Every three years, New Braunfels ISD partners with the Mid-Texas Symphony to create a districtwide NBISD Elementary Chorus, offering students a unique opportunity to perform alongside professional musicians during the Symphony’s Christmas program. This year’s collaboration was witnessed in a holiday concert on December 14 at Jackson Hall on the campus of Texas Lutheran University in Seguin.

The NBISD Elementary Chorus is made up of students from every elementary campus in the district. Students are nominated by their music teachers, making the chorus a true representation of NBISD’s elementary population. Over the course of the last two months, students prepared music in anticipation of the performance, while learning and rehearsing both individually and as a group for the concert.

“This partnership is an outstanding example of how collaboration with community organizations strengthens both our district and our Fine Arts programs,” said Dr. Marty Lenard, NBISD Director of Fine Arts. “With these types of collaborations, we are able to provide meaningful experiences that our students would likely not have access to otherwise. Having a partner like the Mid-Texas Symphony is an example of what makes NBISD special, and we look forward to continuing to grow our partnership.”

Lauren Bain, music teacher at Carl Schurz Elementary and NBISD Lead Music Teacher, served as the lead instructor for the event. She emphasized the impact the experience has on studentsl.

“Performing with a live orchestra is a rare opportunity, even in the professional music world,” Bain said. “For our fourth grade students—many who represent underserved populations—this is a glimpse into a world of musical possibilities. They collaborated with other students in our district through choral rehearsals, but they also experienced rehearsing with professional musicians in the orchestra.”

Bain noted that students performed just feet away from orchestra members playing tubas, timpani, strings, and percussion instruments, while following a professional conductor and responding to real-time feedback. Students even helped lead the audience in a sing-along during the concert.

“One student excitedly remarked that he had ‘checked off one of his bucket list items—to sing with a real live orchestra,’” Bain said. “As we walked off stage, many kids were saying how amazing it was, how much they loved the experience, and how excited it made them feel. These performances could truly open the door to a child’s future musical career.”

All NBISD elementary schools were invited to participate in this year’s performance. Seven fourth-grade students from each campus were selected by their music teachers to join the chorus.

Preparation for the concert included learning music using practice tracks provided by the Symphony, ongoing guidance and check-ins with campus music teachers, and districtwide rehearsals.

Final preparations included a full rehearsal with all NBISD students the Saturday before the concert, followed by an on-stage rehearsal with the orchestra and conductor.