School concerts planned

As the holiday season approaches, schools across the Mountain Home district will host a series of concerts this month.

The music season begins Monday, Dec. 16, during a high school choir concert at 7 p.m. in Lloyd Schiller Gymnasium at the high school.

In addition to performances by the high school and junior high school choirs, the concert will mark the first public appearance of Robin Milligan's fifth- and sixth-grade choir from Hacker Middle School.

"This is exciting because the elementary choir program was cut a few year's back," said Michael Stear, director of choirs for the high school and junior high school.

As a result, the current junior high school choir includes students who didn't sing in a choir until the start of this school year.

"These less-experienced singers are starting from scratch, which has been a bit of a challenge this year," Stear said.

Students from the Base Primary School will continue the holiday tradition with two shows at 2:30 and 6:30 p.m. Dec. 18.

The high school's concert and jazz bands will then join band students from the junior high school for a winter concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 19 in the high school gym. According to band director Jerry Tippets, the show will feature general holiday music "with a twist."

Ensembles with the high school band will make additional appearances throughout the month, including a performance the evening of Saturday, Dec. 7, during this year's Festival of Trees at the Mountain Home Auto Ranch. They're also expected to perform in selected stores across Mountain Home in December.

The band performances will follow their participation at the District 3 band festival this Friday at Capital High School.