Sunburst News - October 2026

October 2026 - Issue #110

Introducing Our '26-'27 Sunburst House Band!

We're thrilled to kick off a new season with the Sunburst House Band!

This year's lineup brings together Ashley and Sigrid on vocals, Dagny on vocals and bass, Nathan on guitar, and Peregrine on drums. They're already hard at work getting ready for a full season of music, with multiple live gigs coming soon and a studio recording session planned for the spring.

And you won't have to wait long to hear them live! The House Band will be taking the stage at our Sunburst Halloween Party on Saturday, October 24. Come out and be among the first to hear this year's House Band in action!

Keep an eye out for more show dates throughout the season. We can't wait to see what this group brings to the stage!

Ready to Take the Stage? Winter Recital Sign Ups Are Coming!

Sunburst Winter Recitals are coming down the pike! Twice a year, we give all students the opportunity to step on stage and perform whatever they've been working on. It's a great opportunity to grow as a performer and musician, and a ton of fun!

This year's Winter Recitals will be held at the JCC Katz Theater on Saturday and Sunday, December 12-13. We'll also hold a few recital sessions at Sunburst between December 4-11.

Keep an eye out for a sign-up email in a few weeks with the exact schedule and session details.

We can't wait to hear you perform!

You're Invited to Our '26 Monster Mash 🎃

Celebrate spooky szn with us on October 24th at our annual Halloween Party! Enjoy live performances by the Sunburst Band Program, a costume contest, a pizza party, and more Halloween fun.

We'll kick things off at 5pm with games and activities just for our youngest students (ages 0-8). Starting at 7pm, the fun opens up to all ages!

Schedule

• Ages 0-8: 5-6:30pm
• All Ages: 7-9pm

We hope to see you there 👻

Upcoming Staff Concerts & Events

Video Game Music II featuring the Thanakarn Limtham Trio

Power up, gamers! The Thanakarn Limtham Jazz Trio is back with Video Game Music II, leveling up your favorite game soundtracks with fresh, jazzy twists. Featuring Thanakarn Limtham on keys, Charlie Scott on bass, and Stephen Weinstein on drums, this high-energy set brings iconic video game music to life in a whole new way.

Date : Saturday, November 14th

Tickets : $15 adv / $20 door

Showtime : 7pm

Buy tickets here

Sunburst Cabaret: Come Fly With Us Around the World in Music

Need a vacation? Join us for the next Sunburst Cabaret and be transported to cities and countries around the world through iconic songs performed by Sunburst staff and students! Tickets are free, with an optional donation to benefit the Sunburst Scholarship Fund.

Date : November 20th

Tickets : Free (please reserve yours below)

Showtime : 7:30pm

Be sure to reserve your free ticket using the link below. You'll also see the option to make a donation to the Scholarship Fund and help us continue sharing the joy of music with more students.

Get tickets here

Try Something New This October!

Looking for a new musical challenge? This month is the perfect time to step outside your comfort zone and try something new at Sunburst!

Throughout the month of October, we are offering free trial lessons on any instrument. Try something new, or invite a friend or family member to come check us out and discover their next musical adventure!

Whether you've always wanted to pick up guitar, give drums a try, explore piano, or finally learn that instrument you've been thinking about, this is a great opportunity to give it a shot.

Have questions about the promotion or how to get started? Reach out to the front desk and we'll be happy to help!

Schedule your free trial lesson

Wheel of Referrals Grand Prize Announcement

The Wheel of Referrals is roaring back to life this fall!

Refer your friends to Sunburst and take a spin to win awesome prizes for each friend you refer, including free lessons, merch, show tickets, and more!

Every person who spins between now and our recitals in December (including those who spun earlier this year) will be entered to win the grand prize: a Bluetooth Turntable & Vinyl Record Player!

Learn full details on our website, and let us know if you have any questions. Thanks for spreading the word about Sunburst and happy spinning!

Referral details

Free Classes

Piano Club - Friday, October 16th

Piano Club is a free monthly class led by Jaime Cohen, full of games, music education, and piano fun! This club is a great opportunity for our piano students to build music theory skills, play interactive games like Music Jeopardy, and gain performance experience.

Age Groups

• Ages 5-7 - 5:30-6:15pm
• Ages 8+ from 6:15-7pm

Songwriter Group Share - Sunday, October 18th

Are you a seasoned or new songwriter looking to share music and get some peer feedback? Bring your instrument, voice, and what you're working on to our monthly songwriting group, peer facilitated by Abbey Martin. This group is open to all adults ages 18+ and meets on the third Sunday of each month from 3-5pm.

Jazz Jam - Friday, October 23rd

You're invited to Sunburst Jazz Jam for ages 14-adults! Whether you're a total beginner, an experienced pro, or a music lover who just wants to listen, this space is for everyone to have fun, grow, and connect through music. This group will meet every 4th Friday from 7-9pm.

If you'd like to play, please review our provided list of jazz standards. Anyone is welcome to join in, but we ask that those taking the stage familiarize themselves with at least one tune from the list.

What to Prepare

• At least one song from this list

Sign up here

Sunburst Blog: How RAYE inspires joy in her latest record, This Music May Contain Hope

Some albums you listen to, and some seem to find you at exactly the right moment.

In her reflection on RAYE's This Music May Contain Hope, Aubrey explores grief, Black joy, friendship, community, and the strange, beautiful ways music can remind us that we're still here.

Read the full post on our blog

Thank you for reading!

Let us know if you have any questions or comments. As always, thanks for being a part of the Sunburst Community!

Best Wishes,

–Sunburst Team