Academy tuning up for the season

Tom Titus

The Academy for the Performing Arts at Huntington Beach High

School does more than put on plays. Around this time of the year, the

singers and musicians in the arts academy celebrate the holiday

season in concert.

This year’s edition of the annual Sounds of the Season will be

presented on Wednesday, Dec. 11, at 7:30 p.m. in the Huntington High

auditorium with orchestra director Gregg Gilboe and vocal director

Carl Kelley showcasing their students’ talents.

“The Sounds of the Season concert is a celebration in music of the

various holidays celebrated at this seasonal time,” Gilboe said.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to relax during the holidays, listen to

some festive music and support our school’s music programs all at the

same time.”

The performing ensembles will include the Academy for the

Performing Arts Chamber Orchestra, the academy’s Vocal Ensemble,

Huntington Beach High School Wind Ensemble, Marching Oiler Band,

academy chapter ensembles and the academy Renaissance Consort.

Among the selections will be such standards of the season as

Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” ballet, Leroy Anderson’s famous

“Sleigh Ride” and “A Christmas Festival,” the high school band’s

award-winning selections from George Gershwin’s opera “Porgy and

Bess,” and several other surprises.

The academy’s vocal styles class, conducted by Kelley, will offer

elections such as “Feast of Lights -- a Song for Hanukkah,” “Light a

Candle,” remembering the less-fortunate during the holidays, and

“Joy,” an up-tempo take on the traditional “Joy to the World.” All

songs feature lead solos by academy students.

Gilboe is in his 10th year at Huntington Beach High School, where

he directs the band program -- the wind ensemble, marching band, jazz

ensemble, drum line and color guard -- as well as the instrumental

music program for the academy. He’s also an active adjudicator,

composer, arranger and performer.

Kelley has extensive experience as a soloist and is adept at

performing different styles of music.

He’s performed with such artists as Boz Scaggs, Jackson Browne,

Ray Charles, Nancy Wilson and Bobby McFerrin. He’s also been featured

on innumerable recording projects, multimedia/CD-ROM projects and ads

for local artists, companies and radio stations in the Pacific

Northwest.