Mandatory Reheasals for Spring Trip Participants

In preparation for our spring trip there will be 3 required after school rehearsals:

Thursday, March 26th from 2:20-3:20

Tuesday, April 7th from 2:20-3:20

Thursday, April 9th from 2:20-3:20

You must be present at all 3 rehearsals in order to go on the trip.

Once again-- you must be present at all 3 rehearsals in order to go on the trip.

I can be flexible to a point with sharing the time between sports/play practice/TOK (obviously), but there are no fully excused absences. Learning these two pieces for competition is part of the requirement for attending the trip. 

Pre-Assessment Concert – Tuesday, February 24th. 7PM

This concert is designed for the students to perform their VBODA Assessment pieces in front of an audience  and other orchestra directors for feedback before they perform at the actual assessments. 

 Arrival times: Symphonic @ 5p; Chamber @ 5:30p; and Concert @ 6p:

Concert Orchestra --- arrive at SHS 6pm

-          Tuning starts 6:30pm

Symphonic Orchestra – arrive at SHS 5pm

-          Tuning Start 5:30pm

Chamber Orchestra – arrive at SHS 5:30pm

-          Tuning Starts 6pm

VBODA Orchestra Assessment – March 6^th and 7^th @ West Potomac HS

Chamber Orchestra – Friday March 6^th, 2015

-          no bus will be provided. Students will need to arrive no later than 4pm at West Potomac High School

-          Warm-Up: 5pm

-          Performance Time: 5:30pm

Concert Orchestra – Friday March 6^th, 2015

-          Students will need to be at Stuart HS no later than 5:30pm. Busses will leave right after.

-          Students will need to be already dressed in their uniforms before they get on the bus.

-          Warm-Up: 7:15pm

-          Performance Time: 7:50pm

-          Estimated Time Back to SHS: 9:15pm

Symphonic Orchestra – Saturday, March 7^th, 2015

-          Students will need to be at Stuart HS no later than 10:30am . Busses will leave right after.

-          Students will need to be already dressed in their uniforms before they get on the bus.

-          Warm-Up: 12:10pm

-          Performance Time: 12:45pm

-          Estimated Time back to SHS: 2:15pm

Thank you for all of your support and encouragement to the students in the next couple of weeks. They are working hard on their music and being challenged in their artistry. I look forward to their performances.

Winter Concert

Come one, come all to a Wonderful Winter Concert!

Tuesday, December 9^th, 7pm

JEB Stuart High School Auditorium

Reception to Follow

The concert starts at 7pm so students, please arrive early to change into your uniform and tune your instrument. Here are the updated call times:
                                                                    Symphonic  5:45
                                                                    Chamber  6:15
                                                                    Concert  6:30

We are asking for food donations from students for the reception immediately following the concert.  Please drop off items at the Little Theater on your way into the concert.

We need parent volunteers to help with uniforms before and after the concert - report to the orchestra room at 6p.

  

Thank you for your tireless support. We may not say it often enough but your continued commitment to orchestra is greatly appreciated and does not go unnoticed.

Boosters' Meeting

Tuesday, November 25th, 2014

6:30pm, JEB Stuart Orchestra Room

Agenda: Winter Concerts

District X Audition Information

Senior / Junior Honors Orchestra 2014-2015

Audition Date:           Tuesday, November 18^th, 2014

Location:                    Robert E. Lee HS--6540 Franconia Rd, Springfield, VA 22150

Registration Time:    3:30pm-6:30 pm.  DO NOT ARRIVE BEFORE 3:30PM! 

Auditions are first come, first served.  Students should enter Door #1.

Registration Fee:       $5.25 to be paid in advance to your school director

Eligibility:                  

Senior Honors Orchestra: Students must be a 9^th-12th grader in a District X School Orchestra Program. (9^th graders may choose to audition for Jr. or Sr. Orchestra, but not both).
Directors must be present.

Junior Honors Orchestra: Students must be a 7^th-9^th grader in a District X School Orchestra Program. (9^th graders may choose to audition for Jr. or Sr. Orchestra, but not both).
Directors must be present.

Audition Requirements:

Senior Honors Orchestra

Scales:   Violin – A Major, Bb Major, g minor 3 octaves AND E Major 2 octaves

Viola -   D Major, c minor 3 octaves AND A Major, F Major 2 octaves

Cello -   D Major, Eb Major, c minor 3 octaves AND A Major 2 octaves

Bass -   F Major, E Major, g minor  2 octaves

Quarter Note = at least 112

Bowing for all scales:  2 slurred, 2 martelé ascending, and 4 slurred descending

(basses 2 slurred descending).

Excerpts:         orchestral excerpts provided.

Junior Honors Orchestra

Scales:   Violin – C Major, G Major, D Major, A Major, and F Major – all 2 octaves

Viola -   C Major, G Major, D Major, A Major, and F Major – all 2 octaves

Cello -   C Major, G Major, D Major, A Major, and F Major – all 2 octaves

Bass -   C Major, G Major, D Major, A Major, and F major – all 1 octave

Quarter Note = at least 112

Bowing for all scales:  2 slurred, 2 martelé ascending, and 4 slurred descending

(basses 2 slurred descending).

Excerpts:         orchestral excerpts provided.

Special Instructions:

 Enter school through main entrance #1

 Sign in at the SENIOR ORCHESTRA / JUNIOR ORCHESTRA registration table and receive your audition number.  Registration will begin at 3:30pm and end promptly at 6:30 pm.  You will be given a registration card.  Hold on to this card and give it to the runner when your name is called.

 Proceed to the warm-up area and listen carefully for your registration number to be called.  Report to the announcer table when your number is called.  Give your registration card to the runner.  Leave all personal belongings in the warm-up room.

 A runner will take you to the audition room.  Wait quietly outside of the room for your turn.  Do not practice or talk in the hallways at any time.

 Once inside the audition room, wait for instructions from the judges.  DO NOT TALK.  If you have a question, step into the hallway and ask the runner.  Students who talk while inside the audition room may be disqualified.

 You may use your own music if you choose, or use the copy that is on the stand in the audition room.

 Violin auditions will take place in two separate rooms, a scale room and an excerpt room.  If you are a violin player, do not leave until you have played in both rooms.

 After completing your audition, return to the warm-up area.  Do not discuss your performance or auditions spots with anyone.  Results will NOT be posted.  You will be notified of the results by your teacher.

Students selected through the audition will participate in the District X Honors

Orchestra event in January at Falls Church High School.

Booster Meeting

Orchestra Boosters' Meeting, Thursday, October 2nd, 6:30p, Orchestra room at Stuart.

All interested parties are invited. 

Please join us and see how you can help deliver the best orchestra experience for the students.

Now that the Orchestra is the biggest in Stuart history, we need more help than ever!

TAG DAY Saturday September 13th

Please mark your calendars for TAG DAY, September 13. TAG DAY is a Performing Arts Fundraiser. All of the students form the different performing ensembles go around the neighborhood and receive donations from the community. Every year the students raise over $30k in one day of fundraising. The funds are then divided between the 3 music disciplines depending on the participation of the students from that discipline.

Parents are actively involved in this fundraiser as well. Most parents act as drivers for the day. Each parent driver takes 4 students in their vehicle and drives a designated route through the community. Parents' hours are also included in the division of the funds so Parents are always encouraged to volunteer!

If you are interested in being a parent drive please sign up through the link below (or contact Ms. Haynes ASAP).
http://www.jooners.com/guest?l=fc95f10f-6178-4ee6-8be3-1920ddde6136

All orchestra students are expected to participate, so please mark your calendars. This event will take place 8am-3pm. Students will wear comfortable shoes, nice jeans, and their orchestra t-shirt.

The Orchestral Department thanks you in advance for your support of this very important fundraiser!