7th and 8th Grade Chorus: October 2013

Good morning,

There will be auditions after school on Monday, October 21, 22, and 23 for the solos for chorus. Tuesday the 22nd is an early release day which means the auditions will only be from 1-1:20 (my meetings start at 1:30). Students should write their name in a slot on the bulletin board outside my classroom.

There will be pre-auditions for females for junior districts on Tuesday, October 29th after school. The Junior District Festival is an excellent opportunity for students to get more intensive choral experience. I am only permitted to send 15 females to audition. These students will compete with students in grades 7, 8, and 9 across the northeast district of Massachusetts. If interested, please have your daughter sign up outside my room for an audition. Boys who are interested should see Mr. Condakes. See http://www.northeasterndistrict.org/junior.html for any questions about the festival process.

Guys and Dolls Jr. Auditions will be the first week of November (Monday the 4th, Wednesday the 6th, and Friday the 8th). We will also have an informational meeting the week before so stay tuned!

Any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Thank you for sharing your wonderful children with me!

To: 7^th and 8^th grade Chorus Members (and Parents)

From: Mrs. Gaffny

Re: 2013-2014 Chorus schedule

Welcome ! J

I am thrilled you have decided to share your voice with the 7^th and 8^th Grade Chorus! There is an exciting year planned and I look forward to working with each and every one of you. Thank you for committing to the program.

This year, chorus meets 1^st period on A and C day. It is important that students come to school on time to get the most out of all rehearsals. I expect all students to be on time to rehearsals. Attendance is taken at every rehearsal at 8:07am.

Select Chorus Auditions are Tuesday, September 10^th at 2:25 in rm. 103. To audition for select chorus, the student must be enrolled in the big chorus.

Concerts

December 12^th Winter Concert 7pm Arlington Town Hall*

(snow date-December 13^th)

February 4^th, 2014 All Town Concert 7pm Arlington High School*

May 15^th 2014 Spring Concert 7pm Arlington Town Hall*

*Performers should arrive ½ before concert for warmups

*If there is a snowstorm this week and the AHS concert gets pushed to 12/12 (it’s their snowdate), our concert will be 12/13*

Concert Attire:

Girls

-White, button up collared shirt or blouse.

It can be long sleeve, ¾ sleeve, or short sleeve, just no sleeveless shirts.

-Solid black pants or skirt (no jeans).

Skirts must be at the knee or below the knee in length.

Skirts may not be shorter then the knee.

-Black shoes (no sneakers)

-No dresses

Boys

-White button up collared shirt. It can be long sleeve or short sleeve

-Solid black pants (no jeans)

-Black shoes (no sneakers)

-A red tie or bow tie

For the concerts, hair should be pulled back so it does not hang in the performer’s face. Students are expected to be at all concerts. Grades will be negatively affected by absences (unless there is illness or emergency). However, with illness or emergency, I will need written letter from a parent. Appointments, sports practices, other musical or play rehearsals, babysitting jobs, trips, and other planned engagements are not excused.

Once students have been assigned a folder partner and a spot in chorus, they may not make a change. Students who change their position in chorus will be assigned a detention upon the first offense. Safety is my number one concern in rehearsals and you help me keep everyone safe by being in your assigned seat.

Also, students who misbehave at a concert will be assigned detention on the first offense. Misbehavior includes but is not limited to fooling around, leaving the area without permission, talking (not listening) during others or their own performances, and not respecting the concert facility.

I love to sing and I know that you love to sing too. Singing is such an amazing way to express yourself; you will meet good friends doing something you love to do. We work very hard in this program but the result is so incredibly sweet; you will love the concerts and you will love making beautiful music!!

Please do not hestitate to contact me with any concerns you may have.

I am looking forward to an exciting and very musical year!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Gaffny

cgaffny@arlington.k12.ma.us

(781)316-3744 ex. 1103

(email is the fastest way to contact me as the phone goes straight to voicemail during the school day)

Check out my blog for up to date information! www.ottosonchorus.blogspot.com. Also see the Ottoson Performing Arts webpage at https://sites.google.com/site/omsperformingarts/