PARIS — Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School’s orchestra and choirs, which number 181 members, will hold their first concert of the school year next week.

It begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22, in the Mark Eastman Auditorium at the high school. It will feature the largest number of orchestra and choir members in recent memory.

“We in the Oxford Hills, we still have a community that values (music education),”  said Dennis Boyd Jr., who oversees 107 members of the choir and 26 members in the Chamber Choir.

“Our orchestra is at 48 (members) and that’s largely because of the elementary and middle school programs’ success in retaining students,” he said. The traditional orchestra of violins, violas, bass and one piano is supervised by longtime music educator Kyle Jordan.

The community has supported the district’s music program financially, enabling the Oxford Hills School District to have one of the few string programs left in the state’s public schools.

During the 2011-12 budget season, a number of residents and school staff voiced concern about music program cuts, including Superintendent Rick Colpitts. They recommended restoring $23,000 of the $60,000 cut from the music department to enable the continuation of instrumental, chorus and string lessons.

“Music was my most important class in college,” Colpitts said at the time. “You’re preaching to the choir.”

The choirs and orchestra will perform a variety of tunes. 

The concert is free to the public, with a suggested $5 donation per family.

ldixon@sunjournal.com