Newsletter #27 (emailed 4.26.12)

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Newsletter #26 (4.26.12)

Contained within...

1) OSAA Championships for Chamber and Symphony
2) 4th grade string festival TOMORROW (4/27/12)
3) Sinfonietta theory test Wednesday of next week
4) Auditions for next year's orchestras, next week
5) Good luck to CJ (State Solo competition Saturday)
6) Salem Youth Symphony concert Sunday
7) Check out this link... (cool tunes for orchestra!)

1) OSAA Championships for Chamber and Symphony
Yay! We finally heard (it took 2 extra days for the officials to post their final decision) - Chamber and Symphony both get to perform (compete) for the OSAA championships on May 11 at OSU's LaSalle Stewart Center. Chamber performs at 11:15am and Symphony at 7:15pm. Good luck!

Chamber - we have to plan a few extra hours of rehearsal... please stay in touch with the schedule!

2) 4th grade string festival TOMORROW (4/27/12)
The 4th annual 4th grade string festival is tomorrow. About 90 4th grade students will be here at West to learn a tune and have some fun! Here's a rough schedule:

12:30pm - Chamber + Sinfonietta Symphony strings arrive, dressed in Titan Orchestra tshirts (or anything with Titan on it)
1:30 - all the 4th graders should be here
2 - West students teach a tune to the 4th graders
4 - we rehearse all together, and have a special musical demonstration
5 - pizza dinner (provided for West students)
6pm - Concert
6:45 (approx) - dismissal (once everything's put away)

3) Sinfonietta Theory Test Wednesday of next week 
Sinfonietta has a theory test on Wednesday - all students were emailed and handed a copy of how to study for this test. Please study up. If you've misplaced your study guide, it's on the blog (a few messages ago). Good luck - please study a little!

4) Auditions for next year's orchestras, next week
Auditions for placement in next year's orchestra start next week. If you are wanting to move up to the next level orchestra, please prepare your audition material this weekend. Auditions will be during class on Monday and Tuesday and then after school after then. I will also be hearing next year's 9th graders. If you do not audition at this time, but wish to later, you may do so.

5) Good luck to CJ (State Solo competition Saturday)
CJ is performing at 1:20pm at Lewis and Clark College in Portland on Saturday at the OSAA State Solo contest. Good luck CJ! Thanks for playing in period 6 today - you sound good...

6)  Salem Youth Symphony concert Sunday
The Salem youth Symphony performs this Sunday. This is a lovely concert - full to the brim - at the Smith Hall on the Willamette University campus. If you'd like to attend, tickets are only $5 for students - concert is at 3pm on Sunday, April 29. If you turn in a review within 2 weeks, you can receive 5 pts.

7) Check out this link...
Thanks to Alex in Chamber - he sent me this really cool link to a guy who records pop songs done symphonically - lots of tunes you know and love... check it out:

http://fororchestra.com/music/ 

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

For the bassists...

Bass player webquest

Bass Player magazine online       http://www.bassplayer.com/

                Victor Wooten article     http://www.bassplayer.com/article/victor-wooten-more-love/5637

Victor Wooten solo videos           http://youtu.be/ccsAc4jFPsE

Billy Sheehan     Solo video           http://youtu.be/30YT0cG2EkE

                                                                http://youtu.be/suaH-NJm12U

“Coolest Bass Duet Ever”              http://youtu.be/0wynScdeRaA

Edgar Meyer                                      http://youtu.be/aFJwFourt-g

Edgar and friends                             http://youtu.be/O7EcT5YzKhQ

John Pattitucci                                   http://youtu.be/fyTML5Ybh9w

Pattitucci Bach                                   http://youtu.be/jx9Tp8oRu9w

Esperanza Spalding                         http://youtu.be/Wb3MC_Hob44

“Super Slapping Bass (Larry Graham)      http://youtu.be/ipjTvRe7-Zg

Classical…

Jeff Bradetiech                                 http://youtu.be/9yjVwRI5aiU

Dragonetti Bass Concerto in G major       http://youtu.be/gCKZbm2v2SA

Koussevitzky Concerto, 1^st movement   http://youtu.be/SDT2U3j5G00

Vanhal Bass Concerto                    http://youtu.be/Dt-bNf6h0tI

Dittersdorf Bass Concerto            http://youtu.be/PNYuRbsSJYw

Edgar Meyer                                      http://youtu.be/Sv7fSif7ddg

Gary Karr                                             http://youtu.be/EA4A7hMDfsc

The Elephant (Saint Seans)          http://youtu.be/jWUt2D0FkdU

For fun…

Octobass                                             http://youtu.be/FP1QqtGe8ts

Sinfonietta Music Theory Test study info

Sinfonietta Theory Test study sheet

You will have a theory test on Wednesday May 2, 2012. The elements of this test include theory that you should already know how to do or should easily be able to pick up. Here’s what you’ll be tested on:

Note name on a clef – study Treble, Bass and Alto clef

How many counts each kind of note gets
How many counts each kind of rest gets

How time signatures work (identifying time signatures)

Which notes have half steps and whole steps between them

Basic key signatures

Difference between a scale and an arpeggio

Intervals (basic space between notes)

What basic tempo markings mean

What basic music symbols mean

How to write music notes (note heads, correct stems)
How to write a one octave scale

How to analyze the basic meaning of music put in front of you: Time Signature, Key Signature, markings and symbols, tempo, dynamics

To see a sample of the kind of test you might get, check out:

http://www.trinitycollege.co.uk/site/?id=1256  or http://www.trinitycollege.co.uk/site/?id=1581

 – check sample test levels 1 and 2 (these are from Trinity College of London’s music dept.)

Need study places? Check these sites:

                http://www.musictheory.net/

                http://www.8notes.com/theory/

                http://musictheoryblog.blogspot.com/

                http://www.dolmetsch.com/theoryintro.htm

               

Good luck – happy studying!
~Ms S

Newsletter #26 (emailed 4.21.12)

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Newsletter #26 (4.21.12)

Contained within...

1) Recap of Districts
2) Salem Chamber today and tomorrow
3) Thanks you Honors Quartet
4) 4th Grade String Festival (all Symphony string players)
5) Are we going to State? We'll know on April 24
6) Check out this video... (Lindsay Stirling)

1) Recap of Districts
First of all, thank you to all the students and parents who helped run the Central Valley League band competition on Friday April 13 - we run a great show! Special shoutout goes to the following students: Chris A, Jessica, Hayley, CJ, and Linda - your dedicated help was perfect!

On Saturday the 14th Chamber performed and received qualifying scores to submit to go to State championships. Then Symphony performed and raised their scores from the week before and also qualfied to submit to go to State championships. The biggest news in the area is that though Sprague and South's chamber orchestra played beautifully - received high scores - they were disqualified from the State competition because they were under time. This is apparently a hard and fast rule - not even 30 seconds under was approved on appeal. If we are lucky enough to go to State (see number 5 below), we'll definitely miss our colleagues.

Thanks to all the students who performed on Saturday and parents who attended.

2) Salem Chamber today and tomorrow
The Salem Chamber Orchestra performs Beethoven's 6th symphony and more today and tomorrow (Sat. 4/21 and Sun. 4/22) at Hudson Hall at Willamette University. I will be playing in the viola section, next to my husband, Danny. Today is the dress rehearsal from 10am - 12:30pm. Parents were emailed vouchers and students were offered vouchers in class. The vouchers will get you into the rehearsal for free. Students, if you go for an hour and you may submit a review (within 2 weeks). The concert tomorrow is at 3pm and has a fee at the door. For more info on this concert, check their website:www.salemchamberorchestra.org

3) Thanks you Honors Quartet
The Honors String Quartet, with guest clarinetist Michael Papendieck and pianist Jennifer Garrett, performed for about 40 people at the Salemtowne Women's Association monthly meeting. Salemtowne has many residents who are great supporters of music in Salem. They were treated to Vaughn Williams, Handel-Casadesus, and Mozart. I'm thankful that we have receptive and welcoming places to play locally. Congrats, Honors Quartet, on a lovely performance.

4) 4th Grade String Festival (all Symphony string players)
This Friday, April 27 - a no-school day for students - is the 4th grade string festival at West. We'll have over a 100 4th graders from our 5 elementary schools come up to West by 1:30 to be taught a tune by West students. All string players in Symphony (all of Chamber and some of Sinfonietta) are required to attend this festival - you do the teaching! Each West student will be assigned 3-5 elementary students  who will be with you all afternoon. A pizza dinner will be provided. We will perform Kashmir (we read it in Symphony last week and will practice it this week) at the concert at 6pm. Here's more info:

Dress - Titan Orchestra shirt if you've got it (otherwise, Titan wear)

Call time - 12:30pm

Performance - 6pm

Finished - around 6:45pm (as soon as we're done and cleaned up)

I could use some parent help around 4:30pm for pizza time - anyone available? Parents are also more than welcome to come to the quick concert at 6pm.

5) Are we going to State? We'll know on April 24
The way OSAA works, if you win your district festival competition, you automatically go to State - Band won our district, so they know for sure they are going on May 12. Both our Chamber Orchestra and Symphony did not place 1st in our district, so we have to submit a CD of the qualifying performance to OSAA. Supposedly this next Tuesday the list will go up letting everyone know who was accepted to perform at the OSAA championships on Friday May 11. Cross your fingers... I'll let you know as soon as I know. 

6) Check out this video...
Lindsay Stirling is a young hip hop (dub step?) violinist who some of the students know of. Lots of high energy, lots of dancing, lots of violin-ing... 

http://youtu.be/pRPOztxXWlQ

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

Statesman Journal article on CJ's U of O signing

Here's the link (click here)

Musician signs to play at Oregon
Viola player celebrates scholarship in unique way
10:59 PM, Apr. 12, 2012 | 1 Comments

West Salem student signs with UO: West Salem High School Titan Christina Tatman, who was recruited by University of Oregon for a music scholarship, signs a letter of intent during a signing ceremony Thursday, April 12, 2012.
Written by
Justin Much
Statesman Journal

It appears to be a good fit.

West Salem High School senior Christina Tatman, known as “CJ” to her friends, signed a letter of intent Thursday to play for the University of Oregon. The 5-foot-11, Tatman will keep the forest green school colors, trading the black Titan trim for traditional Duck yellow.

A full house turned out to witness the newest Oregon signee — a viola player.

“This is cute,” said Leslie Straka, professor of viola at the University of Oregon School of Music and Dance. “We don’t normally do this for music.”

Straka said it was a first for her; not the scholarship signing, but the manner in which Titan pride was rolled out for the event. Dozens of students — mostly from CJ’s music and chemistry classes — filtered into the West Salem High conference room, along with CJ’s parents, Steve and Karen Tatman; her brother Brendon; West Salem High Principal Ed John; and orchestra director Daryl Silberman, who orchestrated the signing.

Silberman said: “We do this for athletes, so I thought ‘Why not for music?’ ”

The scholarship will cover about two-thirds of the annual school expense.

Although Thursday’s signing is more common with athletics, earning a scholarship is not. West Salem’s career services specialist Sarah Singleton said that 213 scholarships, totaling more than $3 million, were awarded to West Salem students in 2011. Among those, 59 were awarded for academic achievement, 17 for music. Only five were for athletics.

Singleton said that the individual scholarship awards varied, from $500 to a full ride, and some students can earn more than one award.

According to the NCAA, there are about 126,000 student athletes nationally who receive scholarships or athletically-related financial aid. Total awards are about $2 billion administered through Division I and Division II schools. Division III schools do not offer athletically-related financial aid.

Looking at the larger picture, Federal Student Aid reports that the U.S. Department of Education provides more than $150 billion in new aid to nearly 14 million postsecondary students and their families. That aid is distributed by a number of methods, including grants, loans and work study programs. That aid goes to students such as CJ Tatman. Silberman applauded CJ’s efforts to make it happen.

“CJ is disciplined. She is dedicated. She’s a hard worker. She’s gone the extra mile to make this work for her,” Silberman said.

Karen Tatman said her daughter has always loved music, especially classical, and had a yearning to play at a young age, although she had to wait until third grade because of school policy.

CJ intends to sharpen her skills, maximize her potential and give something back, which is why Straka and the University of Oregon stood out.

“She made it really easy to make the decision to go there,” CJ said. “I also met a lot of the current students and faculty, and they were all very welcoming.”

CJ fortifies her music prowess with a strong mathematical aptitude, and she might pursue a double major. Her long range plans include teaching music at the college level.

jmuch@statesmanjournal.com or (503) 399-6736 or follow at twitter.com/justinmuch

Newsletter #25 (emailed 4.12.12)

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Newsletter #25 (4.13.12)
Contained within...

1) Big day Friday and Saturday - festival info
2) Itinerary info for Saturday (Symphony+Chamber)
3) Adjudication assignment info (all students)
4) Congratulations to CJ
5) SCO and OR Sym Pops (Aaron Meyer) next week
6) Check out this video... (Baroque violin - Purcell)

1) Big day Friday and Saturday - festival info
Friday April 13 the symphony students, with the help of some amazing parents, run the Central Valley League band competition. This is a big deal for the bands! There will be 9 bands performing at West, starting at 1:50pm. Students who are helping out should wear their Titan and/or West Salem tshirts (anything works - sports, orchestra, etc...). Students - please make sure that you show up for your shift. This festival only works smoothly when everyone does what they've signed up for!

Saturday April 14 the band students run the orchestra festival. There will be 13 orchestras (string orchestras in the morning, symphonies in the afternoon) from 8:30am to 4:20pm.

All performances are free. We're honored to host this festival. All performances are being recorded by CCTV and will be broadcast later in April (information about broadcast times and dates is on the program)

2) Itinerary info for Saturday (Symphony+Chamber)
All students (and parents) in symphony were emailed an itinerary for Saturday. Chamber students are called to West at 9am on Saturday. Symphony students are called to West at 11am. Call times are firm - students are to come dressed in concert attire.

If you have lost the emailed itinerary, check the blog.

3) Adjudication assignment info (all students)
All students in the orchestra program are required to complete adjudication sheets on site (in the auditorium) for 2 groups next week - students can choose to listen to and judge 2 bands or 2 orchestras. Bands are on Friday April 13, orchestras are on Saturday April 14. If not in Chamber or Symphony, I would prefer students come on Saturday to adjudicate at least one of those groups. The schedule of all the groups will be passed out in class and via email early next week - groups play from 2 - 7pm on Friday and from 9 - 3:30pm on Saturday. If students are absolutely unable to attend on either day, there will be an alternate web-based assignment they can do as a make up. But, the point is to get students to hear the live music happening at their own school. Complete assignment instructions have been handed out in class, sent via email, and posted on the blog. The due date of Tuesday April 17 is firm.

4) Congratulations to CJ
Our very own CJ was honored today at West in a signing ceremony. She was accepted into the studio of Dr. Leslie Straka at the University of Oregon. Dr. Straka, Mr. Ed John, CJ's parents, and about 40 of her friends and teachers were on hand to witness her signing her paperwork. It was exciting to honor both the hard work of CJ and the success of the West orchestra program.

5) SCO and OR Sym Pops (Aaron Meyer) next week
The Salem Chamber Orchestra and the Oregon Symphony Pops concert featuring Aaron Meyer both take place next weekend.

The Salem Chamber Orchestra is offering free dress rehearsal vouchers for Saturday morning April 21 from 10am - 12:30pm. You will have the opportunity to hear the final dress rehearsal for the concert the next day, for free!! You can even sit up right on stage, behind the musicians, if you'd like. Ms. Silberman (and a few of our coaches) are playing in the orchestra.

The OR Symphony Pops has a concert on Friday evening April 20 at 8pm featuring "Concert Rock Violinist" Aaron Meyer. $5 student tickets can be purchased - contact Ms. Silberman for more information.

These are great concerts to review!!

6) Check out this video...
An old friend of mine, Lisa Grodin, just posted this beautiful video of her performing a solo piece of literature by baroque composer Purcell. Lisa has emailed me that if anyone has any questions of her after seeing the video, just send the question to me (Ms. S) and she'll answer the best she can...

http://youtu.be/SlO_VhEo6-E

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

Proud of CJ!!

CJ had a signing ceremony today to celebrate her acceptance in Dr. Leslie Straka's viola studio at the University of Oregon. Way to go CJ!!!

Spring Assignment - due 4/17 - all students

Adjudication assignment for all orchestra students – due Tuesday April 17 – worth 20 points

All students are to judge 2 groups – preferably orchestra or symphony groups. The adjudication sheets are designed to encourage you to comment about musicality, technique, sound, and other factors. You will receive full credit if each box is filled out with comments and scores. Additionally, if you adjudicate West orchestra groups (if you’re not in Chamber or Symphony) *AND* you happen to get exactly the same scores as any one particular official judge, you’ll receive a prize, so judge away…  ~Ms S

Friday April 13 Bands (updated – final):
McKay 1:50 to 2:20 PM
Redmond 2:25 to 2:55 PM
McNary 3:00 to 3:30 PM
North 3:55 to 4:05 PM
break
Sprague 5:00 to 5:30 PM
South 5:35 to 6:05 PM
West 6:10 to 6:40 PM
David Douglas 6:45 to 7:15 PM
WOU Band 7:20 to 7:50 PM

Saturday April 14 Orchestras (updated – final):
Sprague Symph Strings 8:30 – 8:55
McKay String Orchestra 9:00 – 9:25
North String Orchestra 9:30 – 9:55
McNary String Orchestra 10:00 – 10:25
South Salem Chamber Orchestra 10:30 – 10:55
Sprague Camarata Orchestra 11:00 – 11:25
West Salem Chamber Orchestra 11:30 – 11:55
David Douglas String Orchestra 12:00 – 12:25
break
North HS Symphony Orchestra 1:30 – 2:00
West Salem HS Symphony Orchestra 2:05 – 2:35
McNary HS Symphony Orchestra 2:40 – 3:10
South HS Symphony Orchestra 3:15 – 3:45
David Douglas HS Symphony Orchestra 3:50 – 4:20

Alternate assignment, for those unable to attend the district festival:

Computer option: Complete the following Web quest.... you will need to create a word document that will have the answers for the quest.

1) Using a search engine, find url website addresses for the following symphony orchestras: Oregon Symphony, Eugene Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Berlin Philharmonic
2) Choose one of the symphony websites to review - write a brief synopsis of what you like and don’t like about their website. And, answer the following questions in your synopsis: What do you like about the home page? What is the price range of their ticket prices? How easy is it to find information about the history of their symphony? Do they have a kids page and if they do, what’s on it? Do they have podcasts or webcasts of their music online? If you wanted a job with the symphony, how easy is it to find employment info? What jobs are currently open – administrative and symphony player?
3) Play the Bravo Gustavo Maestro Hero online game: http://www.laphil.com/gustavo/game/ - and let me know your high score
4) Find 2 cool videos that have bowed stringed instruments in them – give me the youtube address and tell me why you like this video – and why I should show it in class or use it in my newsletters as a “Check Out This Video”.

Non-computer option:
Take an hour of your time to create a written assignment that combines words, music and/or art. You could write a set of musical poems, you could write down your favorite personal musical story (something that happened to you at a concert, in a performance, or maybe even write about why you started playing your instrument and what that meant to you), you could paint or draw a musical picture that has words on it, or you could simply write a page long essay entitled "What Music Means to Me". Don't spend more than an hour on this assignment, but, make it personal... almost anything you create that includes words and music will be fine (I'll be checking email all weekend, so feel free to email me if you have a question about this assignment).

Performance Times for Band and Orchestra festival

Friday April 13 Bands (updated – final):
McKay 1:50 to 2:20 PM
Redmond 2:25 to 2:55 PM
McNary 3:00 to 3:30 PM
North 3:55 to 4:05 PM
break
Sprague 5:00 to 5:30 PM
South 5:35 to 6:05 PM
West 6:10 to 6:40 PM
David Douglas 6:45 to 7:15 PM
WOU Band 7:20 to 7:50 PM

Saturday April 14 Orchestras (updated – final):
Sprague Symph Strings 8:30 – 8:55
McKay String Orchestra 9:00 – 9:25
North String Orchestra 9:30 – 9:55
McNary String Orchestra 10:00 – 10:25
South Salem Chamber Orchestra 10:30 – 10:55
Sprague Camarata Orchestra 11:00 – 11:25
West Salem Chamber Orchestra 11:30 – 11:55
David Douglas String Orchestra 12:00 – 12:25
break
North HS Symphony Orchestra 1:30 – 2:00
West Salem HS Symphony Orchestra 2:05 – 2:35
McNary HS Symphony Orchestra 2:40 – 3:10
South HS Symphony Orchestra 3:15 – 3:45
David Douglas HS Symphony Orchestra 3:50 – 4:20

Itinerary for Saturday's performers (April 14)

Itinerary for Chamber and Symphony on Saturday April 14, 2012

CHAMBER
9:00am Chamber Call Time – dressed – in the Choir Room
9:30 – 10:45 Watch North, McNary and 1 number of South
10:45 report to Choir Room
11:00 – 11:25 Warmup (Orchestra Room)
11:30 – 11:55 – PERFORMANCE
12:00 – 12:25 – Sight Reading (Band Room)
Retreat to Choir room to store instruments
12:30 – Choir room for Pizza Lunch

Then join Symphony itinerary

SYMPHONY (Sinfonietta students)
(you are welcome to come earlier to hear more groups)
11am – Symphony Sinfonietta student call time – dressed
11:30 – 12:30 Watch West and David Douglas Chamber Orchestra
12:30 Choir room for Pizza Lunch
1:30 – 2:00 Warmup (Orchestra Room)
2:05 – 2:35 PERFORMANCE
2:40 – 3:10 Sight Reading (Band Room)
Excused if you need to go
Consider staying to hear South Salem and David Douglas symphonies (3:15 and 3:50)

Newsletter #24 (emailed 4.6.12)

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Newsletter #24 (4.6.12)
Contained within...

1) WOU competition today (4/6)
2) All Symphony students on hand April 13!!!
3) Adjudication assignment info (all students)
4) Check out this video... (Me and My Cello - Piano Guys)

1) WOU competition today (4/6)
The Chamber Orchestra and Symphony travel to Monmouth today for the first of two competitions in a week. The groups will be playing at WOU's Rice Auditorium at the following times: Chamber at 1:30pm and Symphony at 3pm. Students have received itineraries by email, in class, and verbally. We will be returning to school between 4 and 4:30. Good Luck Titans!

2) All Symphony students on hand April 13!!!
We run the Central Valley League Band competition at West's Auditorium on Friday April 13. All students enrolled in Symphony at West are required to pick a shift to work: 1-5pm or 5-9pm. Modifications to their schedule can be made due to family, work, or sports schedule. So far about half the students have signed up... we need 40 students (parents too) to make this festival run flawlessly.

3) Adjudication assignment info (all students)
All students in the orchestra program are required to complete adjudication sheets on site (in the auditorium) for 2 groups next week - students can choose to listen to and judge 2 bands or 2 orchestras. Bands are on Friday April 13, orchestras are on Saturday April 14. If not in Chamber or Symphony, I would prefer students come on Saturday to adjudicate at least one of those groups. The schedule of all the groups will be passed out in class and via email early next week - groups play from 2 - 7pm on Friday and from 9 - 3:30pm on Saturday. If students are absolutely unable to attend on either day, there will be an alternate web-based assignment they can do as a make up. But, the point is to get students to hear the live music happening at their own school. Complete assignment instructions will be handed out next week to the students, in class (then posted via email, blog or website).

4) Check out this video...
Me and My Cello (Happy Together) - the Piano Guys are at it again... so wonderful...

http://youtu.be/DKC-lRhvdNY

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