By Lookout Staff

March 19, 2012 -- The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District will showcase its musical talents Thursday and Friday at the 63rd Annual Stairway of the Stars concert at the Civic Auditorium.

One of the most popular annual events in both beachside towns, the concert spotlights the talents of the district's music students, teachers, and music curriculum, district officials said.

This year's concert will focus on the Band program, with 26 bands, orchestras, and choirs including a total of 1,000 students performing under guest conductor Tom Cole.

Cole has been a music educator in the Poway Unified School District since 1975 and just retired from Rancho Bernardo High School in June of 2010, having previously taught 15 years at Mt. Carmel High School.

"Under Mr. Cole’s direction, his bands have been recognized for excellence in all levels of concert bands and marching bands," district officials said.

Cole's groups have performed in major festivals in Switzerland and Japan and participated in four Rose Bowl Parades between 1984 and 2001. His groups also represented the State of California and the Bicentennial celebration of the signing of the Constitution in Philadelphia in 1987, a tour of Washington D.C. in 1992, and a tour of Hawaii in 1995.

"Mr. Cole’s musicianship, constant demand for perfection, dedication to his students and his passion for music makes him a highly respected teacher and conductor," district officials said.

In 1988, Cole received the Honorary Life Time Achievement Award from the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association and in 2007 was honored with the California Band Directors Association Lifetime Achievement award.

This year's “Stairway Honor Award Recipient,” chosen by the district’s 23 music teachers for having "contributed enormously to the advancement of music and arts education," will be Chandra Narain

Narain has worked most of her twenty-three years in support of the district’s Visual and Performing Arts Department and currently works in Education Services as an administrative assistant supporting the department.

Performing this year are the All-District elementary honor orchestra, choir, and band; the high school jazz ensemble, and the middle and high school orchestras, choirs, and bands.

Some of the musical selections will include: “Shenandoah,” “Symphonic Dances, Mvt. 5, Belly Dance,” “Capriccio Espagnal,” and “Sing, Sang, Sung.”

Ticket sales to the general public begin on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the Civic Center Box Office, and again on Friday at 5:30 p.m.  Tickets are $15.

This year, a donation can be made when with the purchase of a ticket.