January through March is always a difficult time for a music program. Here at KHS we normally perform a March concert just before Spring Break. At the same time that we prepare for this concert we are also preparing Solo and Small Ensemble music and Large Group music for contests. At least one Choir is always preparing for a trip. Seniors are looking ahead toward graduating and beginning to think less about their responsibilities to the choir (and school) as that date gets closer. And the Director of choirs is becmoning overwhelmed by the amount of paperwork, blood, sweat, tears, and hard work that goes into it all by the ensemble.
If we are all in a canoe and traveling up a river it is important for us to row the same direction. One person rowing the opposite way will impede our progress as a group. This time of year can lead toward a strong end for us all if we are all headed in the same direction. If there is one person, or a group, who begin to "row the other direction with their oar" the choir will not meet the expectations that we have for ourselves.
I hope that we will not have those who would work against us and that you all have the ambition to see this year to it's end. That we will have a successful spring and
Saturday KHS had dozens of students in band, orchestra, and choir perform at the District Solo and Small Ensemble contest. Many of those performances earned the reward of singing at the State festival on April 30th. Many more are wondering why they were not and what they could do better or differently.
I personally am proud of all students who perform at these festivals. For me the ratings do not mean that much. I don't collect them, I don't share the percentages with other directors and thump my chest when I have more of the higher ratings than someone else.
I believe the educational value in the SSE festival is the preperation itself. Students who participate in these events learn what it takes to perform in a small group, learn the music, and apply their own knowledge of music. These students take what they learn in the choral classroom and apply that knowledge in a small ensemble rehearsal. A soloist must remember and apply what they've learned about vocal production and foreign languages.
If there were no ratings given, comments and constructive critisism only, and no state festival to "compete" for; I still believe every student involved is better off for doing so.
Congratulations to all o
We are back at work at KHS. Please look at the Schedule of Events for all of our upcoming competitions, concerts, and auditions.
What a day!
On our bus ride to downtown San Antonio we saw pictures of We started at the IMAX Theater Downtown San Antonio and saw a film about the siege of the Alamo. We then walked to the Alamo and saw the grounds. Very neat connection to history! We asked if we could sing inside the Alamo's main room, but were denied. Some of us spent more time than others at the Alamo and then headed to the River walk. What a place that is! Lunch, shopping, and time in the city for all of us. At 3 pm we headed to Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Great park!
7 pm was our BBQ with all of the other groups at the festival. Not awesome food, but filling none the less. A few games, including what looked like a 200 person 'ride that pony' circle, and then the awards.
As it turned out there were 10 choirs in our division, 3A here, but they separated classifications.
We received a ONE rating, a GOLD plaque, and the SPIRIT award for the group that best represented our community and school here in San Antonio. A great night for us! There was no ranking for us though, because of the 10 choirs in our division, we were the only one in the Chamber Choir class.
However, due to the high scores that we received from the judges we have been invited to prestigious festivals for 2012 in Chicago, Los Angelas, and New York! The fourth invitation is not only to New York city, but an invitation to perform in Carnegie Hall!
Awards, accolades, and invitations aside; I will tell you that I am very proud of this group of students. They have become very close on this venture into the Lone Star state. They performed difficult literature on Friday at a very high level and that was noticed by the judges in their comments and clinic. Watching students progress throughout the year, and even throughout this last week, is an amazing thing to witness as a choral director. I could not be more proud of the progress that this group has made and I am honored to be a part of it.
Long bus ride home tomorrow, warm up please Springfield!!!!
We left the Dallas area, Burleson, this morning at 9:30 am and arrived in San Antonio at 1:30 pm. We went straight the the North Star Mall where everyone had lunch. Many of us chose the Cheesecake Factory and did little shopping, others chose a lot of shopping and food court for a quick lunch. One of the students even found a prom dress today! From the mall we went to Alamo Heights High School where we warmed up in the music BUILDING (Yes, the music department has their own building) and performed in a wonderful auditorium. The kids sang extremely well and the judges were very impressed. One of the judges worked with the choir on stage after our performance and had so many compliments for them! I was so proud of their effort, their attitude, and their poise on that stage today! The judges' comments made the choir swell with pride, not to mention the director. We found our hotel and at 8 pm we had a pizza party provided by the boosters and a caring parent in the conference room downstairs. The pool and hot tub then filled with students from many schools and states! As I write this it is almost 11 pm which is time to get everyone in their own rooms. Ohio State just lost and tomorrow morning we will leave for the Alamo at 9 am with the Riverwalk, Six Flags, Awards, Banquet, and Festiva
We made it out of Springfield by 5 am! We arrived in Denton Texas at 12:30 pm and went to South Lake Park where we had pre-made Ham, Turkey, and PB&J sandwiches for lunch. We played football and frisbee in the park for a while and just relaxed in the fresh air (79 degrees). We left and went to St. Andrew's Presbyterian church. From there we walked to the town square and ate at Betty Marie's Old Fashioned Ice Cream. The boys even shared a 20$ (10 pound, guess) Ice Cream Sunday! We returned to the church where we sang for and were given a choral clinic by Cameron LaBarr of the University of North Texas. What a great time the kids had with him! We have reservations shortly at Miranda's Tex Mex next door to the hotel and then some swimming time to follow. We will load the bus at 9 am for a 9:30 departure tomorrow morning for San Antonio! PLEASE SEE THE PHOTO
The Chamber Choir is Texas Bound! We will be in Denton Texas tomorrow performing at St Andrew Presbyterian church at 4 pm. We will then have the honor to be critiqued by Mr. Cameron LaBarr, a Doctoral student at the University of North Texas.
Stay tuned to the KHS Choir Blog for updates on our trip!
Competition is at 5:30 pm on Friday evening!
Friday at the St. Johns Hospital Chapel was the last performance for the Chamber Choir outside of the school in 2010. I am proud of the work that the Chamber Choir put in this fall and the support they've received from the school and their parents. So many great performances surely brightened the Holiday season for many in our community.
Today we performed at 4 of our Kickapoo feeder schools. I wonder after these days if my students realize two things:
1. They are like rock stars to many of the elementary and middle school kids they sing for.
2. They are singing for the students who are the future Kickapoo Concert and Chamber choir.
It was truly a great day with great performances all around. Thank you to my students, the young boys and girls we sang for, and the teachers and administrators who welcomed us in to their schools.
Friday evening the Chamber Choir sang at the Nativity Celebration at the LDS church on Cox Road south. We were one of four groups to perform and one of two who sang an entire set of songs along with the Brett Family, a theater ensemble from the Branson Missouri Strip. Saturday night we sang for the Luminary drive at the Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. That was one extremely COLD night! The wind whipped at 30 mph with gust up to 45. After only singing for 30 minutes (in ten minute shifts to stay warm) we loaded up and headed back to the visitors center where we sang another 50 minutes. There we also had hot apple cider and a furnace to stay warm! Following that performance up with 4 crockpots of hot soup and hot chocolate to drink at the home of our booster club president and we had a quite a night!
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