The holiday season is striking a new note this year in Austin, and organizers hope it will hit the right pitch with the public.

After a popular holiday show came to a close, Austin Public Schools’ music program stepped in to fill the void. The Paramount’s main 2015 holiday show, “Christmas at Home,” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18 and 19, along with a 2 p.m. show on the 19th.

“It’s exciting that it will be another homegrown show,” Austin Area Commission for the Arts Executive Director Jennie Knoebel said.

The shows will be a musical review featuring musicians from several student groups at Austin Public Schools along with faculty, alumni and friends along with emcee Alice Holst.

“It’s going to be a star-studded event, that’s for sure,” Holst said.

Each performance will feature a different set of acts, like solos and ensemble groups, and Holst is excited to be involved in a show that will bring performers young and old together to support music and to support the arts at Austin schools. She encouraged the community to support the show.

“I just hope people embrace the hard work that’s going on and really support the show,” she said.

Replacing a holiday staple

Planning for the show started a little more than a year ago when the popular Michael Veldman and Friends show was coming to a close.

AHS band director Bradley Mariska and other Austin music faculty came together and started planning a holiday show.

“We started talking to each other saying, hey, there’s an opportunity here, there’s a void to be filled,” Mariska said.

They brought their idea to Knoebel, who said she’s excited to fill the Veldman slots with local talent, as traveling holiday groups haven’t been as popular in the past. While the Veldman show was a highlight for many people’s holiday season, Holst hopes Austin embraces this show just as strongly.

“I know it will be a great time, I know it will be a wonderful show, and I know that the music staff has been working really, really hard,” she said.

“I really hope that the community really gets behind this event,” she added.

Holst praised the Austin music teachers for going above and beyond to organize the show, which will dedicate ticket funds to supporting music education. Holst said the money will go toward things like buying music, instruments and helping ensure all students can participate in music if they want.

Mariska said the show makes supporting the arts easy: People just need to attend one of the shows.

“Anyone who wants to support public school can don’t so by buying a ticket,” he said.

Thus far, the response has been strong.

“It’s been very positive,” Mariska said. “I think people were definitely excited to hear that there was going to be a holiday show in the same style, you could say, of the Veldman show.”

 A nostalgic journey

“Christmas at Home” will be a musical revue, but it won’t feature any acting. Holst will share stories about why each group picked its particular song. “Christmas at Home” describes the show about perfectly: It’s about gathering home with family and loved ones.

“It’s definitely a nostalgic sort of program,” Mariska said.

The shows will feature a wide array of music: singing, strings, choral groups, hand bells, a jazz band and more.

“There’s a really great variety,” Mariska said.

In future years, Mariska said the show could feature many opportunities to adapt or add new things based on what crowds prefer.

“We’re not really sure what’s going to work the best or what’s going to be the most popular, so we really tried to get a wide variety,” Mariska said.

The show will also feature performers from current students and staff to alumni and friends.

Each of the three concerts will be different, featuring a different set of performers and ensembles. An AHS school act will anchor each show. The Austinaires will perform Friday, followed by the AHS Chamber Orchestra on Saturday afternoon and Jazz One on Sunday afternoon.

But it’s not just students, as many community groups like the Peter Jacobs Jazz Combo are performing too.

Mariska was pleased to have many community members interested in the show, which is one reason they couldn’t do three of the exact same performances. And Mariska said they didn’t want the show to become a burden in requiring families and students to attend all of the shows throughout the weekend.

However, Mariska sees that as a positive as it can address more performers and more people across town.

“It definitely allows us to reach a wider cross section of the community,” he said.

Along with the Austin schools groups, other performers and groups had to apply to perform in the show. They also needed to get an approved song to ensure holiday pieces aren’t repeated during the show.

Much of the practice has been independent, though the groups will have a few dress rehearsals the week leading into the performances.

Mariska envisions the show attracting a wide variety of people, from younger families to Paramount patrons of many years.

Mariska and others hoped this year’s show set a strong base from which to grow, as the program format offers flexibility to grow and adapt in future years.

“Everyone seems really excited about it, and were hoping it becomes an annual event,” Mariska said.

Tickets are $5 for students and $15 for adults in advance. They are $20 at the door. Tickets are on sale at the Austin ArtWorks Center, 300 N. Main St., or austinareaarts.org.

The Hormel Historic Home will also host a pre-show dinner before Friday night’s performance.

“I’m just really excited to be a part of this and hopefully it can become and an annual christmas thing for everybody and for the community,” Holst said.

Donations are still being sought and individuals or businesses interested in becoming a sponsor can still register. For more information, contact Mariska at Bradley.mariska@austin.k12.mn.us.

‘Christmas at Home’ lineups

Friday, 7:30 p.m.

•AHS Austinaires directed by Mr. Brian Johnson

•Alice Holst

•Andy Cheng

•Austin Harmonics String Quintet

•Riverland College Alumni Duet

•Scott Blankenbaker

•Brian Koser

•Neveln/Sumner Elementary directed by Ms. Katie Tharp

•I.J. Holton fifth Grade Glee Club

•The Peter Jacobs Jazz Combo

•The Anderson Family Singers

•Ashley Harrington

•APS Faculty Vocal Quartet

•Ellis Early Bird Choir directed by Ms. Maria Wilson

•Ensemble Finale: “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”

Saturday, 2 p.m.

•AHS Packer Jazz directed by Mr. Bradley Mariska, with special guest Jacob Burkhart

•Alice Holst

•Dylan Kaercher and Friends

•Community Handbell Choir directed by Ann Flisrand

•AHS La Fiera String •Ensemble directed by Mr.

Gene Schott

•Braaten Family Singers

•Jesse Smith

•Lia Culbert

•Clint and Nikky Phillips

•Peter Jacobs Jazz Combo

•Morgan Dickman

•APS Faculty Jazz Combo

•APS Faculty Vocal Quartet

•Northwestern Singers directed by Ms. Nikky Tolde

•Ensemble Finale: “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”

Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

•AHS Jazz One directed by Mr. Bradley Mariska, with special guest Jacob Burkhart

•Dylan Kaercher and Friends

•Leading Ladies Quartet

•Austin Harmonics String Quintet

•Jesse Smith

•Carrie Braaten

•Coni Nelson

•APS Faculty Vocal Quartet

•Peter Jacobs Jazz Combo

•Gordy Handeland and Alice Holst

•Taylor Bliese

•APS Faculty Jazz Combo

•Northwestern Singers directed by Ms. Nikky Tolde

•Ensemble Finale: “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”