The instruments are tuned, the music is in the folders, and Ashland's student musicians and vocalists are ready to take the stage! The Fall 2026 concert season opens on Thursday, November 5, and this year's lineup brings a few exciting new twists. All concerts are free and open to the public.

Mindess band and chorus share the stage. Building on last spring's joyful return of the Mindess Chorus, the David Mindess School will present a combined concert band and choral concert this year. Families can now enjoy both of our youngest ensembles in a single evening.

AMS and AHS voices unite. For the first time, the AMS and AHS choirs will perform together in a combined winter choral concert. It's a wonderful chance for middle school singers to perform alongside the high school choir, and a preview of what lies ahead for them at AHS.

Movie magic meets the Winter Fair. The AHS Holiday Movie Music Concert is once again teaming up with the AMA Winter Fair for one festive evening on Friday, December 4. It's the perfect way to kick off the holiday season with the whole family.

Bundle up and bring the whole family! The AMA Winter Fair returns on Friday, December 4, from 6:00 to 8:30 PM in the Ashland High School cafeteria and auditorium. We  join forces with the AHS Holiday Movie Music Concert, Musicologie Ashland, and Emma Pawl (The Snow Queen) for one festive evening of music, singing, games, crafts, and a bake sale. It's fun for all ages, and funds raised support APS music performance groups.

The Festivities

• 6:00–7:00 PM - Musicologie Ashland Instrument Petting Zoo, crafts & games

• 7:00–7:40 PM - AHS Holiday Movie Music Concert & a reading of The Polar Express

• 7:40–8:30 PM - Meet the Snow Queen, Emma Pawl; sing-along with the AHS Choir; crafts & games

Try an Instrument with Musicologie Ashland

The evening opens with the Musicologie Ashland Instrument Petting Zoo, where kids (and adults) can hold, try, and make some noise with real instruments. For many young musicians, that first chance to blow a horn or strum a string is the moment the spark catches. Musicologie Ashland is new to town, bringing lessons for all ages and abilities. Stop by and ask how your child can keep the music going after the fair.

Meet the Snow Queen, Emma Pawl

After the concert, the Snow Queen herself will greet young fans and lead a holiday sing-along. Behind the crown is Emma Pawl, a professional singer, actress, and voice teacher. Emma is an AHS graduate with degrees in Vocal Performance and Musical Theatre Performance from Berklee College of Music. Emma is an active professional musical theatre performer, and she performs in professional wedding bands, sings for church services and performs as The Snow Queen for community events and children’s parties. As a private voice instructor and member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Emma welcomes students of all backgrounds and abilities. Learn more about her Snow Queen business and voice studio at emmapawl.com.

New This Year: The Winter Fair Raffle

This year's Winter Fair will also feature a raffle, with proceeds supporting APS music performance groups. Stay tuned for prize details as the fair approaches! If you have a prize to donate to the raffle, please email AMA@Ashlandmusic.org by Monday, November 23rd or see below for more info. Thank you for helping Ashland's young musicians keep the music going!

Admission

• Winter Fair: $10 per family

• AHS Holiday Movie Music Concert: free for all

Join us on December 4th at the Ashland High School auditorium, 65 E. Union Street, Ashland. We can't wait to celebrate the season with you!

The AMA is adding something new to this year's concert season: a raffle! Our goal is simple. We want the love of music to keep going outside of the concert season. To make that happen, we're looking for music-themed prizes that inspire families to listen, play, and explore music together.

What We're Looking For

• Music-themed prizes: Lessons, instruments, accessories, sheet music, or music-related experiences.

• Local music business prizes: We especially hope to feature prizes from music-focused businesses in our community.

• Two tickets from your season seats: If you hold season tickets to a performance venue in the Boston MetroWest area, would you consider donating a pair of tickets to one show?

• Winter and snow activity prizes: Passes or gear for skiing, skating, sledding, snowshoeing, and other cold-weather fun.

How Your Donation Helps

Raffle proceeds support APS music performance groups at the David Mindess School, Ashland Middle School, and Ashland High School. Funds help cover festival registration and transportation, replace aging concert attire, repair/replace school-owned instruments, and fund music teacher stipends.

How We'll Thank You

• Your name or business on the prize display at the fair

• A thank-you by name before the raffle drawing

• Recognition on AMA social media and in a future issue of Clocker Beats

The AMA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 27-2113922), and we'll send a written acknowledgment of your donation for your records.

How to Donate

Please email AMA@Ashlandmusic.org by Monday, November 23rd so your prize can be included in our announcements. We're happy to arrange a pickup. Thank you for helping Ashland's young musicians keep the music going!

More Ashland band students are taking music lessons than ever before. Over 70 students are enrolled in the Ashland Bands After School Lesson Program this year, and that growth is paying off in confident players and full band rooms.

The year kicked off with a free demo lesson night, where students met the instructors and tried a free sample lesson. It was a fun, low-pressure way for families to see what lessons are all about before signing up.

Why Lessons Matter

In a full band rehearsal, dozens of students play different instruments and parts at once, so there's little time for one-on-one help. Lessons fill that gap. This is especially important in the first few years, when lessons help students avoid bad playing habits that can cause them to fall behind and lose their love of music.

The numbers in Ashland tell the story:

• 90% of band students who take lessons stay in band all the way through high school

• 20% of band students who don't take lessons typically stay in band through high school

Students who take lessons also tend to have more fun in rehearsals and often grow into leaders in their sections. 

Expert Teachers, Right at School

The program is run through the Ashland Recreation Department and administered by Sam Thurston, an Ashland resident, professional trumpet player, and band teacher. This is his fourth year running the Ashland music lessons program.

Lessons are taught by expert instrumental musicians and teachers, and this year the team welcomes a new percussion teacher: Kevin Burke, a professional percussionist and retired Waltham band teacher.

Lessons take place weekly at students' own schools in the afternoon or evening. Families can choose private lessons of 30, 45, or 60 minutes, or lower-cost small group lessons of 2–5 students. Private lessons are recommended, but group lessons are a great, affordable way to get started.

Sign Up for the Winter Session

The Winter session begins January 4. Visit the Ashland Bands After School Lesson Program website for pricing, policies, and registration. Questions? Email Sam Thurston at ashlandlessons@gmail.com or AMS band director Brian Koning at bkoning@ashland.k12.ma.us.

Ashland students also take lessons at Musicologie Ashland, David French Music in Westborough, Centre Music House in Framingham, and other local studios. Wherever your child learns, lessons are one of the best investments you can make in their musical future!

Every gift helps Ashland's student musicians shine, and now there's a donor level for every music lover:

• Virtuoso: $1 - $100

• First Chair: $101 - $250

• Conductor: $251+

• Sustaining Donor: Recurring gifts, such as monthly or quarterly

Your donation funds what the school budget doesn't cover, including teacher stipends for essential supplies, festival fees and transportation, repair of school-owned instruments, concert attire, and more.

Give today through PayPal or Venmo (@AshlandMusic), or ask your employer about matching gifts. To become a Sustaining Donor, set up a recurring gift through PayPal, Venmo, or your employer's giving platform. Visit the AMA Support page for more ways to give, including volunteering and donating goods or services. Thank you!

Every concert, festival, and instrument repair is made possible by people and organizations who believe in music education. The AMA is grateful to the community partners supporting Ashland's student musicians this season.

Grantors

Thank you to the Ashland Select Board for awarding the AMA a Spring BAA grant, received this summer to supplement funding for festival registration fees and transportation.

Business Sponsors

We're thrilled to welcome back two returning business sponsors for the 2026–2027 season. Thank you for continuing to set the stage for our students' success! 

• Bach Knives – Principal Conductor Sponsor

• Fishworks – Rhythm Backer Sponsor

Want to join them? We're welcoming new business sponsors for 2026–2027. See the sponsorship flier for levels and benefits, or email AMA@Ashlandmusic.org.

Winter Fair Supporters

A big thank-you to the local businesses donating to support the AMA Winter Fair on December 4:

• Shaw's

• Market Basket

• Stop & Shop

• Price Chopper

• Mechanics Hall

We hope you'll show these businesses your support, and thank them for supporting our programs!