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Batavia High School Music Department

Choir Newsletter; April 22, 2016

4/22/2016

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Choir parents and families,
Here's this week's newsletter. Key points and new information are in bold type.​

A link to each post will be sent through the choir Twitter and Facebook accounts, to whatever parent emails I have on file, and to the students through Google Classroom. 

The beginning section will always be about curricular choir and the following information will pertain to the extracurricular activities, so you only need to read what applies to your student.  The most updated and comprehensive calendar is always on bataviamusic.org. ​
Curricular Choir:
  • Assignments: We had a large number of assignments recently, but most students are current. If your student's grade has fallen recently, ask about their GLE 6A & 6B, or contact me for details. 
  • Difficulty level progress in SRF (Updated 4/8): Our average difficulty level keeps climbing! The average level for all 125 students moved from 1.26 in the first week up to 3.13 on the most recent assignment. Very few students are at level 1 (though, I'm happy they are if it is the appropriate challenge for them!), and many students are regularly working at level 4 or even 5. SRF has 6 possible levels, so there's plenty of room to grow, even for our most advanced singers. Here are some breakdowns: All 9th graders are averaging 2.77, Varsity is 2.28, Treble is 3.41, and Chamber is 5.15.

Lucky Stiff Tickets & Performance Schedule
Many of our BHS Choir students (and your truly!) are heavily involved in our spring musical, LUCKY STIFF.
Performances are next week, 
April 28-30th at 7:30 pm.

This offbeat, hilarious murder mystery farce complete with mistaken identities, six million bucks in diamonds, and a corpse in a wheelchair, will be performed at the Batavia Fine Arts Centre. Tickets are available online at www.BataviaFineArtsCentre.org and at the box office by calling 630-937-8930. Ticket prices are $10-$14 online and $12-$16 by phone and at the box office.
The story revolves around an unassuming English shoe salesman who is forced to take the embalmed body of his recently murdered uncle on a vacation to Monte Carlo. Should he succeed in passing his uncle off as alive, Harry Witherspoon stands to inherit $6,000,000. If not, the money goes to the Universal Dog Home of Brooklyn, or else his uncle's gun-toting ex!

Let’s
pack the house at all the performances! Spread the word to your family, friends, neighbors, coworkers and anyone else you know! I'm so proud of these students! 


Show Choir Auditions!
Auditions for the 2016-17 Show Choirs will be held this May, during the week of May 10-13.  You'll learn the dance on Tuesday, sing a song (video-recorded) during a 5-minute time slot on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, and demonstrate the dance on Friday afternoon. We hope to get a jump on next season!
​
More details can be found HERE. 

"Bridge over Troubled Water" solos
As has been the tradition, we will be performing "Bridge over Troubled Water" at the conclusion of the May 3 concert. I am in the process of picking soloists for that song. Any Senior or Junior who is interested can audition with me between now and Tuesday, April 26. 

St. Charles Singers clinic
St. Charles Singers would like to invite BHS choir students to participate in a one day clinic - Sing! - on July 21, 2016 in St. Charles. Participants work in ensembles of about 9 -12 students conducted by members of St. Charles Singers to learn two songs.  All ensembles also learn two songs to perform in the "All Sing".  After a short dinner break they will perform a community concert that same night.  Solo coaching sessions are available; 4 of those participants will be chosen to perform their solo at the concert.

Brochures, applications, as well as an informational poster are here.  This will be our sixth Sing! and the students are LOVING the experience. We will welcome 90 students this year. The soprano section fills quickly and there is a limit of 25 students per section. We would appreciate your help in letting your students know about this opportunity. Print any of the materials or contact us and we can get hard copies to you. Students can also go to the website to print an application and get a copy of the brochure at www.stcharlessingers.com, then click "SING 2016" in the
window bar.

Scholarships available for those with financial need, just ask!

Batavia Music Buffs Scholarships: LAST CHANCE!!!
The Buffs are giving away money! Read below to find out how to get your share!
  • General Scholarship Info Page:  https://www.bataviamusicbuffs.org/scholarships/
  • Scholarship Policies: https://www.bataviamusicbuffs.org/scholarship-policies/
  • General Apply Online Page: https://www.bataviamusicbuffs.org/apply-online/
  • Direct Link to Summer Camp Scholarships Online Application: http://www.bataviamusicbuffs.org/batavia-music-buffs-residential-summer-camp-scholarship-application/
  • Direct Link to Gertrude Petit Collegiate Online Application:  http://www.bataviamusicbuffs.org/gertrude-petit-memorial-scholarship-application/
  • Apply By Mail Page: https://www.bataviamusicbuffs.org/apply-by-mail/  NOT PREFERRED.
​
Appl
ication deadline is April 25th.  1st Checks will be needed by May 3rd for 1st of the final year end concerts.

A Message from Mr. Owen about Color Guard

I'd like to take a moment to talk about our Color Guard and their auditions coming up in early May. 

Our Color Guard is part of the Marching Band at BHS and performs with them at all competitions and performances throughout the summer and fall. Our season begins in late July and ends at the end of October. An example of what color guard does is linked below from their Winter season, where the color guard performs by themselves. I encourage you to watch the entire short video - it gets really good at the end! We were very successful this season - placing 1st or 2nd at every competition and earning 2nd Place in class throughout the Midwest. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7b-1soyVhCY&feature=youtu.be&a

We want to encourage anyone that is interested in joining the Color Guard to come to the very informal audition dates on May 3rd and 5th from 4:00-5:30 in the Band Room at BHS. No experience is necessary and we cut no one from the group. This is your chance to try out color guard and see if it is right for you - there is no commitment to join after the audition.

So come out and see what Color Guard is all about! Bring a friend! Come join a successful and growing program! This is your chance to make lifelong friends through the arts, grow as a performer, and walk into high school with 120 new friends on the FIRST day of school!
​
Information on sign-ups and Marching Band (Color Guard) is located here: 

http://www.bataviamusic.org/marching-band.htm

We're looking forward to seeing you in a few weeks!

Remaining 2015-16 Concerts​​​
  • Tuesday, May 3: Spring Choir Concert, 7:30 pm (Please note the start time)
  • Tuesday, May 17: Music Senior Awards night
  • Wednesday, May 18: Graduation Ceremony (Graduates, plus a few additional singers, will sing the National Anthem

Did you notice that Show Choir auditions are coming up next month? Good!

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