Newsletter #18 (emailed 3/15/11)

***Save the Date***
The calendar is up-to-date on our website: www.titanorchestras.com
Thu March 17 - 22 Chicago trip
Sat March 26 - Lisa Harder/Frida Talent Contest
Thu March 31 - WOU for Symphony/Chamber
Fri April 8 - Band festival run by Orchestra
Sat April 9 - Orchestra festival Symphony/Chamber

Contained within:

1) Salem Pops Summer Camp Scholarship available
2) More info about the Frida and Lisa Talent Contest
3) Audition and repertoire info for next year's groups
4) We REALLY need pencils
5) Concert Thank You

1) Salem Pops Summer Camp Scholarship available
From parent Kelly Culver (thank you!)

Hi...just wanted to pass along a plug for students (9th, 10th, 11th) who want to attend fee-based orchestra camps this summer to apply for one of these scholarships. The applications are on their website. I believe applications are due April 11.

Lauren benefitted from it 2 times. The group really loves encouraging students, and 7 of 10 senior finalists that applied for the college scholarship were from West!

Thanks! Kelly

Website link: Salem Pops Scholarship Application

Here's a list of summer music camps in the area:

Britt Festival - chamber music, southern OR
Marrowstone - symphonic, WA
Mark O'Connor Fiddle Camp - fiddle, Tenn.
Mark Wood Rock Camp - Rock, Kentucky
Icicle Creek - chamber + symphonic, WA
Young Musicians and Artists - symphonic, Salem
Aaron Meyer - contemporary, Cannon Beach, OR
And, here's a place to search camps: http://www.violinist.com/violin-camps/

2) More info about the Frida and Lisa Talent Contest
From parent Jacque Dodds

They need 50 participants in order to make the 1st - $500, 2nd - $250 & 3rd - $100 place prizes. Last week they only had 16 participants commit but none have paid their fee. So prize amounts will be contingent on number of participants up to 50. I'm assuming extra proceeds from regist fees past 50 applicants will go to the girls. $5 cover charge [for audience members] will all go to Lisa and Frida.

Participants need to attend one out of two prep meetings: Fri March 18th 3-4pm or Sun 20th 6-7pm. [They will set a special date for West Salem students if there are people interested but will be in Chicago during the prep meetings]. They also need to arrive an hour before their stage time which they will be contacted about after all the registration forms are in and a schedule is set. Performance must be minimum of 2 min and no more than 5 min. Performances must be family friendly. Performers need to supply all their own music, props &/or instruments.

For more info, see flyers around school, application form at the office, or click on this link: http://fridasfight.webs.com/apps/blog/entries/show/6238446-talen-competition

3) Audition and repertoire info for next year's groups
Here are audition requirements and scheduled times for next year's orchestra members:

Week of March 28
Chamber Orchestra underclassmen - by appointment (lunch or after school)
Sinfonietta - Tuesday March 29 and Thursday March 31
Titan Violins - Violins March 30, Cellos and Bass April 1

Material
For students interested in being in Chamber next year - 3 octave scale of your choice, excerpt from March 14 solo repertoire, excerpt from other solo repertoire of your choosing, sight reading at the audition
For students interested in being in Sinfonietta next year - 2 or 3 octave scale with a shift of your choice, 1 slow vibrato scale, excerpt from March 14 solo repertoire
For students interested in staying in Orchestra (Titan Strings) next year - 2 octave scale of your choice, excerpt from March 14 solo repertoire

4) We REALLY need pencils
So, we go through tons and tons of pencils in this orchestra room and my last request for pencils rendered only 4 packs of pencils (though there are over 40 of you who never brought 2 packs of pencils in like you were asked to do at the beginning of the year) - which we're almost through. If any parents work somewhere (Universities or 'big companies') where you might be able to get a big batch of pencils, that would be really neat (we had some from WOU, Salem Electric, and Spirit Mountain, for example). Or, if you frequent the dollar store and feel like picking up a few dollars worth, that would be great. The next step is that I will go through my beginning-of-the-year lists and require 2 packs from each person who hasn't brought pencils in yet. Thanks...

5) Concert Thank You
Thank you to students and parents for a attending the very long but very rewarding concert Monday night. I noticed that the level of playing across the program has risen quite steeply this year. I will adapt the format of the Spring Concert next year so it's not so long, but will still keep the element of having students perform solos in groups - I feel that was a very successful experience for the program. Thank you, as always, to the incredible (and tireless) parents who offer time for the Titan Orchestra Boosters group - Kirkpatricks, Tatmans, Lowens, Larsons, Kims, Winklers, and more.

Thanks for reading all the way down to the end of the newsletter...
~Ms S.