Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts returns with ‘Sounds of the Season’
The Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts winter holiday concert is called “Sounds of the Season: Together Again.”
After a virtual show last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, organizers said it feels good to be together again for the holidays.
“It’s amazing to be able to be back in person and have kids be able to perform and do what they love to do on stage in front of an audience,” HBAPA Administrator Stacy Robison said. “A live audience is everything. They really held it together and did a great job with all of our virtual performances. They were so flexible, and we really appreciated how much they still wanted to do this. But to have them on stage in front of their friends and family and really thrive in their own environment, is everything.”
The Sounds of the Season show runs from Thursday through Saturday night at the Huntington Beach High School theater. Tickets are available, and prices range from $15 for students to $25 for adults.
The show is directed by Gregg Gilboe and features the HBAPA Orchestra playing some holiday favorites and showcasing its different ensembles. There will also be special performances by the APA Musical Theatre department, MMET department, Surf City Singers and the Huntington Beach High band and color guard.
“Really, everybody gets to participate,” Robison said. “It’s one of our only shows where every department is involved. Each of our main stage shows are typically specific to that program, and this is the one that everyone comes together.”
Additionally, Thursday night’s performance is a fundraiser for the Educational Enrichment Foundation for the Arts for the first time. Dwyer Middle School also will be performing in the second act of Thursday night’s show.
“We’re hoping they come to our high school and they’re part of our program,” Robison said. “To see them kind of preview on this stage, it’s very exciting for them.”
Huntington Beach High senior Tien Lee is expecting a great show. Lee wears a couple of different hats; she does some filming and editing, plays clarinet and is the drum major in the band.
“It’s been really chaotic, but I think we’re all really excited and hyped up for it,” Lee said. “It’s good to feel the energy back again ... Now that we’re in person, everyone’s kind of just surprised with how it feels to be back again. It’s a good thing.”
Isabella Rivette is another Oilers senior who works as a sound engineer in the HBAPA technical theater program.
“It’s nice to have the shows back,” Rivette said. “I want to continue sound engineering as a career outside of high school, so being able to get the experience on the board has been really nice.”
Not to mention, Rivette is a self-admitted Christmas lover who has no problem getting into the holiday spirit.
“I love just watching all of the different ensembles, especially because they do different variations of Christmas songs,” she said. “They’re all dressed up in festive gear. It’s really fun.”
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