***Save the Date***
The calendar is up-to-date on our website: www.titanorchestras.com
Fri Apr 29 - 4th grade string festival (Sinfonietta - mandatory), 12:30 - 7pm
Mon May 2 - Pre-State Concert (Chamber, Symphony) - 5pm concert start
Fri May 13 - State Orchestra Championships - 10:50am (Orch), 4:35pm (Sym)
Wed May 25 - Awards Concert (all students) 6pm awards, 7pm concert
Mon Jun 6 - Concerto concert (all students - attend or play) 7pm concert
Contained within:
1) Sinfonietta students run the 4th grade festival this Friday!
2) OSAA State Championship info!!!
3) Sectionals change after this week - keep eye on calendar
4) Sinfonietta and Titan Strings - return dresses/tux
5) Lollipop Fundraiser - to fix cello and bass
6) Good luck to violist Lauren C at OSAA Solo State Saturday!
1) Sinfonietta students run the 4th grade festival this Friday!
Sinfonietta students will be running the third annual 4th grade string festival this Friday - April 29. Students need to arrive by 12:30pm to rehearse in the orchestra room. Area 4th grade string students will arrive starting at 1pm. Each Sinfonietta student will be directly in charge of 2-4 young students. They will teach them a tune and mentor them. West students will be provided with a water, a snack and pizza. We perform at 6pm - parents are welcome! We should be done by about 6:45 or so. West students may leave once everything's been put away.
This is the last year we'll have 4th graders from only 4 schools in the West - next year it will be 5 schools! Exciting!
2) Congrats to Chamber and Symphony for going to State!
All 4 top performing groups at West - Wind Ensemble, Choir, Chamber Orchestra, and Symphony - will have the opportunity to play at OSAA State Championships. We must not undervalue that accomplishment! Many schools in our district did not have all 4 groups qualify and/or be accepted to perform. Our students have done exceptionally well this year!
Concert Monday May 2nd
Come May 2nd to West to hear these amazing groups. Concert order will *most* likely be: Wind Ensemble, Symphony, Orchestra, and then Choir. All students are required to stay for all groups. Parents are encouraged to stay. Each group will play a selection from their State-bound repertoire. The entire concert should be over before 7pm. It's an opportunity for you to hear the very best of the best!
Call Time for Monday
Students in Chamber and Symphony - your call time is 4:30pm to tune up in the orchestra room. 4:55 you are seated in the auditorium to hear the Wind Ensemble.
Schedule for State - May 13
On Friday May 13 Chamber Students will be excused for the day - we will rehearse during period 2. All Symphony Strings are excused to hop on the bus at 9am. We warm up at 10:25, PERFORM AT 10:50am, and sight read at 11:15. Students will eat lunch on campus at OSU (bring $ or a lunch).
Symphony winds and brass will meet up with us later in the day.
Symphony warms up at 4pm, PERFORMS AT 4:35, and sight reads at 5:10. We will then all go to dinner in downtown Corvallis - PARENTS AND ALUMNI ARE INVITED TO JOIN US FOR DINNER IN CORVALLIS AT 6pm ON FRIDAY MAY 13! Awards are at 9pm - 2 buses will take students back to West after awards are concluded - approximate return time of 10:30pm
3) Sectionals change after this week - keep your eye on the calendar
Starting this next week the sectional schedule changes. Students will only be called for sectional if their particular section needs some extra work. There will be some extra Chamber Orchestra and Symphony sectionals called. Please stay in touch with the Titan Orchestra Calendar for precise information. Students will be told their schedule, the schedule will posted on the board at school, students will be emailed, and the sectional will be on the calendar.
Calendar Link [on the right side of the blog page]
4) Sinfonietta and Titan Strings - return dresses/tux
Students in Sinfonietta and Titan Strings can now return their black dresses or tux pants/jackets. Dresses need to be washed and hung in the closet with a name tag on the hangar. Tuxes only need to be cleaned if the student has gotten them dirty.
Students in Symphony need to keep their symphony clothes!
The Awards Concert dress will be blue jeans (clean, not ripped) and black shirt.
5) Lollipop Fundraiser - to fix cello and bass
We need to pay back our ASB account for fixing a cello this year and a bass last year that broke. The quickest, yummiest way to fundraise that money is to complete this fun little Lollipop fundraiser. Students in all the groups will be asked to help. We are selling Chocolate Peace Pops for $1 each and Creme de la Creme Lollipops for $0.50 each. Thank you for your help with this fundraiser. If we sell them all, we will have raised almost $300 to cover the cost of the repairs.
6) Good luck to violist Lauren C at OSAA Solo State Saturday!
Our very own Lauren C is performing as District 4 winner in the viola division. She performs at 1:40 at Lewis and Clark college in Portland in the Albany 14 Smith Hall room. Audience is welcome at her performance! Good Luck Lauren!
Thanks for reading all the way down to the end of the newsletter...
~Ms S.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Newsletter #20 (emailed 4/12/11)
***Save the Date***
The calendar is up-to-date on our website: www.titanorchestras.com
Sun Apr 17 - Salem Chamber Orchestra concert, 3pm
Fri Apr 29 - 4th grade string festival (Sinfonietta - mandatory), 12 - 7pm
Mon May 2 - Pre-State Concert (Chamber, Symphony)
Fri May 13 - State Orchestra Championships, daytime
Wed May 25 - Awards Concert (all students)
Contained within:
1) Salem Chamber Orchestra concert this Sunday
2) Explanation of Sectional Schedule coming up
3) Congrats to Chamber Orchestra and Symphony!
4) Rumor control about next year - what you can do
1) Salem Chamber Orchestra concert this Sunday
Come to a wonderful concert this next Sunday at Hudson Hall on the Willamette University campus - 3pm. Maestro Andrew Sewell will be coming to conduct Chamber Orchestra this Thursday. For more information, go to the website and call the ticket office: www.salemchamberorchestra.org - here's the program (great orchestra works!):
Debussy – Prelude to Afternoon of a Faun
Donizetti – “so anch’io la virtu magica” from Don Pasquale, with soprano Sydney Gabbard, winner of the Willamette Solo & Aria Competition
Chopin – Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, with pianist Alexandre Dossin
Mozart – Symphony No. 41, “Jupiter”
2) Explanation of Sectional Schedule coming up
For the rest of this month (April), sectionals will continue as originally called (see the calendar on our website for confirmation of your schedule) but for the month of May sectionals will only be called as needed. I know this may present a problem for students who usually bus home or who need to arrange a ride. I will always advertise the schedule in advance by email, newsletter, online calendar, on the board in class, and verbally in class so students should have plenty of notice to arrange their schedules accordingly. Symphony sectionals, Chamber orchestra sectional, group orchestra sectionals will be called as we 'round the bend' to prepare for the last few concerts. We do not have sectionals during June, so this is just a change for 4 weeks of our program - I'm hopeful that we'll have fully attended sectionals. Thank you for your help in adjusting schedules.
3) Congrats to Chamber Orchestra and Symphony!
Both Chamber Orchestra and Symphony qualified for this year's Oregon State Orchestra Championships. We'll send in our scores and CDs and hope that we're given an opportunity to perform on May 13 at OSU. It's not a guarantee that we get to perform at State - we'll know for sure in a few weeks. We would LOVE to have parents and friends at the performance on May 13 - once we know exact times, we'll work with the parents to see if we can organize an effort to invite parents, alumni and other students to the concert.
Thank you to all the students and parents who helped with this year's Salem-Keizer District Band and Orchestra festival!!! The Wind Ensemble (Band) won the district, Chamber Orchestra pulled in a respectable 3rd place (by a narrow margin), and Symphony placed 2nd in the district. There was some beautiful music performed this past weekend on our stage. The audio from our orchestra groups should be up on the website by the end of this week.
4) Rumor control about next year - what you can do
I've heard different rumors about next year, including a rumor that arts and music is going to be cancelled at West and that instrumental music will be cut in 4th grade. THESE RUMORS AT THIS POINT ARE FALSE. We do know that the budget crisis is more dire than first predicted, but Fine Arts Supervisor Karl Raschkes, our West are admistrators, and the central office for Salem-Keizer have been working tirelessly to preserve programs. The effort is to "reduce" programs, not eliminate. Music at West is currently not in jeopardy. Neither is the 4th grade string program, at this point.
Please consider supporting music in this district by writing letters to the editor, writing letters/emails of support to your principals, and even writing emails to SK district superintendant Sandy Husk directly if you have ideas, questions, concerns, or support - husk_sandy@salkeiz.k12.or.us (she reads all emails and responds to most!). With obvious and vocal student and parent support of music, our music program can be as strong as ever.
Thanks for reading all the way down to the end of the newsletter...
~Ms S.
The calendar is up-to-date on our website: www.titanorchestras.com
Sun Apr 17 - Salem Chamber Orchestra concert, 3pm
Fri Apr 29 - 4th grade string festival (Sinfonietta - mandatory), 12 - 7pm
Mon May 2 - Pre-State Concert (Chamber, Symphony)
Fri May 13 - State Orchestra Championships, daytime
Wed May 25 - Awards Concert (all students)
Contained within:
1) Salem Chamber Orchestra concert this Sunday
2) Explanation of Sectional Schedule coming up
3) Congrats to Chamber Orchestra and Symphony!
4) Rumor control about next year - what you can do
1) Salem Chamber Orchestra concert this Sunday
Come to a wonderful concert this next Sunday at Hudson Hall on the Willamette University campus - 3pm. Maestro Andrew Sewell will be coming to conduct Chamber Orchestra this Thursday. For more information, go to the website and call the ticket office: www.salemchamberorchestra.org - here's the program (great orchestra works!):
Debussy – Prelude to Afternoon of a Faun
Donizetti – “so anch’io la virtu magica” from Don Pasquale, with soprano Sydney Gabbard, winner of the Willamette Solo & Aria Competition
Chopin – Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, with pianist Alexandre Dossin
Mozart – Symphony No. 41, “Jupiter”
2) Explanation of Sectional Schedule coming up
For the rest of this month (April), sectionals will continue as originally called (see the calendar on our website for confirmation of your schedule) but for the month of May sectionals will only be called as needed. I know this may present a problem for students who usually bus home or who need to arrange a ride. I will always advertise the schedule in advance by email, newsletter, online calendar, on the board in class, and verbally in class so students should have plenty of notice to arrange their schedules accordingly. Symphony sectionals, Chamber orchestra sectional, group orchestra sectionals will be called as we 'round the bend' to prepare for the last few concerts. We do not have sectionals during June, so this is just a change for 4 weeks of our program - I'm hopeful that we'll have fully attended sectionals. Thank you for your help in adjusting schedules.
3) Congrats to Chamber Orchestra and Symphony!
Both Chamber Orchestra and Symphony qualified for this year's Oregon State Orchestra Championships. We'll send in our scores and CDs and hope that we're given an opportunity to perform on May 13 at OSU. It's not a guarantee that we get to perform at State - we'll know for sure in a few weeks. We would LOVE to have parents and friends at the performance on May 13 - once we know exact times, we'll work with the parents to see if we can organize an effort to invite parents, alumni and other students to the concert.
Thank you to all the students and parents who helped with this year's Salem-Keizer District Band and Orchestra festival!!! The Wind Ensemble (Band) won the district, Chamber Orchestra pulled in a respectable 3rd place (by a narrow margin), and Symphony placed 2nd in the district. There was some beautiful music performed this past weekend on our stage. The audio from our orchestra groups should be up on the website by the end of this week.
4) Rumor control about next year - what you can do
I've heard different rumors about next year, including a rumor that arts and music is going to be cancelled at West and that instrumental music will be cut in 4th grade. THESE RUMORS AT THIS POINT ARE FALSE. We do know that the budget crisis is more dire than first predicted, but Fine Arts Supervisor Karl Raschkes, our West are admistrators, and the central office for Salem-Keizer have been working tirelessly to preserve programs. The effort is to "reduce" programs, not eliminate. Music at West is currently not in jeopardy. Neither is the 4th grade string program, at this point.
Please consider supporting music in this district by writing letters to the editor, writing letters/emails of support to your principals, and even writing emails to SK district superintendant Sandy Husk directly if you have ideas, questions, concerns, or support - husk_sandy@salkeiz.k12.or.us (she reads all emails and responds to most!). With obvious and vocal student and parent support of music, our music program can be as strong as ever.
Thanks for reading all the way down to the end of the newsletter...
~Ms S.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Spring Assignment - due 4/11at 8am
Spring Assignment 2011 – fill out adjudication sheets for any 2 of the following groups. Sheets will be available at the auditorium door. If you cannot fulfill this assignment, you will need to complete the alternate assignment - ask Ms. S for details. Adjudications are due after you hear the group (return to envelope at the auditorium or bring to school on Monday).b
Central Valley League Friday April 8
Adv. BAND or WE STAGE TIME
Redmond 2:00 to 2:30 PM*
McKay 2:35 to 3:05
McNary 3:10 to 3:40
North 3:45 to 4:15
Dinner 4:15 – 5:00 4:15 – 5:00
Sprague 5:00 – 5:30
South 5:35 – 6:05
West Salem 6:10 – 6:40
Reynolds 6:45 – 7:15
WOU Band 7:20 – 7:50
Awards Presentation 8:00 – 8:15 PM
Orchestra District Invitational Saturday April 9
ORCHESTRA STAGE TIME
North Salem HS Chamber Orchestra 8:30 – 8:50
Sprague HS Symphony Strings 8:55 – 9:15
McKay Adv. String Orchestra 9:20 – 9:40
West Salem HS Chamber Orchestra 9:45 – 10:05
McNary Adv, String Orchestra 10:10 – 10:30
South Salem HS Chamber Orchestra 10:35 – 10:55
Sprague Camarata Orchestra 11:00 – 11:20
Reynolds HS Adv. String Orchestra 11:25 – 11:45
Lunch 11:45 – 12:45
North HS Symphony Orchestra 12:50 – 1:20
West Salem HS Symphony Orchestra 1:25 – 1:55
Sprague HS Symphony Orchestra 2:00 – 2:30
South HS Symphony Orchestra 2:35 – 3:05
McNary Symphony Orchestra 3:10 – 3:40
Reynolds Symphony Orchestra 3:45 – 4:15
Alternate assignment, for those unable to attend the district festival:
Choose a magazine from the orchestra room and do a magazine review. 3 important review elements:
1) Overall audience and perspective review
a. Who is the intended audience
b. What kind of balance of articles, information, and advertising is there
c. Give some examples of who this is written for and why
2) Advertising review
a. What kind of businesses advertise in this magazine?
b. What services or products are being sold
c. Follow a link to one of the advertisements (website, for example) and review the content of that site
3) Article review
a. Write a one sentence synopsis of the article
b. Then write at least 2 paragraphs about the article – what interested you, what you found out, what you knew, what you didn’t know.
Use complete sentences, proper grammar, capitalization, and punctuation. Spelling counts. Your alternate assignment must be typed. You can either print it out or email it to Ms. S. It is due by 8am Monday morning, April 11.
Central Valley League Friday April 8
Adv. BAND or WE STAGE TIME
Redmond 2:00 to 2:30 PM*
McKay 2:35 to 3:05
McNary 3:10 to 3:40
North 3:45 to 4:15
Dinner 4:15 – 5:00 4:15 – 5:00
Sprague 5:00 – 5:30
South 5:35 – 6:05
West Salem 6:10 – 6:40
Reynolds 6:45 – 7:15
WOU Band 7:20 – 7:50
Awards Presentation 8:00 – 8:15 PM
Orchestra District Invitational Saturday April 9
ORCHESTRA STAGE TIME
North Salem HS Chamber Orchestra 8:30 – 8:50
Sprague HS Symphony Strings 8:55 – 9:15
McKay Adv. String Orchestra 9:20 – 9:40
West Salem HS Chamber Orchestra 9:45 – 10:05
McNary Adv, String Orchestra 10:10 – 10:30
South Salem HS Chamber Orchestra 10:35 – 10:55
Sprague Camarata Orchestra 11:00 – 11:20
Reynolds HS Adv. String Orchestra 11:25 – 11:45
Lunch 11:45 – 12:45
North HS Symphony Orchestra 12:50 – 1:20
West Salem HS Symphony Orchestra 1:25 – 1:55
Sprague HS Symphony Orchestra 2:00 – 2:30
South HS Symphony Orchestra 2:35 – 3:05
McNary Symphony Orchestra 3:10 – 3:40
Reynolds Symphony Orchestra 3:45 – 4:15
Alternate assignment, for those unable to attend the district festival:
Choose a magazine from the orchestra room and do a magazine review. 3 important review elements:
1) Overall audience and perspective review
a. Who is the intended audience
b. What kind of balance of articles, information, and advertising is there
c. Give some examples of who this is written for and why
2) Advertising review
a. What kind of businesses advertise in this magazine?
b. What services or products are being sold
c. Follow a link to one of the advertisements (website, for example) and review the content of that site
3) Article review
a. Write a one sentence synopsis of the article
b. Then write at least 2 paragraphs about the article – what interested you, what you found out, what you knew, what you didn’t know.
Use complete sentences, proper grammar, capitalization, and punctuation. Spelling counts. Your alternate assignment must be typed. You can either print it out or email it to Ms. S. It is due by 8am Monday morning, April 11.
Call times for Saturday's performers
Call and performance times for Saturday 4/9/11
Chamber Orchestra
7:45am – pick up instruments from Orchestra room. Meet in choir room. Muffins provided (BYOdrink)
8:30 – listen to North Salem High School
9:20 – Warm up in orchestra room
9:45 – Performance on stage
10:10 – Sight reading in band room
Store instruments in choir room
Listen to South (10:35), Sprague (11) and Reynolds (11:25)
Symphony
12:00 – 12:15 (no later!) – pick up instruments from Orchestra room.
Store instruments in choir room (no playing!).
12:50 – Warm up in orchestra room
1:25 – Performance on stage
2:00 – Sight reading in band room
2:30 – Store instruments in choir room, but come back after 3:45 to return instruments to orchestra room
Listen to South (2:35), McNary (3:10) and Reynolds (3:45)
After 3:45 we can put instruments back in the orchestra room.
REMEMBER – you are responsible for your stuff = your instrument/bow/accessories, backpack, outfits, etc. Last year we lost some stuff and had a lot of things left in the choir room.
Dress – Chamber/Symphony outfits. Hair out of face. Black socks/hose. NO HEELS over ½ inch!!! Really!! No flashy or obvious jewelry.
Please invite friends and family to come hear you play! Chamber performs at 9:45am. Symphony performs at 1:25pm.
Chamber Orchestra
7:45am – pick up instruments from Orchestra room. Meet in choir room. Muffins provided (BYOdrink)
8:30 – listen to North Salem High School
9:20 – Warm up in orchestra room
9:45 – Performance on stage
10:10 – Sight reading in band room
Store instruments in choir room
Listen to South (10:35), Sprague (11) and Reynolds (11:25)
Symphony
12:00 – 12:15 (no later!) – pick up instruments from Orchestra room.
Store instruments in choir room (no playing!).
12:50 – Warm up in orchestra room
1:25 – Performance on stage
2:00 – Sight reading in band room
2:30 – Store instruments in choir room, but come back after 3:45 to return instruments to orchestra room
Listen to South (2:35), McNary (3:10) and Reynolds (3:45)
After 3:45 we can put instruments back in the orchestra room.
REMEMBER – you are responsible for your stuff = your instrument/bow/accessories, backpack, outfits, etc. Last year we lost some stuff and had a lot of things left in the choir room.
Dress – Chamber/Symphony outfits. Hair out of face. Black socks/hose. NO HEELS over ½ inch!!! Really!! No flashy or obvious jewelry.
Please invite friends and family to come hear you play! Chamber performs at 9:45am. Symphony performs at 1:25pm.
Thank you, opinion writer...
From the Statesman Journal, April 6, 2011
Opinion
What I think of the budget cuts directed to music is that the music industry gives job opportunities that can possibly support a family. Better yet, music feeds the soul (Shakespeare) and this job opportunity gives you the chance to enjoy your job rather than avoiding it.
If this opportunity of being educated in the music world is limited, how can we compete with the music industry out there today? And to those who are born with a love for music, how can we enjoy our job? And to those who enjoy listening to music, how can we feed our soul?
— Brycen Dodds, age 15, Salem
Opinion
What I think of the budget cuts directed to music is that the music industry gives job opportunities that can possibly support a family. Better yet, music feeds the soul (Shakespeare) and this job opportunity gives you the chance to enjoy your job rather than avoiding it.
If this opportunity of being educated in the music world is limited, how can we compete with the music industry out there today? And to those who are born with a love for music, how can we enjoy our job? And to those who enjoy listening to music, how can we feed our soul?
— Brycen Dodds, age 15, Salem
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Newsletter #19 (emailed 3/27/11)
***Save the Date***
The calendar is up-to-date on our website: www.titanorchestras.com
WE STILL NEED PENCILS - if your work offers pencils for marketing, please consider donating!!
Wed March 30 - Symphony Dress Rehearsal 2:30 - 5pm
Thu March 31 - WOU - Chamber 3:30/Symphony 4:30
Fri April 1 - Lowen thank you dinner
Mon April 4 - OR Symphony Pops - Beatles
Fri April 8 - Band festival run by Orchestra
Sat April 9 - Orchestra festival Symphony/Chamber
Mon April 11 - Salem Pops Summer Camp App due
Contained within:
1) Sectional schedule for the next concert cycle
2) OR Symphony Pops - Beatles concert!
3) Chicago congrats
4) Audition and repertoire info for next year's groups
1) Sectional schedule for the next concert cycle
The sectional schedule goes back to what it was before this past concert cycle. This schedule begins April 1 (with viola sectional this Friday):
Mondays - Sinfonietta Violins - starts April 4
Wednesdays - Sinfonietta Cellos, Sinfonietta Bass - starts April 6
Thursdays - Titan Violins, Titan Celli+Bass - starts April 7
Fridays - Sinfonietta Violas - strats April 1
Students involved with spring sports MUST have a signed contract on file and must make at least one sectional per month (once in April, once in May) before the May 25 concert. The contact available online is the wrong contract (it's from last year) - it will be updated and students can get a copy of this year's contract from me (Ms. S) in class Monday.
2) OR Symphony Pops - Beatles concert!
We can get 10 student tickets and one adult ticket for what promises to be the funnest concert of the year - the Oregon Symphony Pops Beatles Classical Mystery Tour concert next Monday evening - April 4 at 8pm. Student ticket price is $5, the one adult ticket we can get is $10. Please either email Ms S (respond to this newsletter email) or reserve your ticket in class. If we have more requests than tickets, I will see what can be done. Once you reserve a ticket, you are responsible for the ticket fee (even if you don't end up attending the concert!). More info:
http://oregonsymphony.com/salem/
3) Chicago congrats
To the 48 students and 8 parents who went to Chicago - congratulations on a great trip! You played beautifully at VanderCook College of Music, Vernon Hills High School, and on stage at Orchestra Hall. We are working on a site where we can share pictures. In class, you will receive your copy of the program for your 'keepsake books'. Students who have West bows or instruments, please make sure you bring the item(s) back on Monday or Tuesday.
4) 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
Thanks for reading all the way down to the end of the newsletter...
~Ms S.
The calendar is up-to-date on our website: www.titanorchestras.com
WE STILL NEED PENCILS - if your work offers pencils for marketing, please consider donating!!
Wed March 30 - Symphony Dress Rehearsal 2:30 - 5pm
Thu March 31 - WOU - Chamber 3:30/Symphony 4:30
Fri April 1 - Lowen thank you dinner
Mon April 4 - OR Symphony Pops - Beatles
Fri April 8 - Band festival run by Orchestra
Sat April 9 - Orchestra festival Symphony/Chamber
Mon April 11 - Salem Pops Summer Camp App due
Contained within:
1) Sectional schedule for the next concert cycle
2) OR Symphony Pops - Beatles concert!
3) Chicago congrats
4) Audition and repertoire info for next year's groups
1) Sectional schedule for the next concert cycle
The sectional schedule goes back to what it was before this past concert cycle. This schedule begins April 1 (with viola sectional this Friday):
Mondays - Sinfonietta Violins - starts April 4
Wednesdays - Sinfonietta Cellos, Sinfonietta Bass - starts April 6
Thursdays - Titan Violins, Titan Celli+Bass - starts April 7
Fridays - Sinfonietta Violas - strats April 1
Students involved with spring sports MUST have a signed contract on file and must make at least one sectional per month (once in April, once in May) before the May 25 concert. The contact available online is the wrong contract (it's from last year) - it will be updated and students can get a copy of this year's contract from me (Ms. S) in class Monday.
2) OR Symphony Pops - Beatles concert!
We can get 10 student tickets and one adult ticket for what promises to be the funnest concert of the year - the Oregon Symphony Pops Beatles Classical Mystery Tour concert next Monday evening - April 4 at 8pm. Student ticket price is $5, the one adult ticket we can get is $10. Please either email Ms S (respond to this newsletter email) or reserve your ticket in class. If we have more requests than tickets, I will see what can be done. Once you reserve a ticket, you are responsible for the ticket fee (even if you don't end up attending the concert!). More info:
http://oregonsymphony.com/salem/
3) Chicago congrats
To the 48 students and 8 parents who went to Chicago - congratulations on a great trip! You played beautifully at VanderCook College of Music, Vernon Hills High School, and on stage at Orchestra Hall. We are working on a site where we can share pictures. In class, you will receive your copy of the program for your 'keepsake books'. Students who have West bows or instruments, please make sure you bring the item(s) back on Monday or Tuesday.
4) 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
Thanks for reading all the way down to the end of the newsletter...
~Ms S.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Chicago Day 5
I cannot believe it's Monday evening already!!! I am so proud of this orchestra - let me tell you a little bit about today.
This morning Chamber was down stairs for a very productive rehearsal and warmup, followed by a Combine orchestra rehearsal. We put back a little bit more hair, added some black socks to a few bare ankles, and headed out to the bus.
At Orchestra Hall, Chamber played first. We took our instruments out in a beautiful ballroom on the 2nd floor of the Orchestra Hall. The warmup room - Buntrock Hall - was beautiful too. Chamber took a picture under the huge Chicago Symphony sign. Then we played. Chamber did great in the Tchaikovsky - all the work we've done these past few months paid off! The October piece was slow and moving. Giannini rocked. We played well and felt well!
After lunch, Combined Orchestra got warmed up and played. Capriol Suite went really well - we incorporated some of the tips Dr. Dabcynski had given us yesterday. The piece we were most nervous about - Texians - went so well! We were all happily surprised. The closer - Marche Slav - was great. We felt so proud of ourselves when we were done.
The way this Gold Festival works, at the finale performance we hear the Honor band, Honor Orchestra, and 2 encore groups - one band, one orchestra. We had 10 students in the auditioned Honor group and they sounded great. The Encore groups are chosen from the highest scoring group. Unfortunately, neither of our groups were chosen to be the Encore orchestra group, but I was told that we were only a few points away from being so.
And, speaking of points, check this out - our scores were great! We were given very high scores - so high, that actually both Chamber and Combined had the same total score when added up: 288 out of 300. But, who's counting?! In a Heritage Gold festival there are no 'winners' or 'losers'. We all get the same beautiful take-home trophy (we got 2 because we had 2 groups) and the director's gift was a lovely Mollard baton in a wooden keepsake box. The music-making today, as a result of some very hard work, inspiration, and sweat, was incredible! I don't think there was a musician or parent there who didn't feel proud!
This evening we spent a good 2+ hours celebrating at the Greek Islands restaurant - the food was amazing! Ask the kids what their favorite was - the flaming cheese was pretty cool! I think I'll dream of the desserts for a long time...
The kids are all taped snugly in their rooms - we have a 7:45am packed-bag-down-to-the-lobby call tomorrow. One more day of sight seeing (Field Museum/Art Institute/Bloomingdales) and then we need to be at the airport by 3:30pm tomorrow. See you at PDX around 7:30pm tomorrow night.
What a trip!!!
This morning Chamber was down stairs for a very productive rehearsal and warmup, followed by a Combine orchestra rehearsal. We put back a little bit more hair, added some black socks to a few bare ankles, and headed out to the bus.
At Orchestra Hall, Chamber played first. We took our instruments out in a beautiful ballroom on the 2nd floor of the Orchestra Hall. The warmup room - Buntrock Hall - was beautiful too. Chamber took a picture under the huge Chicago Symphony sign. Then we played. Chamber did great in the Tchaikovsky - all the work we've done these past few months paid off! The October piece was slow and moving. Giannini rocked. We played well and felt well!
After lunch, Combined Orchestra got warmed up and played. Capriol Suite went really well - we incorporated some of the tips Dr. Dabcynski had given us yesterday. The piece we were most nervous about - Texians - went so well! We were all happily surprised. The closer - Marche Slav - was great. We felt so proud of ourselves when we were done.
The way this Gold Festival works, at the finale performance we hear the Honor band, Honor Orchestra, and 2 encore groups - one band, one orchestra. We had 10 students in the auditioned Honor group and they sounded great. The Encore groups are chosen from the highest scoring group. Unfortunately, neither of our groups were chosen to be the Encore orchestra group, but I was told that we were only a few points away from being so.
And, speaking of points, check this out - our scores were great! We were given very high scores - so high, that actually both Chamber and Combined had the same total score when added up: 288 out of 300. But, who's counting?! In a Heritage Gold festival there are no 'winners' or 'losers'. We all get the same beautiful take-home trophy (we got 2 because we had 2 groups) and the director's gift was a lovely Mollard baton in a wooden keepsake box. The music-making today, as a result of some very hard work, inspiration, and sweat, was incredible! I don't think there was a musician or parent there who didn't feel proud!
This evening we spent a good 2+ hours celebrating at the Greek Islands restaurant - the food was amazing! Ask the kids what their favorite was - the flaming cheese was pretty cool! I think I'll dream of the desserts for a long time...
The kids are all taped snugly in their rooms - we have a 7:45am packed-bag-down-to-the-lobby call tomorrow. One more day of sight seeing (Field Museum/Art Institute/Bloomingdales) and then we need to be at the airport by 3:30pm tomorrow. See you at PDX around 7:30pm tomorrow night.
What a trip!!!
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