Chamber Strings 2017-2018
Performance plans:
We will not have a concert in the first quarter. Instead, we’ll work toward two performances:
Tuesday, November 14 5th period Service Project Concert @ The Peaks
NOTE: We’ll need 2-3 van drivers to make this happen!
Tuesday, December 5 6:30 p.m. Winter Concert - all strings groups
[Friday, February 22 during school ABODA Area Concert Festival – we’d also need drivers!]
Tuesday, March 6 6:30 p.m. (possible) Festival Preview Concert
Wed-Sun a.m., March 21-25 California Festival Trip
Tuesday, May 15 6:30 p.m. Spring Concert
Along with the California Festival Trip (scheduled for March 21-25, during Spring Break), we may also choose to do the ABODA high school are concert contests, as we have done in previous springs. The Area Concert Festival is scheduled for Friday, February 22 at Coconino High School. However, because we again have a number of students younger than high school in Chamber, and those players are not eligible to play in this Festival, that may influence our desire to participate.
Concert attire for 2017-18:
All gentlemen will wear:
black long-sleeved dress shirts
tie (same as last year - $11. to buy or $5. each time to borrow)
black slacks (no black jeans!)
black shoes (no sneakers!) and black socks
All ladies will wear:
3/4-sleeve jewel neck black top (cost: $30, includes shipping); I will order on 9/15
[please be aware that you may want to wear a black cami under this top,
so no extra skin is showing!]
[if you would like to see this top, go to #9763AA in black at:
https://www.formalfashionsinc.com/sas/sas.php?category_id=2]
black slacks (nothing that looks "painted on", no capri- or mid-calf-length)
black shoes with black hose, trouser socks, or socks
Other Deadlines and Dates:
Tuesday, September 12 Meeting to discuss initial plans for California Trip. Your Participation Intent Form + $75. Deposit will be due then.
Wednesday, November 15 Payment deadline to audition for High School or Middle School Regional Festival [and/or HS or MS Solo & Ensemble].
$20.00 for each event, payable to "NPA"
Saturday, January 20 HS Solo & Ensemble auditions, Tier 1
Saturday, January 27 HS Region auditions
Friday, February 3 Payment deadline for HS Region Participation ($20.00)
Thurs-Sat, Feb. 15-17 High School Region Festival – details TBA
Saturday, February 24 Middle School Region Auditions & Solo & Ensemble
NOTE: These auditions are at Prescott Mile High MS
Saturday, March TBD HS All State auditions @ TBA
Thursday, March 29 Payment deadline for All State Participation ($25.00)
Thurs.-Sat., April 19-21 HS All State Festival, at U of A
May 4-5 Middle School Region Festival [in Flagstaff, site TBA]
Flagstaff Symphony Info – all concerts Fridays at 7:30 p.m. in Ardrey Auditorium at NAU:
September 29 – Beethoven “Coriolan Overture”, Mozart Horn Concerto, Kodaly “Hary Janos Suite”
October 27 – Mussorgsky “Night on Bald Mountain”, Rimsky-Korsakov “Scheherazade” plus others
December 1 & 2 (also Saturday) – “Holiday Classic”, featuring "The Nutcracker" - a part of this concert will be repeated (and free!) on Saturday, December 3 at 2:00 p.m. - get your tickets early for this one!
January 26 – Will White “Acadia Fanfare”, Sibelius Violin Concerto, Dvorak “New World Symphony”
February 17 – Elisabetta Brusa “Wedding Song”, Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto #2,
Prokofiev “Romeo & Juliet Suites 2 & 3”
March 16 – Motown & Classics: tunes from Anita Baker, Al Green, Leon Russell, Etta James, Gladys
Knight, and more
April 20 – Brahms “Schicksalslied” and Beethoven “Symphony #9” with Master Chorale
Grading:
Grading for this year will be based on these approximate measures for fall and spring:
Fall:
Playing Quizzes 20%
Concert Preparation 25%
Concert Performance 30%
Writing prompts 15%
Attention/attitude 10%
Spring:
Concert preparation 30%
(includes playing quizzes)
Concert performance 40%
Writing Prompts 15%
Attention/attitude 15%
Quarter 1: Playing Quizzes (2-octave scales & arpeggios)
Quarter 2: Playing Quizzes (2- or 3-octave scales & arpeggios)
Quarter 3: Playing Quizzes (Region excerpts + contest pieces)
Quarter 4: Playing Quizzes (concert pieces + as assigned)
Other:
Since we are taking a major festival trip this year, we will be fund-raising, beginning in September. Please plan now to give this special attention: every dollar we earn through fundraising cuts down the amount your family will have to pay for the middle school or high school region AND California trips. Any funds left over from 2016-17 have been credited toward your trip 2017-18.
New this year: Part of your responsibility as a student at NPA is to come to each class every day with all materials you need. In this class, that means your instrument (and accessories), music, and a pencil. There may be a penalty (grade or monetary) for any class member who routinely “forgets” their instrument, music, or pencil! While school instruments are available if you “forget” yours, if this becomes a habit, I will begin to charge your grade or your $ for the privilege of using them. I also will provide a set of music to each member of the group; replacement music will be available for a fee. I will also provide a pencil to each student at the beginning of the year; replacement pencils may be available for purchase.
Stay tuned for an exciting new year!!
Questions? Email me at: