Newsletter #22 (emailed 3.14.12)

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Newsletter #22 (3.15.12)
Contained within...

1) Chamber retreat - blogging starts Thursday
2) Concert details for Wednesday (3/21)
3) Walker and Straub come to West...
4) Barrage comes to Salem March 31!!!
5) Forecasting for next year
6) Check out this video... (Barrage)

1) Chamber retreat - blogging starts Thursday
Chamber Orchestra is off on retreat this weekend. I will try to blog daily so that parents can get an idea of what we're doing. I predict the highlights will be rehearsing all day on Friday, Company (show) on Friday night, and the scavenger hunt on Saturday. Parents are welcome to join us on Sunday morning at First Presbyterian Church of Newport for the 10am service in which we will be playing all the musical portions of the service. Here's to a productive, safe, warm (and dry?!) retreat...

2) Concert details for Wednesday (3/21)
Our long awaited Spring Concert is this next week - Wednesday the 21st at 7pm in the West Auditorium. All students perform, as well as the combined Walker and Straub advanced orchestras. Here are dress requirements and call times:

Dress: Titan Orchestra and Sinfonietta - concert black, as described in our handbook and earlier in the year. Sinfonietta students in Symphony can either wear their symphony clothes, or concert black (Symphony is not performing on this concert). Don't forget that hair must be out of the eyes, ladies need to have knees covered and no bare ankles/calves, and everyone needs to wear performance black shoes (no junky canvas shoes). Chamber - please wear your concert outfits.

Call times:
6pm - Everyone - dressed
Chamber will warm up on your own in the orchestra room
Sinfonietta and Titan Orchestra in the auditorium
Walker/Straub will come on stage at 6:30pm

Concert order:
Sectional performances (if ready - TBD Monday)
Titan Orchestra Violins
Titan Orchestra Violas
Titan Orchestra Cellos
Basses
Sinfonietta Violins
Sinfonietta Violas
Sinfonietta Cellos
Telemann Cellos and Violas
Telemann Violins
Titan Orchestra - Fasch, movements 1, 2, and 4
Sinfonietta - Boismortier and Gathering Storms
Walker/Straub combined
Chamber (pieces TBD)

3) Walker and Straub come to West...
Walker and Straub's advanced orchestras will be coming up to West on Tuesday March 20 in advance of their joining us on the concert the next night. They will get to meet and watch Chamber students rehearse, and then they will get to work with Ms. S on stage, before having pizza. It's exciting to think that we're putting 2 middle schools together for the first time in the West area! Thanks to Mr. Shippy and Mr. Balch for bringing their students up.

4) Barrage comes to Salem March 31!!!
One of the funnest, most amazing performing groups is coming to the Elsinore Theatre on March 31 - Barrage. This group of young violinists that are backed up by a rock band puts on a wonderful show. Tickets are a bit spendy, but the show is incredible! For more info, check the Elsinore Theatre ticket website:

http://www.elsinoretheatre.com/events/index.html

5) Forecasting for next year
In classes 3rd period on thus past Tuesday, students were given materials for forecasting next year's classes. For right now students should indicate the current level of class they are in, unless they are *certain* they're moving up to another orchestra. If students know they are going to play in Advanced Symphony, they may enroll in that class too. Auditions will begin at the end of April for next year's placement. Final lists will be turned in to the adminstration/counselors in late May.

If students (other than current seniors) do not wish to continue in the orchestra program next year, please let Ms. Silberman know so we can begin discussions about that decision.

Other options to consider - all students are encouraged to take the 2 elective music courses: Music Appreciation and Music Theory. Both classes are 1 semester long (not year long as indicated on their catalog sheet) and are great classes for musical kids!

Forecasting sheets are due in English classes later next week.

Students will be given audition requirements for next year's orchestra in their current orchestra class. If they wish not to re-audition, they will be kept in the same orchestra they are currently in.

6) Check out this video...
Barrage is coming to Salem. This high energy, musical extravaganza is a 'do not miss'... check out any of their videos on their site...

http://www.barrage.org/videoGallery/

Enjoy...

Thanks for reading all the way down to the bottom of the newsletter. This newsletter, along with all others, will be posted on our blog at www.titanorchestras.blogspot.com - accessible off the website at www.titanorchestras.com too.

Musically yours,
~Ms S