VIDEOS Welcome to our Video Gallery. Here you can find a ton of videos featuring our Koalas making music and performing for all to see. You can find more videos on our YouTube Channel. Clicking on any video will open the playlist in an expanded view. Simply click the X to return to this page. Do you have photos or videos you'd like to share? Please use the Media Submission Form . CHOIR MUSIC VIDEO PROJECTS The videos below are music video projects that were completed by the Koala Choir students. Choir Music Video Projects Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video CHOIR CONCERT PERFORMANCES The choir program holds two on-campus concerts each year. Below you will find a collection of those concerts. Choir Concerts Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video FACULTY WELCOME BACK VIDEOS From time to time, the Kocurek Elementary Faculty and Staff enjoy creating Back-to-School videos for their students. Here is a collection of the videos we have made over the years. Faculty Created Welcome Back Videos Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video CHOIR INDIVIDUAL SONGS Choir Individual Songs Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video

< Back Spring Concert 2015 View photos from the Kocurek Koala Choir's Spring Concert (May 2015). Previous Next

< Back Spring Concert 2018 View photos from the Kocurek Koala Choir's Spring Concert (May 2018). Previous Next

< Back Winter Concert 2015 View photos from the Kocurek Koala Choir's Winter Concert (December 2015). Previous Next

< Back Spring Concert 2016 View photos from the Kocurek Koala Choir's Spring Concert (May 2016). https://youtu.be/LYwP5oGVjqA Previous Next

< Back Winter Concert 2025 Previous Next

< Back Spring Concert 2008 View photos from the Kocurek Koala Choir's Spring Concert (May 2008). Previous Next

Kocurek was named after Willie I. Kocurek. Learn more about the man, the myth, the bow-tie and why it's important at Kocurek Elementary School in Austin, Texas. About Our School Kocurek Elementary School Born in Dime Box, Texas, Willie I. Kocurek, came to Austin in 1929 to study law. Some 51 years later he achieved that goal at the ripe young age of 70. What took him so long you might ask. He was busy! Young Willie came from a family of nine brothers and sisters. Raised on a farm, Willie learned at an early age the meaning of hard work. He attended Caldwell High School and was valedictorian of his senior class. His high school English and debate teacher encouraged him to go to the University of Texas and helped him get a job working at a filling station to pay his way. He later purchased that filling station. Willie earned his bachelor's in Business Administration in 1933 and soon after he met Maurine Gustafson at a dance he had been invited to by his filling station customers.Courting Maurine was complicated by the fact that she didn't have a telephone. Willie learned where she lived and the next day he bought a new white linen suit and a blue knit tie for $5.00, borrowed a friend's car and headed to the address at 511 West 18th Street. Willie and Maurine dated for four years and in 1934 tied the knot. Together they ran the mom and pop company that was expanded to a department store which sold appliances as well as gasoline. Willie and Maurine enjoyed their years in business watching it grow. The motto "You don't need money, just a little bit a month" became another familiar willism around Austin. The store originally covered an entire block at San Jacinto and 19th and later moved to 41st and Guadalupe until 1977 when the Kocureks decided to take "renewment" instead of retirement. At "renewment", Willie finally went off to law school, something he had intended to do back in 1929. At the age of 70, after three years at the University of Texas Law School, Willie Kocurek became a Doctor of Jurisprudence. He was the oldest person to ever graduate from the UT School of Law, a feat that got him an invitation to appear on "Good Morning America". The Kocureks spent a lifetime in service to their community and have received recognition on numerous occasions. Willie was chosen as Austin's Most Outstanding Young Man in 1941, as Austin' Most Worthy Citizen in 1980 and in 1990 he and his son, Neal, were chosen as Austinites of the Year. His proudest day came in 1986 when an Austin elementary school was named after him. Willie I. Kocurek Elementary School is located in southwest Austin. He often refers to the school's students as his grandchildren. Maurine was honored in 1989 at Adult Services Council's Outstanding Citizen of the Year. She's also been active in the Lifetime Learning Institute, her PE.O. Chapter, Questors, Lions Ladies Luncheon and the Austin Czech Club, the Austin Woman's Club and her church, garden and sewing clubs. For forty years Willie donated much of his time to education in general and AISD specifically. When he ran for a position on the AISD School Board in 1946, Jake Pickle was his campaign manager and the campaign cost him $25. He served for almost ten years as a school board member, the last four years as president. Then he went on to serve as president of the Texas Association of School Boards, director of the National Association of School Boards and on the board of directors of the Region XIII Education Service Center, and chairman of "Forming the Future" for AISD in 1982-1983. Willie was also named "Texas Hero for Children" in 1996. The faculty and staff at Kocurek Elementary are honored to have our school named for such a wonderful, caring and outstanding man.

< Back Spring Concert 2013 View photos from the Kocurek Koala Choir's Spring Concert (May 2013). https://youtu.be/qLTgPi5g8co Previous Next

Mr. Van's Class is the official page for Mr. VandeWalle (Mr. Van) and the music classroom at Kocurek Elementary School in Austin Independent School District, Austin, Texas. From our first musical experiences in kindergarten to our final performances in fifth grade, there's always something exciting happening in music! Explore our programs, celebrate student achievements, and discover what makes music at Kocurek special. ABOUT US About Our School About Our Class About Mr. Van OUR PROGRAMS LEARN ABOUT MUSIC MEMORY FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR KOALA CHOIR GET INFO ABOUT RECORDERS

< Back Winter Concert 2023 View photos from the Kocurek Koala Choir's Winter Concert (December 2023). https://youtu.be/W0I4MPVn2qk Previous Next

< Back Winter Concert 2018 View photos from the Kocurek Koala Choir's Winter Concert (December 2018). https://youtu.be/_4BJ3t77hPg Previous Next