Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Congrats Lauren!!!! (Withnell Scholarship recipient)

May 25, 2010

Scholarships go to 8 music students

Winners' essays focused on movie about band teacher

By Barbara Curtin
Statesman Journal

The late Harold J. Withnell touched thousands of young lives during the 30 years he taught band in Oregon. His influence continues in Salem-Keizer, where his son, Dick Withnell, awards scholarships each year in his father's name.

On Monday, eight talented Salem-Keizer musicians — two singers, a flutist, a violinist, a saxophonist, a violist and two clarinetists — were presented with the $1,000 scholarships. That brought the total to 57 students and $57,000 since Dick Withnell and his wife, Gayle, started the tradition in 1996. The couple also have given about $8,000 in need-based awards for students to take music lessons.

The scholarships went to students such as Daniel Frizzell, a South Salem High senior who chose a new flute over a new car. And to Kelsey Popovich, the Sprague choir president who sat on the committee to help hire a new choir director for her school.

The Withnells didn't simply mail checks to the chosen eight students. They treated them to lunch at Rudy's at Salem Golf Club, along with their parents, principals, music teachers and community leaders.

Dick Withnell remains an unabashed fan of the 1995 movie about a career band teacher, "Mr. Holland's Opus," and his awards include some reference to that film. When the movie first came out, he paid to show the movie to thousands of Salem-Keizer students. This year the scholarship nominees wrote essays reflecting on the movie.

Molly Hartshorn, a South Salem High School junior, said she watched the film for the first time while preparing her essay.

"I'm glad I had the opportunity to see it," she said. "It showed the importance of music education, not only for kids like me who are preparing for a music career, but what it does for the average student."

Over the years, the number of scholarships has varied from three to nine, depending on the economy. This year, not a great one for auto dealers such as the Withnells, the couple nevertheless gave out eight.

"I get a two-fer here," Withnell explained. "I get to honor (district supervisor of music education) Karl Raschkes, and I get to help the kids continue toward their music goals.

"Plus, there is a marvelous return-on-investment here; nine kids have come back to teach in our schools."

bcurtin@statesmanjournal.com or (503) 399-6699

Additional Facts
Harold J. Withnell Music Scholarship Winners
These are the 2010 winners of $1,000 scholarships from Dick and Gayle Withnell, with highlights of their music achievements provided by the scholarship sponsors:

Josh Clark, North Salem High School junior, vocal (tenor), 2010 All-City Choir; son of Lori and Chase Clark.

Lauren Culver, West Salem High School junior, viola, 2010 All-City Orchestra, 2010 Oregon All-State Orchestra; daughter of Kelly and Brent Culver.

Noela Estrada, McKay High School junior, clarinet/baritone saxophone, 2010 All-City Band, drum major for McKay's marching band, All-State bass clarinet; daughter of Laurie and Mark Mincher.


Bradley Frizzell, South Salem High School senior, clarinet, 2010 All-City Band, All-State and All-Northwest Honor Bands; son of Rebecca and Boyd Frizzell.

Daniel Frizzell, South Salem High School senior, flute, 2010 All-City Band, All-State and All-Northwest Honor groups; son of Rebecca and Boyd Frizzell.

Molly Hartshorn, South Salem High School junior, violin, 2010 All-City Orchestra; daughter of Elizabeth Hartshorn.

Carly Laursen, McKay High School senior, saxophone, 2010 All-City Band, drum major for McKay's 2009 season; daughter of Brenda and Craig Spillman and Rick and Kimberly Laursen

Kelsey Popovich, Sprague High School senior, voice (soprano), 2010 All-City Choir; daughter of Sheila Sund-Popovich and Brett Popovich.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Chamber final project

Chamber Orchestra Final Project – for seniors, due June 9, all others due June 11
Points 20

Objectives:
1.1 To learn more about contemporary performers
1.2 To use the internet to investigate live performers – biographies, interviews, video clips, audio recordings, concert schedule, fan pages
1.3 To write compellingly about a live performer by creating a one page flyer


Final presentation: Needs to be emailed to Ms. Silberman.


Project outline: Using the internet or library sources, you need to research a live performer – someone who currently concert-izes nationally, playing the same stringed instrument you play. You need to pretend that you are the manager for this person and that your information you submit makes or breaks their career. Each student will have one page for this performer. The following information has to be emailed to Ms. Silberman by June 11:

Picture(s) of the artist
Quick read bio:
Full name
Date born
State/country of origin
What genre does this artist play in? (Classical, Contemporary)
What are they know for (one sentence)?
A brief biography – not longer than 2 paragraphs (do not plagiarize… reword anything you copy off the internet into your own words!!!)
A list of CD’s currently in print (partial list if extensive)
Three (3) video links (embedded code or link code) to your favorite videos you found of this performer.
Any other information you’d like to include, for example: upcoming tour schedule, where do they teach, other groups they perform with, etc…
Links to at least 3 websites for this performer (fan pages, official website, CD label website)

Lastly, each student needs to make a one page 8.5 x 11 flyer (black and white is fine) to bring to class to share with all the other students. This flyer needs to have a one sentence blurb about the performer and a picture of them. Make it compelling – make your colleagues want to go to that page to learn more about that performer! You should do this document on your computer in Word. Email the flyer word document or pdf to Ms. Silberman when you send her all the other info.

Have fun researching today’s performers. We’ll sign up for performers in class.

Here's the list:

Jamie - Amy Schwartz Moretti
Lauren Z - Rachel Barton Pine
CJ - Itzhak Perlman
Katelyn - Midori
Jaqueline - Sarah Chang
Alex H - David Garrett
Hayley - Nigel Kennedy
Molly - Joshua Bell
Max - Bobby Yang
Skyler - Pinchas Zukerman
Megan Ch - Leila Josefowicz
Lacey - Rachel Podger
Aida - Nadja Solerno-Sonnenberg
Eugenia - ????
Sarah - Rivka Golani
Bronte - Kim Kashkashian or Paul Peabody or David Wallace or Keith Barry
Kate - Jimbo Ross
Lauren C - Michael Kugel
Zevon - Martha Mooke
Kiara - ? (Talk to Bronte to see who she doesn't do...)
Meg Ca - Yo-yo Ma
Linda - Alisa Weilerstein
Ellen - Julian Lloyd Weber
Holly - Aaron Minsky
Chris A - Edgar Meyer
Alex V - Barry Green
Paul - Gary Karr
Garrett - Michael Anthony
Mak - Billy Sheehan

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Newsletter 13 (emailed 5.19.10)

Concerts May 25 and June 7... deposit required for Chicago trip, and more...

Newsletter #13 (emailed 5/19/10)

1) May 25 - Concert and Awards night info for all students and parents
2) June 7 final concert information
3) VIP card fundraiser ends Friday May 21!!
4) Deposit information for 2011 Chicago Trip - due June 7
5) Congrats to Chamber and Symphony on State performances
6) Some preliminary end of this year information (including some summer
info)
7) Some preliminary 2010-2011 information
8) Summer fun...

1) We have an awards assembly and concert Tuesday evening! This is the
awards assembly for the year (minus the Senior farewell) for all students
and parents who have volunteered their time this year. All students will be
acknowledged and special awards will be presented. Then at 7pm there will be
a quick concert featuring year-end performances by String Orchestra,
Sinfonietta and a special performance with Sinfonietta and Chamber combined.

Concert dress is: Chamber - State shirts and jeans/pants, Sinfonietta and
String Orchestra - West shirt or Black shirt and jeans/pants.

5:15 - call time for String Orchestra on stage
5:30 - call time for Sinfonietta on stage
5:40 - call time for Sinfonietta with Chamber Orchestra on stage
6:00 - all students and parents in the audience for awards assembly
7:00 - String orchestra, followed by Sinfonietta (with Chamber) performance

2) June 7 - final concert - all students must attend. Even though May 25
is the last concert for String Orchestra and Sinfonietta students, all
students are required to attend the June 7 concerto concert. This concert
features Symphony and Chamber Orchestra playing concertos with graduating
seniors from the band, orchestra and choir department. Additionally this is
our Senior farewell concert - seniors (and their families) will be thanked
for their dedication to the program and will play a special piece.
Attendance will be kept for Period 7 and 8 students. More info for Chamber
and Symphony students in the next newsletter about concert dress and call
time.

3) I hope you've been selling those VIP cards! This is our first fund
raiser for the 2010-2011 season. There have been some seniors who have
participated in this fund raiser to help refill the music booster coffers -
thank you for your help. Cards or money is due on Friday May 21 - if you
need more information (extension? More cards? More info?) please email Steve
Tatman at steventatman@yahoo.com. There is an incentive in place for
selling 5, 10 or more cards - see previous emails for this information.
Check www.thevipcard.com often - more local West businesses are being
added each week. Happy selling!!!


4) And, here's a reason to sell those VIP cards - your deposit for the
spring 2011 Heritage Festival Chicago Orchestra tour is due June 7 - a
deposit of $75 (can come out of your student account) will be due by Monday
June 7 - this is so we can reserve premium spots for students and chaperones
and get busy planning some summer fund raising. More information is coming
home with students on a flyer at the end of this week. The Chicago tour will
feature performances, a competition, clinics, and great educational and
musical experiences, including sight-seeing activities is one of my favorite
cities in America! All students currently enrolled in the 2010-2011
orchestra program are eligible to go on the trip. Thanks to Mark Lowen and
the parents on the tour committee for their dedication and time. Any parent
interested in serving on the committee is welcome - please contact Mark
Lowen at [4]lowen.4@gmail.com.

5) Congrats to both Chamber and Symphony for beautiful performances last
Friday, May 14. You can still order DVDs or CDs:
DVD's - http://osaa.org/band/2010/10BandDVDOrderForm.pdf
CD's - are only available in quantities of 5 or more... if you are
interested email me (Ms. S)

6) Some year end info for all:

School dress/tux return: Sinfonietta and String Orchestra - your
school-issued performance outfits are due, including tuxes and dresses. If
you do not return your outfit, you will be charged at the end of the year.
Dresses need to be washed. Tuxes (pants and jackets) just need to be
returned. Chamber and Symphony - you will still wear your concert black on
the last concert.

After the concert May 25: Sinfonietta and String Orchestra will spend 2
class periods watching the incredible 1961 West Side Story with music by
Leonard Bernstein, dancing choreographed by Jerome Robbins, and lyrics by
Stephen Sondheim. We will also continue reading music, working on a year-end
project, and finally will inventory instruments and return any original
music loaned out.

After the June 7 concert: Chamber will 'roast' the seniors, will watch West
Side Story, work on next year's planning, and will help wrap up the room.

7) Info about the 2010-2011 Titan Orchestra program. There are a few
exciting changes that will occur next year.

Chamber Orchestra continues periods 3 and 4 and will be a tight, small
group of great musicians. We will have performances the 3rd week of
September already, so we'll work at Boot Camp to put a few pieces together.
We will work on extra hour (after lunch) the week of Boot Camp to revive a
few pieces and start new pieces.

Sinfonietta will be period 7 again and will be a very large group.
Instrument usage in the room will be an issue - there will be some students
who will need to keep an instrument here at school (and rent one for home -
or visa versa) in order to help the instrument situation in the room -
especially for cellists. We will have at least 12 cellists in the class but
we only have 10 cellos in the room. Sinfonietta will once again run the 4th
grade string festival on the last Friday in April - it was a grand success
this year!

String Orchestra will be no more. It will now be called _"Titan String"_
and it will be comprised of 2 sections meeting period 6. One section is
Titan Violins - this will be a class of 14 or so talented violinists who
will work together to play violin repertoire, fiddle music, and other group
violin works. They will join Sinfonietta violins on some performances. Then
there will be a small section of cellists and bassists who will work
with a guest low strings expert (cellist?) on their skills. They too will
perform with Sinfonietta 2nd semester on concerts.

Ms. S - I will be traveling to Walker on my 8th period prep once a week to
work with Mr. Shippy and the Walker Advanced Orchestra - I'm really excited
to volunteer my time (with Mr. John's blessing) to help align the orchestra
programs.

Honors - there will be an 'Honors' track that will start next year in the
Titan Orchestra program. Students electing to be in the honor track will
take private lessons, have extra performance and master class opportunities,
and will advance skills at a fast rate. I'm hoping that this can be
reflected on the academic record - more information on that development as I
learn more.

8) Ready for Summer??? Well, get some music... I'm going to have music
recommendations for all students so you have something to play over the
summer. I will also give all students a list of private teachers.
Additionally, you'll get calendar information for next summer.
I will be at West in the mornings the weeks of July 6 and July 11 - any
students interested in helping around the room, playing some music (chamber
music, solo pieces, need work on technical skills) can drop in. Please
contact me if you're interested in coming some or all of those 2 weeks -
I'll be here from 9:30am - 12pm and am offering this for free to current
students (and incoming 9th graders). Hope to see you then!

For Chamber Orchestra students - if you're interested in being an
assistant at the Summer String program at Leslie July 6 - 15, please
remember to print out, fill out and return the student background clearance
form. If you need that info again, please contact Ms. S.

Also, this summer we'll have a series of car washes for students fund
raising for Chicago - more info once we receive your deposit (by June 7).

Please don't forget to put Boot Camp on your summer calendar!!!
Thanks! ~Ms S (silberman_daryl@salkeiz.k12.or.us)

**SAVE THE DATE**
May 25 - awards for all (6pm) and concert (7pm)
June 7 - $75 deposit due for priority reservations for Chicago tour
June 7 - Final Concerto Concert (Symphony and Chamber - senior 'goodbye')
July 6-15 - Ms S is available to work with students at West in the morning.
Summer Strings in the afternoon.
Boot Camp - Monday through Thursday, 9am - 12pm (until 1pm for Chamber),
August 23-26

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Article in the SJ about State Championships

May 15, 2010

Sprague, South win state orchestra titles

West Salem High takes fourth place in symphony division

By Barbara Curtin
Statesman Journal

CORVALLIS — Members of the Sprague String Camerata were able to put jitters from a bus crash behind them Friday and turn in a performance that earned them first place in the string ensemble division of the OSAA Orchestra State Championships. They earned third place in the full symphony competition, which took place later Friday evening.

Musicians from South Salem High School, which has been Sprague's close rival for trophies over the years, won the championship in the full symphony division. They won second place in the string ensemble division.

West Salem High also took home a trophy, earning fourth place in the full symphony division.

Dijana Ihas, director of Sprague's string ensemble and co-director, with Richard Greenwood, of the symphony, said the key was "the quality and the difficulty of the music and the level of preparation, so even an accident like this one today did not diminish the quality of the performance."

South High's Brandon Correa, who is co-director of the school's symphony with Mary Lou Boderman, said of his musicians, "They just played with so much spirit. They truly were able to embody the emotion in the best literature in the world."

Although the young musicians, clad in black dresses and tuxes, took center stage all day, the event also was bittersweet for scores of Salem-Keizer music parents who attended.

"This is my 11th year in a row coming to state choir and orchestra competitions," said Vernita Reyna, whose daughter Brianne was playing violin with the Sprague orchestra.

"I am a huge fan of music in general and our orchestra in particular. Every performance they have is really wonderful."

Kathy Lincoln and her husband, Tom Tomczyk, were attending their sixth and final state orchestra competition. Their daughter Sophie Tomczyk, a senior violinist at South Salem High School, will be graduating and heading to the University of Oregon. Older daughter Elizabeth, who played cello with South's orchestra, has moved on to Oregon State University.

"We've heard a lot of great music over the years," said Kathy.

Tom helped chaperone the orchestra on its trip to Europe when Elizabeth was a freshman, and he still marvels at the beauty of the music those young musicians made in the churches they visited.

It's been quite a ride for a guy who took just one year of piano lessons.

"We didn't have a lot of culture in our lives, and all of a sudden we're in with this group," he said in wonder.

Kami Hettwer, a West Salem High School music parent, said she still has jitters after four years of attending state competitions. Her sons are Matt, a senior trombone player, and Josh, a junior clarinetist.

"You never know if the adrenaline will help them perform better or worse or how the group will do as a whole," she said.

Jackie Maltzan, whose son Garrett is a junior and a bass player, said people outside the music circles would be amazed to know how much these students rehearse. West's orchestra has been meeting two nights a week, plus sectionals, plus classes with guest clinicians, on top of their regular classes, she said.

But all the driving and her service on the music booster board pay off, she said.

"You know the kids your kids are hanging out with," she said. "They're good kids, and their parents, too."

bcurtin@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6699

Additional Facts
At a glance
These were the top-scoring schools at Friday's OSAA State Orchestra Championships:

String Orchestra

1. Sprague High School

2. South Salem High School

3. Crescent Valley High School

4. Clackamas High School

Full Orchestra

1. South Salem High School

2. Reynolds High School

3. Sprague High School

4. West Salem High School


Note: McKay High School's string orchestra qualified for state but did not earn one of the limited number of slots at the competition.

Monday, May 10, 2010

State Performances Friday May 14

Here is the info regarding the State performances on Friday, May 14. Students and parents should have received an email outlining the details of bus transportation.

Chamber Orchestra performance is at 9:40am

Symphony performance is at 5:10pm

Warmups happen roughly 30 minutes prior and sight reading happens right after.

Awards occur at the end of the evening, about 30 minutes after the last performance.

Here's a link to the website with the performance order:

http://www.osaa.org/band/2010/OrchestraPerformanceOrder.pdf

And, here's a link with all the spectator information (including parking info and ticket prices) - once at this page, click on the 'spectator information' for even more details:

http://www.osaa.org/band/