Welcome Back, 2016-2017 Bobcat Choir Family!

Dear Choir Family, have you "caught 'em all" yet? 

While all of you have probably been tracking down those elusive Pokémon over the last several weeks, Mrs. Vaught and myself have been hard at work gearing up for what is going to be a truly phenomenal year for Central Choirs!

Okay, I'll confess. I've been looking for Pokémon, too. :)

Here are just a few, quick highlights of the year to come: mass choir performance at a home football game, new Military Salute format and location (possibly with live instrumentalists and guest performers), a spring performance tour to Glenn and Lee Middle Schools as well as a couple of local elementary schools, all the stuff we normally do, and, oh yeah...our spring trip to NEW YORK CITY(!!!) - where we will present a joint concert with the choirs from Coppell High School, see Wicked and Aladdin on Broadway, visit the Statute of Liberty, 9/11 Memorial, ice skate in Central Park, go to the "Top of the Rock" (30 Rockefeller Plaza), and much, much more! It's going to be a great year and we want all of you to be a part of it!

There is so much to share and do, but I need to get a quick reminder out to all of you right now:

Please join us for Convocation Rehearsals this coming week, Monday and Tuesday (Aug. 8-9) from 5 to 6:30 in the CHS Choir Hall. I am attaching the letter I sent home with everyone and posted on the website before school released in May that contains the entire convocation schedule and details. Please remember, that is an expectation of every member of Chorale and Bella Voce to be present and participate, but all choir members (incoming 9th graders and recent alumni, too) are welcome and highly encouraged to participate. It is always a struggle to balance all of the band kids from Central and Lake View (probably close to 450 kids) with only 50-80 choir kids. We want everyone to join us!!! This year we're also working on including a choir-only performance of our Military Salute tradition "God Bless the U.S.A." for all of our SAISD administrators, faculty, and staff at convocation.

Also, after convocation practice each night, we'll get a jump start on the All-Region Choir Audition music. Stick around and learn about that process, the music, and all the benefits that come from going through that experience. We'll have Glenn and Lee choir directors here to help as well as former Lee choir director, Patti Wetzel, and current ASU choral director, Dr. Pam Lee. All those folks (and your current choir directors) will be working to get you a running start on the All-Region Choir music. We'll also share important tips and strategies for being competitive in the process so that you hopefully advance all the way to be a TMEA All-State Choir member! 

This "SAISD All-Region Boot Camp" will be open to all incoming 9-12th grade choir students. It is free of charge to attend, but if you decide to continue with the process, you will need to purchase a personal copy of the music (~$12-15) for your continued study and practice.

Lastly, if you know of anyone that is interested joining our awesome choral program this year, please bring them to Convocation Rehearsal, let us meet them and do a quick audition. It is not too late to add choir to anyone's schedule.

If any of you have any questions or concerns about any of the events next week or about choir in general, please do not hesitate to contact me. Email is always best for me. I receive a high volume of communication and email is the easiest thing for me to sort, track, and answer reliably. I will be able to answer email just as quickly (if not quicker) than a text, phone call, or Facebook message.

Also, you can join our new, MASS text message class in Remind that we'll use to send out message to parents and students alike. Simply text @choirhall to the number 81010. You should receive a welcome text from Remind if you are successful. If anyone has trouble with 81010, you can try texting @choirhall to (325) 200-0719. Some carriers strip the @ symbol from text messages to short code numbers. If you get an error about sending a message to the teacher, try texting 'join choirhall' to 81010 (or 325-200-0719). Lastly, if already have a Remind account you can use this link to attach your account to this new group: https://www.remind.com/join/choirhall

Looking forward to seeing you all in a few short days!

BlesSINGs!
Mr. Gilmore