KMFA Puts Central Texas Student Musicians on the Air
New weekly segment highlights local school ensembles; partnership expands access to live performances for families

KMFA Classical 89.5 is bringing Central Texas student musicians to the airwaves with the launch of a weekly Kids on Key School Spotlight, giving young musicians the opportunity to listen to their own performances broadcast across the region and streamed all over the world.

Beginning this spring, KMFA will air a Kids on Key School Spotlight every Sunday at 2 p.m., featuring recordings from pre-college ensembles at public schools across Central Texas. For many young Austinites and their families, it will be the first time hearing their own performance on the radio. This experience is designed to celebrate their work and strengthen connections between young musicians and the broader Austin arts community.

Current featured schools include Anderson High School Symphonic Band, Cedar Ridge High School Wind Ensemble, Connally High School Varsity Concert Band, Dripping Springs High School Honor Band and Wind Ensemble, Glenn High School, Manor High School Varsity Band, Round Rock High School Concert Band, Rouse High School Band, Vandegrift High School Band, and Westwood High School Orchestra.

“When I joined the KMFA board, one of the questions we kept coming back to was: where are our new young classical music listeners going to come from?” said Ren MacNary, KMFA Board Member and prominent Austin-based musician, conductor, and educator. “The answer was right in front of us — They’re already here, playing this music every day in genuinely impressive school ensembles. Hearing themselves on the air is something these kids will never forget, and it directly bolsters the future of classical music in Austin.”

To find out which school is featured each week, listeners can subscribe to KMFA's Five Offbeat Things Newsletter at KMFA.org/newsletter.

The Kids on Key School Spotlight is part of KMFA’s broader initiative to expand access to music education and performance opportunities for young people across Central Texas.

As part of that effort, KMFA is also partnering with the Austin Chamber Music Center (ACMC), to launch the Kids on Key Family and Student Discount Program, making live classical music more accessible to young audiences and their families. Ten percent of ticket inventory across KMFA and ACMC events will be reserved for the program, with discounts available to any holder of a valid student ID, as well as to household groups in which at least half of the ticketgoers are 18 years of age or younger.

“Through the Kids on Key Family and Student Discount Program, Austin Chamber Music Center is proud to partner with KMFA to create meaningful opportunities for families and students to experience live chamber music together,” said Austin Chamber Music Center Managing Director Frank Jenkins. “We believe great performances should be accessible to everyone in our community, and this partnership reflects our commitment to ensuring families can share in the joy of live music and build lasting connections to the performing arts.”

KMFA Classical 89.5 streams live at KMFA.org and for more information, visit KMFA.org/kidsonkey.

Kids on Key is sponsored by the Tejemos Foundation, Judy and Bruce MacKenzie, and Marvin Brittman.