About

AUSTIN SYMPHONIC BAND PRESENTS

LITTLE GEMS FOR CONCERT BAND

APRIL 19 | 4:00 P.M. | CONNALLY HIGH SCHOOL

Step into a sonic treasure chest as the Austin Symphonic Band presents “Little Gems for Concert Band” — a dazzling showcase of compact pieces that sparkle with character and charm.

The program opens with Bonelli’s Symphonic Concert March, a bold and spirited overture that sets the tone for an afternoon of musical variety. From the wistful lyricism of Autumn Leaves by Kosma to the quirky elegance of Satie’s Ratatouille Satirique, the first half dances between nostalgia and satire. Grainger’s Themes from “Green Bushes” rounds out the set with a lively folk-inspired romp.

The centerpiece of the second half is the world premiere of “Splash,” a new work by Young Composers’ Contest winner Viskamol Chaiwanichsiri. The concert concludes with Alfred Reed’s Second Suite for Band, a vibrant four-movement celebration of rhythms and melodies.

From classic marches to modern meditations, this concert is a jewel box of musical delights — each piece a Little Gem.

BUY TICKETS!

Event Details

• Date: Sunday, April 19, 2026
• Time: 4:00 P.M. - 5:30 P.M.
• Venue: Luis "Chico" Portillo Performing Arts Center Connally High School
• Website: https://austinsymphonicband.org/events/2026/4/26/concert

Ticket Information

• Cost: $0 – $17.59

Presenter Details

• Name: Austin Symphonic Band

The Austin Symphonic Band (ASB) was founded in 1981 by local brass and woodwind musicians. The band has had only four music directors: Frank Simon, Randol Bass, Richard Floyd and the current Music Director, Kyle Glaser, who has served since 2022. Bill Haehnel was appointed Assistant Music Director in 2003.

Named the Official Band of the City of Austin by the Austin City Council in June 1989, ASB has performed for City events such as the dedication of the Barbara Jordan passenger terminal at Austin Bergstrom International Airport and the Governor’s Welcome Home of the Troops from the Gulf War “Desert Storm” in 1991. ASB also works closely with local schools to provide mentoring, tutoring, performance opportunities, and free tickets to students.

In 1989 ASB was the first community band to perform the Grand Finale Concert at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago; it has returned for two additional appearances. ASB was featured at the American Bandmasters Association Conventions in 1993 and 2006. In addition, ASB was offered an invitational performance at the Western International Band Clinic in 2004. The band received the John Philip Sousa Foundation’s Sudler Scroll for outstanding achievement as a community band in 1994.

Want to know more about ASB? Click here to view our historical archives!

ASB commissions new music and performs contemporary music, providing support for the national community of composers and arrangers of concert band music. Works commissioned by ASB have included Dancing on Water by Frank Ticheli (2015).

ASB also sponsors the annual Young Composers Contest, which picks a winner each fall based on the merit of previous compositions, and commissions a new work for the next concert season. Winners to date include Dr. Christopher Lowry, whose composition (Delusions of) Grandeur, Op. 51, premiered on April 14, 2024; Ryan Fillinger, whose Sinfonietta premiered on April 13, 2025; and Viskamol Chaiwanichsiri, whose new composition will receive its first performance on April 19, 2026.

ASB has also enjoyed a long history of collaborating with outstanding guest soloists and conductors, including Boston Brass, Rhythm & Brass, Jim Walker (flute), Pat Sheridan (tuba), Tito Carrillo (jazz trumpet) Steve Williamson (Chicago Symphony Principal Clarinetist), Clint Foreman (Boston Symphony Second Flutist), Synaesthesia Saxophone Quartet, and Austin Symphony Conductor Peter Bay.

Venue Details