Announcements for week of 3/31

Welcome back from Spring Break! As you may or may not know, Mr. Cook and his wife have two new additions to their family. All are doing well, but Mr. Cook will be out of school for a period of time. Please direct all questions or issues to Mr. Dortwegt until further notice.

1. All performances and rehearsals will proceed as regularly scheduled with the following exceptions:
• There will be NO percussion sectional on 3/31.
• There will be NO Jazz Ensemble sectionals until further notice.
2. Symphonic Band will perform at Hersey High School on 4/12. Schedules for the day were distributed in class before spring break. Call time is 11:30am, performance time is 3:30pm, and approximate return time is 8pm.
3. Symphonic and Concert Band will perform at the annual Plainfield Invitational Concert Band Festival (PICBF) on 4/19. Schedule for the day will be distributed this week in class.
4. The Band Banquet date has been set for Saturday, May 10. Doors will open at 6:30pm, and the ceremony will start at 7. Desserts will be served, and a DJ will provide music for dancing. Event details will be sent home this week.
5. The next Band Booster meeting will occur as scheduled on April 1 at 7:30pm.
   
6. The PSHS Band Boosters are working on a new calendar fundraiser. We need your help to find businesses/persons interested in advertising in this calendar, which will be sent home to all PSHS students. The more ads we sell, the greater profit to our program. Please contact Caryl Hayes if you can help or know of an interested party.
7. All students interested in taking AP Music theory should talk to Mr. Dortwegt this week. For those who have not taken Music Theory 1 and would like to take the proficiency exam, the test will be offered Friday 4/4 or Monday 4/7 after school.
   

Metamora Trip

Congratulations to the Concert Band for a great performance at the inaugural Metamora HS Concert Band Festival. Students had the opportunity to perform in the beautiful Metamora High School auditorium for a panel of prestigious adjudicators. Students also had the opportunity to experience a clinic with Dr. Andrew Mast from Lawrence University. Thanks to all who helped out and thanks to Mrs. Westfall for the photos!

Metamora Trip Schedule Change

Please note the following changes to the Metamora schedule due to another band dropping out of the festival:

9:00 Arrive at PSHS, load equipment/uniforms
10:00 Depart PSHS (lunch in-route)
1:15 Arrive Metamora HS
1:30 Change into Concert Uniform
2:10 Transition to warm-up
2:20 – 2:50 Warm-up
2:50 Transit to Performance
3:00 – 3:30 PERFORMANCE TIME (CHANGE)
3:40 – 4:10 Clinic with Dr. Andrew Mast
4:15 Recognition Ceremony
4:45 Change out of Concert Uniform, load busses
5:15 Depart Metamora HS (dinner in-route) 8:15 Arrive back at PSHS, unload your equipment

Announcements for week of 2/25

1. Congrats to the Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Jazz Ensemble for a great performance at last week's Mid-Winter Band Concert.
   
2. The Concert Band Metamora Trip Schedule has been distributed in class. The full schedule is listed below.
3. We are still in need of parent chaperones and trailer drivers for the Metamora Trip. Please let Mr. Dortwegt know if you are interested.
4. Concert Band students: Playing tests over our concert music will begin Thursday 2/28 during class. (Note change in date). This is a 25 point playing test. Please also remember that you may come in to re-take your scale tests if you would like to improve your score.

Metamora Schedule

9:00 - Arrive PSHS, load equipment/uniforms
10:00 - Depart PSHS (lunch in-route)
1:15 - Arrive Metamora HS
1:45 - Change into concert uniforms
2:20 - Watch Serena HS Concert Band
2:50 - Transit to Warm-up
3:00 - Warm-up
3:40 - 4:10 - Performance Time
4:20 - 4:50 - Clinic
5:00 - Recognition Ceremony
5:30 - Depart (dinner in-route)
8:45 - Approximate arrival at PSHS; unload equipment

• All students are required to ride the bus to and from this performance unless you have filled out an “Alternate Transportation” form and turned it in at least 48 hours in advance.
• We will stop for meals on the way there and way back. Please either bring a lunch or have money to purchase fast food.

Announcements for week of 2/19

1. The Midwinter Band Concert
   
• Date: Thursday 2/21
• Call time for Concert Band students is 5:30pm. Call time for Symphonic Band is 5:45
• Students should arrive and immediately change into their concert uniform so that yearbook pictures can be taken promptly at 6pm.
• Remember to bring the appropriate attire for the concert: Tux shirt, black socks and shoes for guys; black hose and black shoes for girls.
  
• Concert Band students should bring 2 dozen cookies (homemade or store-bought) for the post-concert reception. Symphonic Band students will provide refreshments for the May concert.
2. Jazz Lab Band is canceled this week due to SPC and the Band Concert. We will resume next week.
3. The final Pep Band game is Friday 2/22. Call time is 4:15. Aux Sable 8th graders will be here and pizza will be served.
4. Concert Band students: Playing tests over our concert music will begin Friday 2/22 during class. This is a 25 point playing test. Please also remember that you may come in to re-take your scale tests if you would like to improve your score.
5. Parent volunteers are needed to chaperone the 3/8 Concert Band Trip to Metamora, IL. We also are looking for a few parents interested in driving the band trailer down to Metamora with us. If you are interested, please contact Mr. Dortwegt.
   
6. There are still 7 Concert Band students who have not turned in trip consent forms for our trip to Metamora and PICBF. These forms are now 3 weeks late! You cannot participate in our trips if this form is not turned in - meaning your grade will suffer. Please ask your students if they have turned in this form.
   

Announcements for week of 2/11

1. The Mid-Winter Band Concert is next week (Thursday, 2/11). Concert Band Students are asked to bring 1-dozen cookies for the post-concert reception. Please drop off your cookies before the concert in the band room.
   
2. The Lemont Band Festival trip which had been scheduled for the Symphonic Band on 2/23 has been canceled.
   
3. Solo & Ensemble Day is Saturday, 2/16. Schedules will be posted this week. All students are encouraged to attend the event, and extra credit will be given to those who attend the Honors Recital at 1pm in the Auditorium. The Honors Recital consists of students who were selected by the judges as the "best in room."
   
4. Parent & Student Volunteers are needed to assist with Solo and Ensemble Day on 2/16. Contact a director if you are interested.
5. This is the final week of Pep Band. The schedule for this week is as follows:
• Tuesday: 6:15 call time
• Wednesday: 5:45 call time
• Friday: 4:15 call time (Aux Sable 8th graders will join us, and we will have pizza!)
6. Concert Band students have a scale test this week on Thursday. Please make sure they are practicing!
   

Announcements for week of 1/22

1. Pit orchestra auditions will be held Wednesday, 1/23, after school. Results will be posted Thursday, and our first rehearsal is Friday, 1/25, from 3:45-6:00pm.
2. Aux Sable middle school students will join the PSHS Pep Band on February 15 for the varsity basketball game.
3. The Jazz Ensemble will perform this weekend at the Naperville North Jazz Festival. The PSHS Jazz Ensemble's performance begins at 11:50, and all are invited to come out and support PSHS Jazz.
4. To stay current on all band and booster events, please check out the band website and booster website. Links are on the right side of the "Band News" website.
5. The PSHS Band Boosters are now registered with Dominick's e-script program. If you sign up for the program online, Dominick's will donate a percentage of the profits from your sale to the PSHS Band Boosters. To sign up, go to "escrip.com" and either provide our name (PSHS Band Boosters) or our ID # (5000177735).
   

Announcements for week of 1/7

1. Pep band will play for the Boys Basketball game on Friday (1/11) . Call time is 4:15. Students from the Drauden Point Band will join us for pizza and the game!
2. The Spring performance calendar for Concert Band has been changed. We will no longer be attending the Hersey Band contest. Instead, we will attend the Metamora Music Festival at Metamora High School. The date for this festival is March 8, 2008. Please mark your calendars accordingly and let us know of any conflicts.
3. Congratulations to Dave Garon who was the winner of the 07-08 Concerto Competition. He will perform the Edward Gregson Tuba Concerto with the Symphonic Band on the February 21 Band Concert.
   

Holiday Break

Dear PSHS Band Families,

This past week, Mr. Cook and I were at the 61st annual Midwest Bands and Orchestras Clinic in Chicago. Each year I look forward to this convention because it allows me to attend clinic sessions with expert conductors, hear amazing concerts, and meet many incredible educators. At a very busy time of the year, I always leave Midwest feeling inspired and re-energized!

Attending this convention makes all of us stop and think about our own programs, students, and music-making experience. This year I felt very proud to say that I work at PSHS with some of the finest students and parents around.

Thank you for your continued support of the PSHS Band Program. Please have a restful and enjoyable holiday break, and I look forward to seeing you all in the new year!

Musically Yours,
Chris Dortwegt