Friday, December 18, 2009

You can go see opera in Salem now... cool...

The Santiam Stadium 11 theatres here in Salem will be part of a network of 500 theatres nationwide that will be broadcasting a live HD stream from the Metropolitan Opera in NY. The 'show' will be at 10am on Saturday mornings over the course of the year. Here's the info from the Statesman Journal:

What: "The Met: Live in HD" series at Regal Santiam 11 Cinema

Where: Santiam Stadium 11, 365 Lancaster Drive SE

when: First performance airs 10 a.m. Saturday; encore performance is 6:30 p.m. Jan. 6: "Les Contes d'Hoffmann" — Bartlett Sher directs, conducted by James Levine, featuring Anna Netrebko as Antonia, Ekaterina Gubanova as Giulietta, Kate Lindsey as Nicklausse, Kathleen Kim as Olympia and Alan Held as the four villains. Joseph Calleja stars in the title role of Hoffmann.

Tickets: $18 to $24; will be available through www.fathomevents.com (however, link was not active Thursday) or at cinema box office

Remaining season schedule:

-"Der Rosenkavalier": 10 a.m. Jan. 9; encore 6:30 p.m. Jan. 27

-"Carmen" (new production): 10 a.m. Jan. 16; encore 6:30 p.m. Feb. 3

-"Simon Boccanegra": 10 a.m. Feb. 6; encore 6:30 p.m. Feb. 24

-"Hamlet" (new production): 10 a.m. March 27; encore 6:30 p.m. April 14

-"Armida" (new production): 10 a.m. May 1; encore 6:30 p.m. May 19

Friday, December 11, 2009

Gift ideas and upcoming concerts

(sent via email Dec. 11)

Happy Holidays!

Gift Ideas
One idea for you for stocking stuffers for students is tickets to the remaining Oregon Symphony in Salem concerts - for only $10 each, you can pick up guaranteed good seats for students. There are some amazing concerts this year - including the Midori concert! Here are the dates for the remaining OR Symphony in Salem: Feb. 22, Apr 13 (Zukerman!), Apr 13 (Midori!), Apr 19 (Pops), May 25 (Mahler's Titan) - these concerts are at 8pm on Monday or Tuesday evening, but in my opinion these are some of the very best concerts students (and parents) can go see in town!! Call the OR Symphony in Salem box office for more info: 503-364-0149 - consider getting 2 student tickets so students can bring a friend??

Another gift idea is to consider the accessories in and around instruments - Jade rosin, a better shoulder rest, new set of great strings, new bow, great case - there are many ideas. Check at Weathers Music locally or shop online at www.sharmusic.com or www.swstrings.com for more ideas. I would be happy to help you choose some accessories for your student - tailored to your budget and student need. For example, check out this fun option for violinists - Colored Hair bows: http://www.swstrings.com/catalog/showBowGroup.jsp?groupId=203C&subcategory=Violin

Concerts
There are 2 great local concerts this weekend that would be excellent opportunites for student reviews (remember, each student needs to complete one live concert review by mid January):

Salem Youth Symphony - Dec. 13, 3pm at Smith Hall at Willamette: for more info - http://www.salemyouthsymphony.org/concerts - tickets are $12 for adults, $5 for students.

South Salem Orchestras at the Abbey - A Winter concert presented by our colleagues at South Salem High School. Concert at 2pm on Saturday Dec. 12 - concert is free for all.

And, for all Sinfonietta and String Orchestra students, you may review our Winter At West concerts on Wed Dec. 16 and Thur Dec. 17 of this next week - concerts are at 7pm. Tickets are $3 for students, $5 for adults - reserved tickets can be purchased at the bookkeeper's office.

Thanks

Thanks to all parents and students in String Orchestra, Sinfonietta and Symphony. Your concerts this past week went beautifully well! Your hard work has paid off!! Videos and/or recorded versions of our concerts should be up on our website soon.
Musically yours,
~Daryl Silberman

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Blogging about the String Orchestra Portland Trip

Hi all,

What fun we had up in Portland yesterday, Dec. 9, for the String Orchestra Portland and Lancaster Mall performance trip!

After finding out that we were to be 2 students down (one down with a fever, ugh!) we dutifully left at 8am all dressed in black, riding in a luxurious Coachways bus up to Portland. We got to the Children's Museum in Portland right on time. The "Play It Again Theatre" is adorable - a lovely little theatre with colorful lights and a tiered amphitheater-like seating arrangement. There was a live action camera projecting the performance on screens throughout the Museum... so we could watch ourselves. We donned our holiday gear (elf hats and scarves) and welcomed a ton of little people with their parents and grandparents - there had to have been 50 people, young and old, in the auditorium. We played Carol of the Bells, Up on the Housetop, Ding Dong Merrily on High, Deck the Halls, and the ever popular Jingle Bells and then invited the little ones to come up to see the instruments. It was a huge success (and, might I say, String Orchestra sounded better than ever!)

Then we changed clothes, hopped on the bus and our next stop was the beautiful Hatfield Performing Theatre in Portland. There we met our tour guide Sharon who showed us this beautiful theatre in the round lobby, a wild piece of artwork on the wall (ask anyone in String Orchestra - that painting was neat!), and then walked over to the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. This hall was built during the depression in a very gaudy, elaborate style. We got a full tour of the lobbies and inside the hall. We even got to see the Choir loft and the pit (both not usually visible when you go see the OR symphony there) as they were preparing for "Gospel Christmas". After checking out the amazing faux marble on the walls in the lobby, we hopped back on the bus for the Lloyd Center.

We ate lunch at the mall and then headed down to the ice rink - everyone of us put on our skates and hit the ice. Amazing! You should have seen Devin, Shantel, Chelsea, Shannon, Paige, Miranda, Crystal, Ashley G.(and her mom Angela who'd also never skated before!!!) and everyone else giving the ice their best shot. Some only got around a few times, some were begging for more by the time we had to leave at 1:30. It was neat to see this group happily attempting something different... great experience!

A quick bus ride down to Salem and then it was time for the Lancaster Mall. We played for 30 minutes across from Starbucks on the Burlington Coat Factory side of the Mall. We had anywhere from 30 - 40 people sitting or standing to listen to us. Standing on risers, we were able to play as a big group (we had thought we might have needed to pare down to smaller groups, but we managed to figure out how to play on risers like a choir) and made it through all our holiday music (all the songs listed above and more holiday carols). Then our fun day was over.

The only tragedy was that the big bass got a big crack in it - it apparently didn't like the combination of the cold air, soft case, and being put on a bus. But, we'll get that fixed up - and, considering we had great performances, a neat tour of a Portland musical landmard, and got to ice skate together (without any accidents!!) I'd say the day was a grand success!

Huge thanks for Angela for being our chaperone and to boosters for helping support this trip. I think this tradition of taking String Orchestra up and out for performing during the holidays overs great breadth to our orchestra program - and a nice opportunity for annual success!

Monday, December 7, 2009

Holiday Concert info for one and all!

Titan Orchestras Holiday Concert Information
Hi - here is detailed concert information for students and parents...

3 quick announcements:
1) No Sectionals after school for all groups this week or next week!
2) After the symphony concert (Dec. 10) there is NO SYMPHONY after school until after break (no rehearsal Fri Dec. 11, Tue Dec. 15, or Fri Dec. 18).
3) Tickets for Winter At West concert are on sale at the bookkeeper's office. Parents of students playing can specially reserve seats - students have been given those reserved seating forms. Those are available in both the orchestra and choir rooms. Tickets are $5 for adults (over 18), $3 for students. If you cannot pay the ticket price due to financial constraints, please make a request of Ms. Silberman or Mr. Angelo and we will comp you a few tickets.

Performance information for all groups (scroll down for call times, outfit requirements and other info):

STRING ORCHESTRA - performs Wed Dec. 9 (Portland - 10am, Lancaster Mall in Salem - 3 :15pm)

SINFONIETTA - performs Thur Dec. 10 (Band concert) - concert starts at 6pm, we don't play until at or around 7pm

SYMPHONY - performs Thur Dec. 10 (Band concert) - concert starts at 6pm, we don't play until at or around 7pm

CHAMBER ORCHESTRA- performs Wed and Thur Dec. 16 and 17 with choirs at Winter At West concerts - 7pm
Winter at West tickets prices are $5 adult/$3 student

----------------------------More Info---------------------------------

STRING ORCHESTRA - REMEMBER - YOU MUST COME STRAIGHT TO THE ORCHESTRA ROOM 2nd PERIOD ON WEDNESDAY DRESSED IN YOUR PERFORMANCE OUTFIT. Don't forget to bring a change of clothing!
Outfit info: School issued black outfits. Women - hair pulled back, black hose or tights, closed-toe shoes no higher than 1 inch. Men - tux jacket, tux pants, white tux shirt, bow tie, cummerbund.
We will return from the Dec. 9 trip by 4:30 at school. If you need a ride home, please make arrangements - ask for help from your peers or from me.

SINFONIETTA - outfit info: School issued black outfits (unless approved to wear something different). Women - hair pulled back, black hose or tights, closed-toe shoes no higher than 1 inch. Men - tux jacket, tux pants, white tux shirt, bow tie, cummerbund.
Call Time: If you'd like to carol before the concert, please come at 5:30pm - it's now not mandatory. You should be in the auditorium dressed in black at the start of the band concert at 6pm, orchestra room by 6:30pm to tune. YOU MUST STAY UNTIL THE END OF THE CONCERT.

SYMPHONY - outfit info: School issued black outfits. Women - New dresses if you have it ready, hair pulled back, black hose or tights, closed-toe shoes no higher than 1 inch. Men - tux jacket, tux pants, white tux shirt, bow tie, cummerbund.
Call Time is the same as Sinfonietta - see above

CHAMBER ORCHESTRA - Mandatory Dress Rehearsal (to put this show together) is Monday Dec. 14 from 5 - 8:30pm, we'll discuss dinner - maybe we'll order pizza before the rehearsal and/or bring yourself a snack to make it through.
Call Time for Dec. 16 and 17 is 6:30pm Orchestra Room
Outfit - Women, new dresses. Men, new black outfits

**If anyone needs holiday carols for the season (and you don't have time to go to Weathers or Uptown Music to purchase books of carols) please ask Ms. S for some copies - especially if you need this to complete your December Performance Assignment.

Happy wintertime to one and all! See you a concert or two... ~Ms S

Why "White Christmas" endures... nice article

Happy Holidays one and all,

Here's a neat article about a piece we're playing in Sinfonietta - White Christmas:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703499404574561734246276554.html

Enjoy!

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

No Symphony Friday 12/4

This email was sent 12/1:

Hi Symphony folks (sorry if you're not in symphony but got this email...)

No Symphony rehearsal on Friday - between having few or no winds because of pep band, being down string players who are in band, and knowing that a lot of kids want to go on the bus up to Portland for the semi-final playoff game, we're canceling Symphony rehearsal on this Friday. This is a credit, graded class, so we'll be having to make up this time along the way - probably in February as we get ready for the Carlos Kalmar visit. If you are around (not going to the game) we could *REALLY* use your help unloading wreaths and poinsettias - we were going to have symphony kids help unload at 4:30 on Friday... if you can come back to school or stick around to help, it would fantastic!!!! (Especially if you benefited from this sale... ?)

Next Tuesday's symphony rehearsal (12/8) is considered the MANDATORY DRESS REHEARSAL - be prepared - we will probably call a slightly longer rehearsal (either starting a little earlier or running a little later). Dr. Nail and I are very conscious that there are a lot of concerts and sports obligations these next few weeks - but we want to have you students as prepared as possible for your concert on the 10th!

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE - and, oh, did I mention PLEASE listen to these symphony pieces as much as possible - how about once a day??? You can listen online at our website - www.titanorchestras.com - and/or get a copy of these pieces (I have a CD you could borrow and/or bring a memory stick to school and I'll give you a copy) for your mp3 player. We're definitely a little short on rehearsal time... but if you listen, and practice, I think we'll be fine for the 10th.

Thanks for all your hard work! GO TITANS!!
~Ms. S and Dr. Nail

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Newsletter #9

(sent 11/22/09)
Newsletter for 11/22/09

Contained within:
1) Conference Schedule
2) Salem Baroque at Capital Manor Tuesday
3) Oregon Symphony Pops Monday Nov. 30
4) Titan Auction thank yous
5) Save the Date... upcoming concerts and deadlines

1) I will be available on Monday evening, Tuesday morning and afternoon for published conferences in the gym at West. I WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE ON TUESDAY EVENING (because I will be performing at Capital Manor) - if you can only come for conferences on Tuesday evening, please leave a message at my conference desk and I'd be happy to contact you if you'd like a phone or email conference. I will leave copies of the ArtSmart Salem calendar for you to take with you. And, as always, I'm more than happy to schedule a conference any other time that's convenient for you. At conferences I will have student's practice logs, a copy of the handbook, and the ArtSmart Salem calendar to help families find concerts to fulfill the review requirement. I look forward to seeing you at West for these conferences.

2) My husband, Danny Seidenberg, and I, along with our two colleagues Susan Miller on harpsichord and Georgienne Young on cello will be performing as Salem Baroque at Capital Manor at 7pm on Nov. 24 for the residents. They have extended an invitation to any of my students and their families who would like to attend - they have plenty of space for their audience. This concert would suffice for the review requirement - remember that all students in all the orchestra must complete on live review per semester - guidelines are available on our website: www.titanorchestras.com - student page. We will be playing about an hour of baroque trio sonatas.

3) The Oregon Symphony in Salem Pops concert is Monday Nov. 30 at 8pm - a fun concert of movie highlights. Check out the website for more info: OR Symphony in Salem - if you would like to reserve tickets at the special student rate, call the box office and mention the word "Staccato" - you will receive the 1 student/1 adult ticket price of $15 ($5 + $10) - a great deal! And as always, students can get tickets at the box office on the evening of the concert for $5 with student ID. A quintet from Chamber Orchestra will be performing in the lobby before the concert and during intermission - come say 'hi'.

4) Thank you to all who worked, played, donated to, and came to the Titan Auction - this was a wonderful event - I had a great time. It's amazing to me that so many parents donate so much time and money to the Education Foundation - it feels so very supportive of all we teachers do at West. Thank you for what you do!

5) Here are upcoming deadlines and concert schedules:

String Orchestra - your $60 (or scholarship request) is due Friday Dec. 4 along with your permission slip for the Portland/Lancaster performance trip.
Dec. 9 - String Orchestra performs at Lancaster Mall at 3pm
Dec. 10 - Sinfonietta and Symphony perform at West on the Band Concert at 7pm (caroling for 30 minutes before)
Dec. 14 - 5:30 - 8pm mandatory dress rehearsal for Chamber Orchestra for Winter at West concert
Dec. 16 and 17 - 7pm Chamber Orchestra and the Titan Choirs perform Winter at West - tickets are $5/$3 and go on sale in a week.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day. I'm very thankful for all the dedicated students, supportive parents, and the incredible community of West Salem! May your holiday be filled with health, happiness and music.
Musically yours,
~Daryl Silberman
C: 818-317-8218