Austin Middle School Choir

We are very proud of our choral program at Austin Middle School.  We are blessed with many successes and rich traditions.  The highlight of our choir program is the presentation of the Singing Christmas Tree which has been a part of Christmas in Amarillo for 55 years.  This presentation involves all Austin choir students, usually numbering around 250 students each year.  We now have students who are children and even grandchildren of former participants in this wonderful tradition.  Trophies adorning the choir room are a testament to our many other outstanding performances at UIL Choir Contest and the Greater Southwest Music Festival.  Other choir activities throughout the year include our Fall Concert and participation by our 6th Grade Choir in the Tascosa Cluster Choir Concert.  Our 7th and 8th Grade Boys Choir sings with other young men in our cluster at the Tascosa Choral Department’s MANFEST and all Austin choir students are a part of the Spring Pops Concert in May.  Our choir is a family, encouraging friendships and the invaluable experience of working together for a common purpose.  Students are also encouraged to pursue individual goals by participating in the All Region Choir and UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest.  Our mission is to teach students the basics of good choral singing and sight-reading, develop an appreciation for a variety of musical styles, and to instill in them a love of music and develop skills they can call upon for a lifetime of singing.

Director Susan Burt

Susan Burt is in her 9th year as choral director at Austin Middle School.  She also team teaches and accompanies as a part of the choir program at Tascosa High School.  She holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Texas Tech University.  Before coming to Austin she taught private voice and piano, both in her private studio and before coming back to Amarillo, at Navarro College.  She also served as music teacher and choir director at St. Andrews Episcopal School in Amarillo, was accompanist and part-time choral assistant at Westover Middle School, has been active in the music ministry at First Baptist Church, and has served as accompanist for a number of choirs in AISD and Region 1.  Her published choral works include a musical for children and a Christmas anthem.  Susan was a student in the Austin and Tascosa choir programs while growing up in Amarillo and is proud to come “home” and be a Bear once again.

susan.burt@amaisd.org