Community Chorus presents ‘Holiday Classics’

Holiday Classics, the Chorus’s winter concert series, will be presented December 8 and 9 at 7pm and December 10 at 3 pm. in Avey Hall of The Chapel in the Hills at 14601 RR 12 in Wimberley.

This holiday and winter-themed program, under the direction of Jay Martin and accompanied by Karla Cruz, takes us back to many “mid-century” favorites such as Twas the Night Before Christmas, Sleigh Ride, Winter Wonderland, and You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch. Contemporary classics such as Glow, evocative Hanukkah melodies – One Light and Hanerot Halalu (Light the Candles) and Vivaldi’s classic Gloria will complement the program’s traditional holiday offerings. A string quintet from the Canyon High School Orchestra will accompany several works and there will even be Christmas carol singalongs. Afterwards, there will be a reception with seasonal refreshments.

Chorus Director Jay Martin teaches choral music and class piano at Canyon High School in Comal ISD where he also serves as a campus teacher leader. His choirs consistently earn superior ratings, and, as a member of the Texas Music Adjudicators Association, he frequently judges UIL Vocal events. He has been teaching in the Austin area since 1994. Mr. Martin served in music ministry at New Life Church of Austin for 13 years as the adult choir director. Not only has he directed and co-directed several school and community musical theater productions in the area, but he also performed in the Austin Lyric Opera’s production of Verdi’s Don Carlo and in the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Austin’s production of The Gondoliers. He received his bachelor’s degree in music education from Texas A&M University– Commerce (East Texas State University) and his Master of Music degree from Texas State University. He lives in New Braunfels with his wife, Myra, his daughter, Bethany, and his pug, Rupert.

The program’s accompanist, Karla Cruz has been directing middle and high school choirs in Texas for thirty years and is currently associate choir director and advanced piano teacher at Canyon High School in New Braunfels. Her choirs have received consistent Sweepstakes awards at UIL competition and have won “Best of Class” at festivals in Breckenridge, Los Angeles, South Padre Island, and Toronto. In Canada, her choir was awarded the “Esprit de Corps” award. In 1999, her choir was selected as an honor choir to perform at the Texas Music Educators Association convention. In addition to directing choirs, Karla is an adjudicator for the Texas Music Adjudicators Association and a clinician who has conducted choirs in Texas and Louisiana. She is also the choir director at Wimberley United Methodist Church. Karla got her music education degree from Southwest Texas State University (now TXST) with an emphasis on piano, which she studied with Dr. Tim Woolsey. She now lives in San Marcos with her husband, guitarist Mark Anthony Cruz.

For more information, go to wimberleycommunitycho-rus. org