Year round, students and directors work towards putting on a performance for the community. While still having fun, choir and orchestra students alike put forth the effort to sound polished and perfect for all that come to listen.

“My favorite part about concerts is getting to spend time with my friends before and after,” junior Madi Miller said. “I also enjoy getting to hear the other groups perform.”

Six choirs, such as Men’s Chorus, Sandie Singers, Sandie Chorale, Bel Canto, Sandie Belles and

the acapella group New Sound, work all class period. So far, the choirs have performed in two concerts, as well as Sandie Revue and the quantity of New Sound performances that have taken place throughout the year. Behind the scenes, choir director Bryan Hackett spends his time listening to and analyzing fitting songs for each choir.

“I love to present the final, polished product of music,” Hackett said. “It’s a great feeling to see the audience and hear them react to the music that we have worked so hard to perfect.”

Ranging from the freshman orchestra Philharmonic to the afterschool Full Orchestra, students have and continue to work hard perfecting each song. For the fall concert, the four main groups performed two songs each. In between the fall and winter concerts, the strings section of Full Orchestra had their own ‘Carnival of the Animals’ performance in November just before Thanksgiving break. Then, for the winter concert, all four of the main groups performed three songs each.

“I actually spend a lot of time choosing songs that compliment each other, are fun for the students, and that are covering the TEKS that I need to teach,” orchestra director Breanna Parker said. “I start in April the year before, and then I continue to look and score study through the summer.”

 Now, as they enter competition season, all five groups work hard to perfect their music for UIL on March 11. Behind the scenes, student volunteers help out with setting up the warm-up room, stage and sightreading room while also making sure all the AISD groups, judges and other volunteers are comfortable and where they need to be. On top of that, students like sophomore Mason Kee spend their free time practicing and determining what their section needs to work on. 

“My free time includes me practicing my cello for 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours almost daily,” Kee said. “I spend part of this practice time preparing the music for upcoming concerts or determining good bowings, fingerings, etc. for my section.”

Now as concerts and competitions come up fast, students work hard to make an exciting and enjoyable production. 

  “The ability to share with the audience how the music makes me feel is such a blessing,” Kee said.