Antietam Vocal Music

Just a reminder…if you and/or your student are going to Boston with the Music Department this year, the final payment is due on Monday, March 15.  That payment is $109.  Please make all checks payable to “Antieatam Music Boosters.”  If you would like to use money from your child’s account, please make note of that when  you send in the check.  To check your student’s account balance, check out Mr. Gillner’s blog; all the account information is posted there.

The total cost of the trip this year works out to $509 per student.  ($450 for chaperones)

Thank you for your prompt attention to this final payment!  We need to send in the final payment to the festival company by the end of next week, so it is imperative that each student is paid in full as soon as possible.

If you have any questions about this payment, or anything else about the Boston trip, please let me know!  We’re very excited for this trip — it should be a wonderful experience for our students!

Hello everyone!

As shocking as it may sound, the Pops Concert is on Saturday, February 27!  The Concert Choir, Middle School Choir, Stony Creek Chorale, and AWE will be performing in this concert (along with the Concert Band and some student acts, by audition).  As a reminder, attendance at this concert is mandatory and graded.

What time should you arrive at the Primary Center for the concert? All choir students should be ready for warm-ups by 5:30 pm on Saturday, February 27.  Please be on time, as this is the only chance we have to rehearse with our accompanist.

What should you wear to the Pops Concert? Standard concert dress – white dress shirt tucked in to (girls) black skirt that is at least knee-length (guys) black dress pants.  Closed-toe dress shoes.
Chorale and AWE: any combination of black, white, or silver.
Individual student acts: you may wear dress clothing when you perform as long as you are in the standard white/black for the choral performances.  Questions? Ask Miss Heffner!

Do I need  a ticket for the Pops Concert? YES!  This concert is a fundraiser for our students.  All audience members need a ticket — they may be purchased at the door that evening.

What time does the Pops Concert begin? 7:00 pm

Where is the Pops Concert? Mt. Penn Primary Center Auditorium

See you all on Saturday!

I LOVE eating at Chick-Fil-A!  I was so excited to see the new restaurant being built at the new shopping center in Exeter.  The workers there are probably starting to recognize me, that’s how often I’m there!

Well, Chick-Fil-A has a wonderful fundraising opportunity available to schools, and the Music Boosters will be participating in it very soon. It’s called “Spirit Night” and all you have to do is take our Music Boosters/Chick-Fil-A flyer to the restaurant when you order, and Music Boosters gets 15% of your total bill!  It’s that easy!  We will be sending home flyers soon, and we’ll also be putting them in the program for the Pops Concert to get the word out..

Our Spirit Night will be on Wednesday, March 3 from 4-8 pm.  If you’re there around 7:00, we’ll be having the March Music Boosters Meeting AT Chick-Fil-A that night. 

It’s that time of year!  The Winter Concert is here!  Tomorrow, Wednesday, December 16, please plan on joining us at the Primary Center at 7:00 pm for the Winter Concert.

Just a few things to know about the concert…..
If your student is in the Stony Creek Chorale or AWE: Antietam Women’s Ensemble, they need to be at the Primary Center by 5:15 for rehearsal/warm ups.

If your student is in Middle School Choir or Concert Choir, they need to be at the Primary Center by 5:30.

Students are invited to bring snacks to share with the other students while they wait for the concert to start.  Bottled water will be provided by the Music Boosters (thank you!!).  During intermission, students are to report backstage for a choir meeting and warm-up.

The students and I are excited to share our program with you tomorrow!  See you then!

Did your child participate in the fruit sale?  This fundraiser was a great way to boost your student’s music account.  Congrats to Abbie Davies at being our top fruit seller this year!!

The fruit will be delivered to the school on Tuesday, December 8 during the day.  We are in desperate need of parent volunteers to sort the fruit orders and assist in order distribution.

If you are available to help in any way, please take a look at the schedule for the day, and leave a comment on this post or send me an email to sign up to help!  Your help will be very much appreciated, as it will make the night of pick-ups easier for all involved.  We need the following times/jobs covered on Tuesday, December 8:

Unload fruit : Sometime during the school day.  Actual time has not been set.

3:30-4:30 Order Organization*
4:30-5:30 Order Organization*
5:30-6:30 Order Organization*

6:30-7:30 Order Distribution
7:30-8:30 Order Distribution

*Order organization is where we need the most help!  So far, we have no volunteers to complete this task.

All fruit sale activities will take place in the cafeteria at the High School.  Parents should make arrangements to pick up their child’s fruit order from 6:30-8:30.

Thank you so much (in advance) for your help!  I’m looking forward to hearing from you!

First, let me apologize for the extreme length of time between blog posts.  The last several weeks seem to have gotten away from me, and here we are at Thanksgiving already (well, almost).

Update #1:  All fruit sale orders and money should be turned in TODAY (Friday, Nov. 20).  A tentative delivery date is set for Dec. 8.  Students/parents will pick up the fruit orders on that day and deliver the fruit to their customers.

Update #2:  The next payment for the Boston trip ($150) is due on Monday, Nov. 23.  If you would like us to take some or all of the money out of your child’s music account, please send in a note stating that information.

Update #3:  Our winter Poinsettia Sale is going on until December 7.  Students were given tickets for poinsettias to sell for $10 each.  The plants will be used to decorate the stage at the Winter Concert, then those who purchased the plants may pick them up at the conclusion of the concert.  Orders, money, and any unsold tickets must be returned  by Monday, December 7.

Update #4: The Music Department Book Fair at Barnes & Noble will be held on Tuesday, December 1.  Vouchers are available at the school or from a music student.  Hopefully, you  have seen what these look like already.  All you need to do is bring your voucher when you do your shopping at Barnes & Noble on Dec. 1, and the Music Boosters receives a percentage of the profits.  There wil be a story time for kids with Mrs. Faro at 6:00 pm and performances by the Stony Creek Chorale and AWE (Antietam Women’s Ensemble) at 6:30.   Hope to see you there!

Update #5:  If you’re still reading this, I really appreciate it!  Thank you

Update #6: The next Music Boosters meeting is on December 2 at 7pm in the band room at the high school.  See you there!

Update #7:  The Concert Choir and Middle School Choir have a required, graded dress rehearsal for the Winter Concert at the Primary Center from 6-7:30 on Monday, December 7.

Update #8:  Finally, the Winter Concert will take place on Wednesday, December 16 at 7:00 pm at the Mt. Penn Primary Center.  Studenet attendance is mandatory and graded.  More information about call times and dress code will be posted in the near future.

I think that’s all for now!  Thanks for reading!  If you have any questions, please ask and I’d be more than happy to answer them.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.  I know I am thankful for the opportunity to work with your very talented students as we share and develop a love for music.

Just a reminder that all Boston permission slips (and $75 deposit) are due on Monday, September 28.  

My goal is to have 25 choir members join us in Boston….so far, 2 are signed up.  Let’s get those permission slips in!

The apple dumpling sale is continuing to be successful.  Orders are still coming in, and our dumpling count is well over 700!!! Great job, guys!  :)

I am pleased to announce an exciting fundraiser that the Music Boosters are sponsoring this year!  On Tuesday, December 1, we will be having a Book Fair at Barnes & Noble in Wyomissing.  Mark your calendars to do some shopping that day, since part of the proceeds will go to support the Music Boosters (which will help in supporting our trip to Boston, providing scholarships to music students, and purchasing music awards).

More information will be coming your way shortly, but I just wanted to let you know that we’re planning this fair.  There will be special performances by the Stony Creek Chorale and Women’s Ensemble, as well as story time for elementary school kids and a craft!  Come show your support and do some holiday shopping on December 1 at the Barnes & Noble in Wyomissing.   Flyers and vouchers will be sent home with your students, so be sure to ask them about it soon!

The deadline for applying for these auditions is quickly approaching! Any student who is interested in auditioning for Sr. County (gr. 10-12) or District (gr. 9-12) Chorus should pick up an application from the choir bulletin board and return it to me by Friday, September 25.  Please note that there is an audition fee of $5 per application.  (This fee is stated incorrectly on the Sr. County audition form — Sr. Counties is $5, not $4)

I would like to see many students audition for these choirs, so encourage your student to grab some music and apply today!  I am available to help students with these pieces at any time during IST/after school.  

Auditions for Sr. Counties are at Gov. Mifflin on October 13.  District auditions are at Parkland HS on October 20.

The school year has just begun, and already the music department is looking towards and planning for May 2010!  A letter was sent home last week inviting Concert Choir students to go along on the annual music department trip to Boston, MA.  This will be a great weekend filled with music, sight-seeing, and FUN!

In order to prepare for this trip with our festival and bus companies, we need to get a head count of how many students (and parent chaperones!) will be attending the trip.  In order to reserve your place on the trip, a $75 registration fee (non-refundable) is due on Monday, September 28.  Please make all checks payable to “Antietam Music Boosters.”

Help make the trip more affordable for your family — participate in our fundraisers!  Apple Dumplings are now on sale for $3 each and can be ordered now and picked up at Homecoming.