Hampton schools present Winter Concert Series

If the recent cold snap isn’t enough to usher in the holiday season, there will be no shortage of festive concerts at Hampton schools.

The Hampton Township School District Music Department proudly presents its 2023 Winter Concert Series, showcasing the talents of nearly 1,000 students in fourth through 12th grades. All performances are free of charge and open to the public.

High school band director Chad Himmler has been at Hampton for 20 years and is part of the leadership team that organizes the concert series.

“All of the concerts celebrate the holiday season in some way. The elementary and middle school music ensembles include a couple of holiday selections on their programs, while the high school band and orchestra concert is all holiday music,” he said.

Himmler is looking forward to the series because it brings about a transformation in style. This will be the high school band’s 20th performance of the year, but the previous 19 were more traditional ensembles.

“After a fall season of football games, band competitions, honoring veterans at the Operation Troop Appreciation Veterans Day 5K Race as well as the Pittsburgh Veterans Day parade, this concert will be a festive change of pace for the band students,” Himmler said.

Audience members can expect to hear pieces of music that the students have worked on throughout the school year.

“People should come to experience many students engaging in the ultimate team game of performing in a music ensemble,” Himmler encouraged. “Every student is important to the performance of the group. It’s that unique collaboration, in real time, that makes music special and an integral part of our society.”

Himmler enjoys his job because he gets to help students achieve things that they never thought they could. It’s the long-term projects that Himmler finds most rewarding.

“So much of society today revolves around immediate gratification. Becoming a musician, however, is only achieved by committing to a long-term goal and diligently pursuing that goal little by little over an extended period of time,” he said.

He also likes to see students grow and mature over time.

“Our music students develop patience, teamwork, perseverance, unselfishness, compassion, empathy, joy, humility, and attention to detail,” he explained.

Sean Desguin is the music department chairman and has been the elementary band director for 17 years. He, too, is involved with organizing the concert series.

“Our winter concerts will showcase our chorus, orchestra, and band students uniquely representing all five schools in our district,” he said. “Attendees at our winter concerts can expect a variety of music, from timeless holiday classics to newer pieces representing a wide range of genres.”

Desguin is another faculty member who enjoys his job at Hampton.

“I have loved making music since a very young age. I decided in high school that I would like to pursue a career as a music educator and have enjoyed helping students find that same love over my 22 years of teaching,” he said.

Desguin says that community members and parents are all welcome and that everyone should come to hear the outstanding student musicians at Hampton Township schools. Folks should come to hear some holiday classics as well.

Winter concert series performances continue with:

• Fifth- and Sixth-Grade Band, 7 p.m. Dec. 5, middle school auditorium

• Seventh- and Eighth-Grade Band, 7 p.m. Dec. 6, middle school auditorium

• High School Band and Orchestra Holiday Concert, 7 p.m. Dec. 11, high school auditorium

• Elementary Orchestra, 7 p.m. Dec. 12, middle school auditorium

• Middle School Orchestra, 7 p.m. Dec. 13, middle school auditorium

• Central Elementary Fourth- and Fifth-Grade Chorus and Fourth-Grade Band, 7 p.m. Dec. 14, Central cafeteria

• Poff Elementary Fourth- and Fifth-Grade Chorus and Fourth-Grade Band, 7 p.m. Dec. 14, middle school auditorium

• Wyland Elementary Fourth- and Fifth-Grade Chorus and Fourth-Grade Band, 7 p.m. Dec. 14, Wyland multipurpose room

• High School Chorus Holiday Concert, 7 p.m. Dec. 20, high school auditorium