Sunday, February 26, 2012

Solo & Ensemble Success!!!

All of the Billinghurst students who participated in the 2012 NMEA Solo & Ensemble earned superior ratings (I) and a blue ribbon medal for their performances.

Cassidy Case, violin
Samuel Webster, violin
Christian Arnold, violin
Max Neidhold, bass
Clio Brady, violin
Wren Brady, violin
Olivia Williamson, viola
Nica Kent, violin
Josh Plateros, cello
Violin Duet:  Wren & Clio Brady
Violin Quartet:  Carolyn Jones, Sam Antipa, Aspen Neahusen, Michelle Vasquez

Congratulations!

Monday, February 13, 2012

Zone Concert Information

Dear Orchestra Parents,

This year the McQueen High School Zone Concert will be an exciting day of activities on Saturday, March 10, 2012.  The day will begin with registration at the main entrance to McQueen High School at 10:30 a.m. and will end with the Zone Concert at 4:00 p.m. that day.  During the day, the orchestra students will work with the McQueen Zone orchestra teachers and McQueen High School Orchestra students.

Students should each bring a folding music stand with their name written on it.  The concert attire will be informal.  Students can wear jeans and then they will be supplied with their t-shirt at registration the morning of the concert.
                                                                         
We would also like to ask for parent volunteers to assist this day.  If you are able to assist at all this day, please provide your contact information on the form at the bottom of this page.

Each student will be charged $8.  This will include lunch and a t-shirt.  We are also accepting donations to further assist with offsetting the costs of the day.  If you are able to provide further assistance, please attach it with the form when returning it to school with your child.

10:30 – Registration - McQueen High School Gymnasium Entrance (west side of school)
11:00 – Student Rehearsal Begins – Various McQueen Rooms
12:30 – 6th Grade Lunch – McQueen High School Cafeteria
1:00 – Middle School Lunch – McQueen High School Cafeteria
1:00 – McQueen Electric Orchestra Performance for 6th Graders
1:30 – Middle School Setup, Tuning, and Rehearsal – Gymnasium
3:00 – 6th Graders to gym for mass rehearsal
3:30 – Doors Open for Parent Seating – Gymnasium
4:00 – Concert Begins
5:00 – Concert Ends

Sincerely,

McQueen Zone Orchestra Teachers

Kenny Baker               Becky Barnett              Caryn Neidhold                       Kari Mariani



----------------------------------------detach and return to your orchestra teacher---------------------------------

RETURN THIS FORM TO YOUR ORCHESTRA TEACHER BY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17.

Name_______________________     School______________________     Instrument_____________________

T-Shirt Size (please circle)  Youth Small          Youth Medium            Youth Large     Youth Extra Large

Adult Small      Adult Medium             Adult Large      Adult X-Large              Adult XX-Large

If you would like to make a donation to offset additional McQueen Zone Concert expenses, please attach additional money with this form.

Please fill out your contact information if you would like to assist with any activities during the day.

Volunteer Name______________________________Phone__________________  Email______________________

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Music in the Parks Tour - Information for Parents

This is the information packet that was passed out in September.


Billinghurst Orchestras, Advanced Band & Jazz Band
Music in the Parks Festival Tour 2012

COMMUNICATION:

You must communicate with me about payments for this trip.  Payments are due at the beginning of the month.  If you are not able to follow the payment schedule in this handout, please send me a note explaining when you will be able to make the payments.

Parents MUST communicate about payments for this tour, either through checks, cash or written notes about payments.  Students will NOT be allowed to participate in the tour if there is no communication.

This is a wonderful and enriching opportunity for Billinghurst Orchestra & Band students.  I sincerely hope to take all students on the 2012 tour.

Purpose:
This trip will provide students the opportunity to perform in a competitive festival.  Judges comments will encourage the ensembles and individual members to improve technically and musically. 
The following day spent in 6-Flags theme park will reward the students for intense and productive work.
The last two year’s trip were phenomenal successes.  The student’s behavior was exemplary and their performance at the festival was wonderful.

Participating Orchestras:
Advisory Orchestra:                Golden Strings
Advanced Orchestra:              Sierra Strings
Intermediate Orchestra:          Bighorn Orchestra

Participating Bands:
Advisory Band:                      Jazz Band
Advanced Band

Dates:            
Concert at Billinghurst:           Thursday, May 10th ORCHESTRA ONLY
Leave Friday, May 11th,          Time TBA depending on Festival performance assignment
Return Saturday, May 12th,    Time: Close to 11 p.m. depending on traffic

Band Concert:                         Thursday, May 24th


Festival:
Music in the Parks

Hotel:
To be assigned by tour coordinator:  a hotel near the Vallejo festival with indoor hallways and an indoor pool.  Students will be assigned four to a room.  Chaperones will be assigned rooms separate from students if desired, two adults to a room.

Meals:
Friday night pizza party included.  Saturday breakfast provided by hotel, lunch included in tour package.  Parents should expect to provide a sack lunch on Friday and a fast food dinner on Saturday as well as snacks throughout the two days.

Chaperones:
            Several parents indicated they would be available to chaperone.  According to WCSD, over-night trips must have one chaperone to every eight students.  If you are interested in chaperoning and did not indicate so on the Student Information Form, please contact Ms. Neidhold:  cneidhold@washoe.k12.nv.us.
            Each volunteer must register with the WCSD Volunteer Office.  Overnight trip chaperones must be fingerprinted and the wait time for approval is 6 week.  Please plan ahead.  Ms. Neidhold will help all volunteers facilitate paperwork.
            Band students will need at least 8 parent chaperones in addition to the Orchestra parent chaperones.

Behavior Expectations:
            All students and parents will be required to sign a Behavior contract.

Bus Company:           TBA

Orchestra T-Shirt:    All participating Orchestra students will receive a Billinghurst
Orchestra T-Shirt.

Costs:

Deadline          Amount
October 1        $ 50                
November 1    $ 50
December 1     $ 50
January 1         $ 50
February 1       $ 50
March 1           $ 50     Due to the bus company refund, students who paid and participated
in last year’s trip will not need to make the March payment. 
This is for 2012 ONLY.

The March payment will be reduced based on fundraising profits.
Fundraising:
            In order to reduce the total amount for each student to participate in the tour, the Billinghurst Orchestra students will participate in fundraisers.  The activities we choose will hopefully provide the largest profit for the amount of work.  All earned funds will support the Orchestra program at Billinghurst and help pay for the tour.  Due to accounting difficulties, all profits will be divided equally among all participating students.

The fundraiser planned at this point:

October          Begin Popcorn Fundraiser

November      Popcorn Sales Fundraiser
This is our second year of this fundraiser for the BDB Orchestras.  We will sell specialty popcorn snacks.  Hopefully this will be a great sales event prior to the holiday season.

Additional Fundraising may be scheduled based on availability and parent help.


***      It is possible that the Band student will participate in this fundraiser and be able to receive a discount on their last payment.  A band parent would need to coordinate the sales and distribution.  Please contact Mrs. Neidhold at cneidhold@washoe.k12.nv.us.



Billinghurst Orchestra & Band      - Vallejo Tour 2012
Behavior Contract   Return to Mr. or Mrs. Neidhold by October 1st


Student Name_______________________________________________(please print)

The purpose of this contract is to insure a successful and enjoyable trip for all students.
Participation in the Vallejo performance and tour is dependent on satisfactory behavior during the 2010-11 school year.  Student’s behavior in class and in school will have bearing on tour participation.  Students receiving Citizenship grades lower than a B in their respective Orchestra or Band class or students who are suspended or expelled during the school year may be eliminated from the tour at Mr. or Mrs. Neidhold’s discretion.
Students are expected to act with mature behavior on the tour.  The students of the Billinghurst music ensembless will be polite to other groups performing at the festival, follow all of the bus drivers instructions, keep noise levels down in the hotel and act with good citizenship to Billinghurst students and any other people encountered on the trip.
No alcohol, drugs, illegal substances or weapons of any kind.  No fighting.
Students will be at all announced meeting places on time and obey the hotel curfew.
Cell phones and personal music devices, such as iPods, are allowed.  Students will not carry any electronic device into the performance venue.  Students and parents acknowledge that Billinghurst Middle School, the charter bus company, chaperones and teachers are not responsible for any personal belongings.
The Billinghurst dress code will be enforced on Friday, May 11, 2012.  On Saturday, May 12th students will be allowed to wear more relaxed clothing including hats.  All clothing must be decent and civilized with no foul language or alcohol/cigarette advertisements or clothing that might be associated with gang activity.  Mr. or Mrs. Neidhold reserve the right to ask a student to change their clothes if she deems the clothing inappropriate.
Parents understand if a student breaks this Behavior Contract during the trip, they (the parents) will, at their own expense, come pick up their child and return them home separately from the tour group.  (Students, this means if you do not have appropriate behavior on the trip, Mr. or Mrs. Neidhold will call your parents to come get you in middle of the trip.  You will return home with your parents.)
Parents understand that if a student is suspended or expelled from Billinghurst they will jeopardize their right to attend the trip and any funds paid to date.

I agree to abide by all of the Behavior Expectations:

Student________________________________________________________________

Parent__________________________________________________________________