .... They always sound different when performed by a large group of children!”

Batesville Primary School first- and second-graders will present “Rock and Snow” Monday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m., in the BHS gym. “In this program, our first grade will sing some snowy songs that remind us of the wintry white world we anticipate at Christmastime.    Second-graders will be pepping it up with some Christmas songs that rock!” reports music teacher Lori Spears.

Batesville Intermediate School general music, chorale and beginning band students will present “All About the Holiday Express” Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m. “We are singing a collection of songs for young voices,” explains teacher Erica Vogel. The kids “have been working very hard to showcase just a few things they have learned so far this year in music.” She suggests, “Come early. Parking fills up fast, and seats fill up quickly.”

The Batesville Middle School and Batesville High School choral concert is Sunday, Dec. 11, at 2 p.m. in the BHS auditorium. Three groups – the BMS choir, high school concert choir and Batesville Singers – composed of 114 students in grades 6-12 will be performing, reports choral director Carla Thomas. The middle school choir will be accompanied by BHS sophomore Sarah Call.

Thomas encourages the public to “come and enjoy the beautiful voices of the students of Batesville and renew your holiday spirit.”

Santa, Frosty and Rudolph are expected at the East Central High School choral concert Sunday, Dec. 11, at 3 p.m. at the performing arts center. About 140 teens in grades 9-12 are involved, according to choral director Donna Tanner. Student assistants are Sarah Smith, Allyson Catching, Bethany Gast, Meredith Seamon, Cori Harmeyer and Nikki Zengerling,

On Monday, Dec. 12, at 2 p.m. in the activity center, about 50 K-8 St. Louis School students will participate in the band, strings and choir Christmas concert. There will be “Christmas music, fun music, just a general great performance,” Kushman comments. She will be assisted by violin teacher Cara Simpson. The teacher adds, “All groups are extracurricular. It is a lot of work to have a great performance ready.”

“Searching for Christmas” is the theme of the concert at St. Paul School, New Alsace, which will be held Thursday, Dec. 15, at 6:30 p.m. in St. Paul Catholic Church. Students in grades preschool-6 will be singing “more traditional songs as opposed to Santa songs,” points out lead teacher Jamie Ball.  Music teacher Mrs. Irwin will be running the show. “We will also be incorporating Linus' speech of the birth of Jesus and connecting that to a blanket collection prior to and on the night of the show. All blankets will benefit the Linus Project.

“People are encouraged to attend to ... give back at Christmas by donating a blanket to those in need and listen to the kids singing .... (and) a special surprise visitor is expected to make an appearance in the gym after the concert.”

About 150 Sunman Elementary School third- and fourth-graders will sing and play their recorders for the musical “Melton, the Warm-Hearted Snowman” Tuesday, Dec. 20, at 7 p.m. at the ECHS performing arts center, reports Gast.