The Austin Carolers 
• Booking/Contact: Jan Seides at 512.627.2115 

Where else but Austin can you find a vocal quartet that sails seamlessly from traditional Christmas songs to jazzy arrangements of seasonal pop tunes?  That group is The Austin Carolers, Austin’s only professional caroling ensemble. From concert setting to sing-along parties, youngsters to oldsters, we bring the joy of the season through song. 

The Austin Carolers are eight seasoned professionals, performing in two groups of four, who joined forces in 1994, because we love to sing – especially the songs of Christmas.  The Austin Carolers’ repertoire includes both traditional carols and popular Christmas tunes, sung with great flair with either guitar accompaniment or in the more traditional unaccompanied style. Many of our arrangements have been created for us by retired leader, Mady Kaye, by Craig Lowry, and by Grammy-nominated arranger and composer Bill Ginn. These arrangements are unique, ours alone, and set us apart as a caroling group. We also write our own arrangements – and lyrics – which reflect life in Austin at Christmas time. Truly, we are not your grandmama’s Carolers. 

The Austin Carolers often stroll, singing as we go, children following behind. When we find a spot we like, we do draw a crowd. We have been sighted from the aisles of Central Market to the pathways of the Arboretum, the Georgetown Tree Lighting Celebration in Georgetown Square, the Triangle Tree Lighting, the Domain Shops and Round Rock Premium Outlet Malls, the Village at Westlake… we get around.  Of course, we perform shows standing still, and we adapt our show to all occasions: private parties, corporate receptions, office Christmas parties or concerts. Our costumes are Charles Dickens era, but our music is timeless. 

“Thank you so much for performing during our Luminations event. We had many, many compliments and appreciate you sharing your incredible gift of music with our visitors…” 
Cathy, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center 

 

OUR SINGERS....

Heather Busk, Soprano - has had a love of singing since she was a small child. She graduated with a degree in music education from California State University, Chico. She has been the music teacher at McBee Elementary in Austin for the past 9 years.

“The Austin Carolers were simply wonderful, in sound and appearance and spirit. They added a whole new dimension to our Cookies for Caring event. We’d be delighted to work with them again. Two thumbs up!” 
Jill Williams, Marketing Manager, The Driskill

Jan Seides (sigh-deez), alto and Leader of The Austin Carolers - is an award-winning singer-songwriter. She has performed in the U.S. and Europe. Jan is a graduate of the UT School of Music. When not writing or performing, she has a busy teaching practice offering lessons on voice, guitar, piano and mandolin.

“Your group is beyond marvelous – not only a superb musical ensemble but also a delightful entertainment, drawing in your audience in an intimate and engaging way. You looked and sounded just right in our 1855 house!” 
Harriet Christian 
Chairman, Friends of the Neill-Cochran House Museum

Kelsey Nelson - Tenor. holds a BA in Music from the Butler School of Music and works as an accompanist at Ballet Austin. They're currently pursuing a MS in Civil Engineering at UT Austin and serving as a co-director for the college's premier extra-curricular choir, Collegium Musicum. Outside of playing piano, singing, or studying, they can often be found falling down at the skatepark (with a helmet on, of course)!

Chaz Nailor, Bass - A Texas native, Chaz is an Instructor of Applied Music in Voice at Southwestern University in Georgetown. He serves as bass section leader in Chorus Austin’s Symphonic Choir and as a Choral Scholar at St. David’s Episcopal Church. Chaz is also on the artistic rosters of Chorus Austin’s Chamber Choir and of the San Antonio Chamber Choir.

“Thank you so much for performing at the Christmas Tree lighting ceremony in the Texas House Chambers. I so appreciated your responsiveness, professionalism, and flexibility during the planning and performance. Y’all are a dream to work with!” 
Brenda Tharp, Coordinator 

“Thanks so much for performing at our Miracle Market. The Carolers’ performance was awesome. We have received so many wonderful comments. Many have said that the music was the best part of the evening!” 
Margie Brindley, Dell Children’s Medical Center