HS Region Choir Entry Deadline Approaching

We will begin Monday evening rehearsals on the All-Region music for students this week in the CHS Choir Room from 5-6:30 PM. If your student has not purchased their region music yet, they need to do so immediately. HS Region Choir Auditions are in THREE WEEKS.

Lastly, the deadline for HS Region Choir Auditions is this Thursday. That is a HARD deadline. Entries received after that date are very difficult to enter and result in a $20 late entry penalty from the region. We do not want to mess with late entries. If your student is going to audition for the HS All-Region Choir, please make sure that they submit their entry form and $10 entry fee before this Friday. Entries received Friday will be considered late.

Proposed Booster Club Bylaw Changes

Please see the proposed bylaw changes that we will vote to accept at our next CHS Choir Booster Club Meeting on September 17 at 6:00 PM in the CHS Choir Room. Please let us know if you have any suggestions, additions, and modifications if you happen to have any.

Self-Registration

Please follow this link to begin the self-registration process: https://www.charmsoffice.com/charms/selfregister.asp?s=CentralHSC

Notes for Convocation 2015

General

Please practice memorizing "Of Thee I Sing, America". The practice track is here. This must be memorized by Monday so that you are able to watch the conductor.

Please pay special attention to the notes below for each of the rehearsals and the adjusted time on Monday. It is extremely important that you pay close attention to my detailed instructions about returning your uniform on Tuesday. No excuses or exceptions to my request about returning the uniforms.

Monday

Please arrive no later than 10:15 AM. Please bring your music for "Of Thee I Sing, America" in case there are any spots which require rehearsing. You MUST bring your music and it must be memorized by Monday. Rehearsal will finish around 12:00, after which a free pizza lunch will be provided. You do not have to stay for the lunch, but why woud you miss free food?

You are responsible for your own transportation to and from this rehearsal.

Tuesday

Please arrive no later than 8:00 AM. Plan to stay to hear the guest speaker. We should be done no later than 11:30, at which point a bus will be available to transport students back to CHS who cannot drive themselves.

Please remember to come fully dressed in your uniform. This includes black shoes and socks. Ties will be issued at the coliseum and must be returned before leaving. Individuals not in full uniform or that have noticably unnatural hair colors, excessive jewelry, or are otherwise not in compliance with the uniform code will not be allowed to perform. Please consult the handbook or ask a director if you have any questions. When in doubt, ASK!

Do not forget to bring a change of clothes and hangers for your uniform with you on this day. Everyone will be returning their uniforms to the CHS Choir Hall after the performance.

All students MUST return their uniforms on hangars to the CHS Choir Hall no later than 12:00 PM on Tuesday. NO EXCEPTIONS! You will need to have someone bring yours for you if you cannot return the uniform in the designated time frame on Tuesday.

Welcome Back 2015-2016!

Hello again! It is hard to believe that it is already August and that we are only weeks away from the start of school. I hope this summer has been a time of rest, relaxation, and fun for all of you. We have an exciting year of choir lined up and many exciting plans for the year are being finalized as we speak. Please read through to the bottom of this message…I apologize for its length, but we have a lot of information to get out.

SAISD CONVOCATION

As is the custom every year, the combined high school choirs, bands, and orchestras of the San Angelo ISD have been asked to perform for a convocation ceremony of all the SAISD faculty and staff at the Foster Communications Coliseum on Tuesday morning, August 18. All of the members of the SAISD Board of Education and Executive Administration will be in attendance as well, so we want to make an excellent impression on all of them. It is vitally important that amidst the backdrop of the combined bands and orchestras from CHS and Lake View, we make the statement that excellent choral singing at CHS is alive and well! To accomplish this, we are going to be having rehearsals to prepare the music for the ceremony. Please see the schedule below for exact dates/times. All rehearsals will be held at the CHS Choir Room both nights. For new families, the choir rooms are located right behind Tucker (Tucker is the main new copper-roofed building just off of the loop).

It is an expected that members of Chorale and Bella Voce participate in this event, but everyone receiving this email is invited to participate - that includes new students and incoming freshmen at CFC - you are especially welcome! Also, if you know of anyone who likes to sing and might consider joining choir this year, invite them to this camp and let them see what all the fun is about! Also, it's okay if you can't make it every night, we want you to come to as much as you can. We would really prefer that you come both nights, but we don't want anyone to not come at all because they can't make both nights. We think you'll have a lot of fun seeing all of your choir friends again!

PARENTS

We will need several parents (or even former students) to help with uniform assignment during the rehearsal process next week. You don't have to have ANY special skills - just a heart to help! If you can help with this, please let me know ASAP! Our program is only as successful as our AWESOME parent volunteers and booster club members!

SAISD Region Choir Mini-Camp

In addition to rehearsing the convocation music next week, we also hold a Region Choir Mini-Camp to start learning the region choir audition music for this fall. That will go from about 6:30 to 8:30 both nights. This is completely optional, and students not wishing to participate in the region choir auditions are welcome to leave after the first hour of rehearsal on the convocation ceremony music. We really want to encourage as many people as possible to stay and give the region music a try. It is some GREAT music this year. You may be wondering, “What is region choir?” The students learn several pieces of music and then go to auditions in September in hopes to earn the privilege of performing with the All-Region Choir in November. If they earn one of the top spots, they qualify to advance toward the All-State Choir - one of the top honors for high school musicians in our nation. If you've never done it before, it's a lot of fun and it really makes you a better musician, and you get to sing some really COOL music with some of the best singers in the state (and the nation). If you know that you want to do this and go through the auditions later this fall, we'll have the sheet music and audition CD available for you to buy there at the camp. The complete set of REGION music and practice CD only costs $12 this year and it will be yours to keep. There are limited quantities available, but more can be ordered if we run out.

Complete Mini-Camp & Convocation Schedule

Contact Information

Again, I hope you all had a great summer and I'm looking forward to seeing all of you and what promises to be a truly AWESOME year in choir! Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions. Keep checking our website (www.CentralHighChoir.org) and like our Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/CentralHighChoir) for last minute communication and updates.

Last-Minute Orlando Reminders

Here are some last-minute updates for our Orlando trip:

• You must remember to bring your ID card. If you are over 18, this MUST be government-issued (Driver License, State ID, Passport, etc.).


• After talking to several people, I believe I overstated the possibility for inclement weather. Apparently, it's pretty usual to have 40-60% chance of precepitation in Florida. I would still be prepared and bring a poncho in your luggage.


• Please review Disney Park Rules.


• Good news! We will be at Hollywood Studios on a weekend, which means that it is on a special Star Wars Weekends Event! Woo-hoo!


• If you haven't yet, please visit this link to sign-up for a tour group. If you want to make a swap with someone, you can log back in and request a swap. Please get this done before 3 PM.

Commemorative CD Orders

Each year, Mr. Faught compiles and produces a CD of the year's recordings for each class. If you are interested in ordering a CD for your student, please complete this form. Orders and payments are due by Friday, May 15.

Senior Scholarships & All-State Choir Camp Sponsorship Applications

Senior Scholarships

Application Form

Each year, our booster club awards two scholarships to graduating seniors. A student need not be pursuing a degree in music to be considered. All applications must be received by the deadline of Friday, May 15 at 1 PM to be considered. Late applications cannot be accepted; however, early applications are welcomed and encouraged.

All-State Choir Camp Sponsorships

Application Form

New this year, our booster club is considering awarding sponsorships to worthy students who are interested in attending one of the various All-State Choir Camps that occur over the summer. Students must complete an application to be considered for one of these sponsorships. The number of quality applicants will determine the number and amount of sponsorships to be awarded. All applications must be received by the deadline of Friday, May 15 at 1 PM to be considered. Late applications cannot be accepted; however, early applications are welcomed and encouraged.

More information about All-State Choir Camps here.