Newsletter #10 (4/07/2010)

Newsletter #10 (emailed 4.7.2010)

Contained within:

1) Congratulations to Chamber and Symphony! State info
2) "Judgement Day" Ike Box Orchestra fundraiser April 23!
3) April 16 and 17 - schedules, volunteer request, homework assignment
4) When do we perform again?
5) Auditions for next year
6) Symphony schedule

1) Congrats to students in the Chamber Orchestra and Symphony. Both groups have qualified (and quite nicely, I should say) for the State Championships on May 14 at Corvallis' LeSalle Stewart Performing Arts Hall. At this point we do not have times. But it's likely that Chamber will play in the morning and Symphony in the afternoon. The Wind Ensemble (Band) qualified a few weeks ago and will play on May 15. The Choir of the Titans also qualified for the State Championships, to be held a week before Orchestra and Band. This is the result of dedicated students, parents, and directors who choose and learn great music. But, there's lot more work to be done these next few weeks - please let's not 'rest on our laurels' and continue staying positive as we work to refine and polish our pieces.

Chamber Orchestra will not be calling any extra rehearsals as a large group at this point (rehearsing 90 minutes daily should be enough to polish our pieces) - however students will be asked to be more dedicated than ever to sectional rehearsals (that occur before or after school). Keep in mind that AP's occur the 2 weeks right before State Competition. A great idea is to consider practicing as a great 'AP study' break activity. If you take breaks when your studying and let your mind completely go (like to play video games or go to the computer) it's less advantageous than taking a 'brain break' to go practice for 15-20 minutes.

2) Heavy metal violin/cello/drums trio Judgement Day (www.stringmetal.com) will be performing at the Ike Box (an all ages club downtown next to the YMCA) Friday April 23 as a fundraiser for our Titan Orchestra program. Parents, siblings, neighbors, and friends are all invited. Tickets will be $10. Doors open at 7pm. Bands start at 8pm - local band Echos Orange opens, The Metal Shakespeare band is next, and Judgement Day finishes up the evening. Should be awesome! Let's make this a successful fundraiser!!!

3) West hosts the Central Valley League Band and Orchestra festival next week - April 16 and 17. ORCHESTRA RUNS THE BAND DAY - all students and available parents are asked to help. Parents - if you have even an hour or two that you'd be willing to volunteer, please email Kelly Culver at kculver@comcast.net - thank you to the parents who have already offered their time. We could still use a few more! Students, sign up for a time slot in the orchestra room!

SATURDAY APRIL 17 - Chamber Orchestra performs at 8am. Could you imagine how great it would be if we were to play to a packed house at 8am on a Saturday morning??!!!! I invite ALL PARENTS and STUDENTS in the program to come support West's State-bound Chamber Orchestra. And, then come back at 1pm to see the 3rd place State Champion Symphony perform.

ASSIGNMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS IN ALL GROUPS - all students will be required to 'adjudicate' 2 performing groups on April 17. Each group plays for 20-24 minutes. The full schedule of groups will be given to students with the assignment info. If a student absolutely cannot attend one hour of performances (especially West's groups if they are not in Chamber or Symphony) on Saturday the 17th due to other commitments then there will be an alternate assignment (one computer based, one non-computer) that will be due Monday April 19. The date of this festival has been on the calendar since last May - it's my expectation that students complete this assignment *and* support West's orchestra program. Students *MAY* use these performances to also complete their review assignment - talk about knocking 2 birds with one stone! Details on this assignment will be given to students on April 12 and due a week later. Any questions? Feel free to email...

4) Here are the upcoming performances for all groups:

String Orchestra - May 25, 6pm awards, 7pm concert
Sinfonietta - April 30, 1pm - 6:45pm 4th grade festival - performance at 6pm
Sinfonietta - May 25, 6pm awards, 7pm concert
Chamber Orchestra - April 17, 8am
Symphony - April 17, 1pm
Chamber Orchestra and Symphony - May 3, 7pm
Chamber Orchestra and Symphony - May 14, State Championships (time TBD)
Chamber Orchestra - May 25, 6pm awards, 7pm concert
Symphony (including Chamber) - June 7, 7pm Concerto Concert and final senior farewell

5) Auditions and placement announcements for the 2010-2011 season will begin the week after Districts (the week of April 19).

6) Here is the Symphony schedule for April:

Fri Apr 9 - 2:30 - 4:30
Tue Apr 13 - 4 - 6pm
Thur Apr 15 - 5 - 7pm (EXTRA REHEARSAL - MANDATORY DRESS REHEARSAL!!)
Tue Apr 20 - 4 - 6pm
Fri Apr 23 - 2:30 - 4:30
Tue Apr 27 - 2:30 - 4:30
Fri Apr 30 - no school, no symphony rehearsal

Thanks! ~Ms S (silberman_daryl@salkeiz.k12.or.us)

**SAVE THE DATE**
April 13 - Zukerman at the OR Symphony at Willamette Smith Hall, 8pm
April 16 and 17 - Salem-Keizer District Festival - Friday is Band day (Orchestra parents and students run the day), Saturday Chamber performs at 8am, Symphony at 1pm
April 20 - 6pm Parent Booster Meeting (Trip Planning and 2010-2011 concert planning), orchestra room
April 23 Judgement Day band at the Ike Box - Fundraiser for Orchestra Music Boosters
April 27 - Midori at the OR Symphony at Willamette's Smith Hall, 8pm
Boot Camp - Monday through Thursday, 9am - 1pm, August 23-26