December Newsletter:

I hope that all of you are planning fantastic Thanksgiving activities with your family and friends. This year Mrs., Nora, and I are going to spend the long weekend with family including an annual trip to Wisconsin to cut down a Christmas tree and have an outdoor picnic. As we take time to think about traditions I encourage you to add attending our two orchestra concerts to your calendar. The winter orchestra concert is on 12/11 starting at 7:00. If you know if any alumni who would like to come back and perform with us, please have them email Mr. S and I will email them the music. We will meet on the PAC stage for a rehearsal at 6:20.

We will also have the Bear Strings performance on 12/18 with Bare Voices and Blue Notes. This will be more of a traditional holiday concert with familiar songs to celebrate the season.

I would also like to offer a heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you, both students and parents, who make the orchestra program here at LZHS a part of your LZHS experience. I consider myself fortunate to make music with each and every one of you.

A special reminder for symphony students, there is a mandatory rehearsal on Wednesday, 12/4 from 7:15-9:15 in the orchestra room.

 Concerto Competition: The concerto competition will take place on Monday, December 2^nd. Performances will start at 5:00 in the choir room. Audiences are welcome. Please feel free to stop by and listen to the performances. The winner of the concerto competition will have the opportunity to perform with the LZHS Symphony in May.

Concert information:

The orchestra department is participating on several concerts December. All orchestra students are performing on the Winter Orchestra Concert on Wednesday, December 11 at 7:00 in the PAC. It is a required performance as part of the orchestra classes.

Concert Orchestra: Students must be on stage to rehearse at 5:30. It is important that students are at the dress rehearsal, in their seat, and ready to play at 5:30 It is important that we are ready to play for a call time. I would suggest arriving at least 15 minutes before the call time to ensure that everybody is set and ready to go for the performance.

Symphony Orchestra: Students must be dressed, and on the stage by 6:20 to rehearse Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire. Please make sure you are here and ready to go by 6:20. Students should plan an appropriate amount of time to get their instrument out and ready to go for the performance.

Concert Dress: Please follow dress code as outlined in the handbook.

Boys must show up in black pants, tux shirt, black shoes, and socks. We will distribute tux jackets and bow ties before the concert.

Girls wear solid black: Girls have the freedom to choose their apparel as long as sleeves extend below the elbow and skirts or slacks to the ankle, and the midriff must not show while standing or sitting. This may be a long-sleeve all black dress or black blouse or sweater and ankle-length skirt. Full black slacks are also appropriate, and encouraged for cello players. Girls must also wear black closed-toe dress shoes (not more than 2” heel) and black stockings or hose.

Snacks:

Trying to get the right mix of students bringing snacks here is what we are going to try, Snacks for Freshman and Sophomores this concert:

Violin, Viola and bass: A snack or treat

Cello: Water or juice

Bear Strings:

On 12/18 there will be a dress rehearsal starting at 4:30 for the 7:00 concert. Pizza will be provided. Please wear a “ugly sweater” for the performance.

Sinfonietta: Don’t forget we have an extended rehearsal on Friday 11/6

As always, thank you for your support of the orchestra program at LZHS. I look forward to seeing all of you at our concerts in the next couple of weeks.

The beginning of the year is packed full of fantastic opportunities for music making. On 9/26 and 9/27 the Symphony Orchestra traveled to Augustana to work with Dr. Chetel and members of the Augustana College string faculty on orchestra music, and sight read music for our December concert. The orchestra spent over 5 hours rehearsing, received a tour of campus, and even had a stop at QCA ice cream institution Whitey’s Ice Cream. It was a fantastic trip. I hope you enjoy their pieces on the program on the 15^th. I would also like to offer a special thank you to our chaperones for the trip, Ms. Fortune (our dept. chair) and Mr. Ferrigan.

On Tuesday, October 1^st we have 12 students auditioning for the ILMEA District Orchestra at Rolling Meadows High School. Congratulations on your hard work.

Lastly, I would like to invite all of you to the first concert of the year on October 15^th in the PAC starting at 7PM. Attending a concert is a great way to support the hard work that we do every day in the orchestra. I encourage you to bring your whole family and celebrate the talents of our performers here at LZHS.

News:

Concert Information: The concert will start promptly at 7:00-

Performance order:

Concert Orchestra

Bear Strings

Symphony Orchestra

Concert Orchestra:

Call time is 5:15 for rehearsal. Please come dressed and we will take a picture for the yearbook at 6:00 Call times are the time that the rehearsal will start. Students not in their seats and ready to perform will be marked down on the summative concert attendance grade.

Symphony Orchestra:

Call time is 6:15. Please be dressed by 6:15 so that we can take the yearbook picture at 6:30

Dress:

Please follow dress code as outlined in the handbook. Boys must show up in black pants, tux shirt, black shoes, and socks. We will distribute tux jackets and bow ties before the concert

Girls wear solid black: Girls have the freedom to choose their apparel as long as sleeves extend below the elbow and skirts or slacks to the ankle, and the midriff must not show while standing or sitting. This may be a long-sleeve all black dress or black blouse or sweater and ankle-length skirt. Full black slacks are also appropriate, and encouraged for cello players. Girls must also wear black closed-toe dress shoes (not more than 2” heel) and black stockings or hose.

Concert Refreshments:

The First concert snacks will be provided by Juniors and Seniors:

All Violins and Basses: will bring a treat/snack for after the concert

All Violas and Celli: Will bring individual water bottles or pre-packaged juice

Sinfonietta Auditions: Auditions for the after school orchestra here at LZHS called Sinfonietta will be the week of October 15^th. The rehearsals will be every Tuesday from 3:15-4:30. Students should audition on an excerpt from a prepared piece and the ILMEA scale sheet (I will pick one major and one minor scale). Students will be performing advanced music composed for small chamber orchestras. This year the orchestra will the complete Vivaldi Magnificat with the choir on our March concert. We will also be performing at a festival. You can register for an audition slot here:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZHwpohIblDCjfvcb9Qe23r4SzupjEird5GNKAVCThKM/edit?usp=sharing (Links to an external site.)
You must have the following contract signed at the time of your audition along with reviewing the calendar:

Contract:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JH8-M8i3a6ZFN_lyBPN9LJF7MGWbHRXc/view?usp=sharing

Calendar:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TP583pBPBCzrWKRR1WzJfGRwALeXy9Pj/view?usp=sharing

Rehearsals will begin Tuesday, October 22

News from HOPE:

We need your help:

The mission of the Orchestra Boosters is to give LZHS orchestra students opportunities for enhancing their musical experience. We sponsor fundraisers throughout the year and work directly with Mr. Sackschewsky to collect resources for underwriting professionally coached sectionals and visits by guest clinicians. Last year over $5000 was raised and spent on orchestra students. Booster members assist the orchestra program in funding GUEST CLINICIANS, INSTRUMENT SECTIONALS, FIELD TRIPS TO CSO, JUDGES FOR CONCERTO COMPETITION, SOCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR ORCHESTRA STUDENTS and MORE.

Please become a member of HOPE. In order to get your name in the program you must register by 10/10.  You can register here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MdfAxhGEUVQvkus4XOyiUPqDINS8j-KQ/view?usp=sharing

Concert Refreshments:

The First concert snacks will be provided by Juniors and Seniors:

All Violins and Basses: will bring a treat/snack for after the concert

All Violas and Celli: Will bring individual water bottles or pre-packaged juice

HOPE Volunteer Opportunity: 

 Hello Parents

HOPE, the orchestra boosters, has the wonderful opportunity to raise funds by assisting with the bag check and concession sales at the Homecoming Dance on October, 5, 2019.  We are looking for four volunteers.  The dance is from 7:00-10:00pm.  We are looking for help from 6:45-10:15pm.  Please reach out to

Be th Bejnarowicz, bbejnarowicz@comcast.net or Christine Chialdikas, mikechialdikas@comcast.net  with any questions or to sign up to help. 

Sincerest thanks,

Christine Chialdikas, President

Thank you as always for your support of the orchestra program. Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions. I look forward to seeing everybody at the concert on the 15^th

Nathan Sackschewsky

LZHS Orchestra Director

Welcome to the 2019-20 school year. I hope all of you had a restful and enjoyable summer. I am so excited for a year packed with fantastic opportunities for everybody. Every month you can expect a newsletter to be posted here.

See below for important beginning of the year information:

1. Bear Strings starts this week on Thursday from 3:20-4:30. Bear strings is open to all orchestra students and is a non-auditioned ensemble that focuses on pop, and other non traditional styles of music.
2. Join HOPE for our first board meeting of the year on Wednesday, 9/4 starting at 5:30 in the orchestra room. We will begin planning for events for the whole year. Come and volunteer your time!
3. Join HOPE and the orchestra in celebrating the new year on Friday, 9/6  with our 4th annual kick off picnic at Breezewald Park from 4-6. Sign-up here
4. The school is selling year signs again this year. I would encourage everybody to purchase one for their front yard. How cool would it be to have streets filled with orchestra yard signs? They are only $30 and proceeds go back to LZHS. Please fill out the attached form and return it to the school.
5. Parents of freshman boys, and boys who grew: Don’t forget to get your men’s tux shirt. This year it is up to students to purchase their own tux shirts in time for the October concert. A possible option is this shirt from Hobby Lobby.
6. ILMEA Signup is currently going on. Please fill out the form and bring in your $12 to cover your audition cost.  Sign-up is due by Friday, September 13. All ILMEA participants must participate in at least one help session or you will not be allowed to participate. You can sign up for a help session here.
7. I would encourage you to add the orchestra calendar to your personal calendar. The calendar is all over the orchestra blog, and it will always be the most up to date calendar.
8. Symphony students should get their trip to Augustana College forms in right away to make sure we have the correct number of rooms reserved. The overnight trip is from 9/26-9/27. We will be home by 6:30PM so students should be able to attend the football game if they need to go.

I will have more information for you about the rest of the year in our September newsletter. I am so excited about the great performance and learning opportunities for orchestra this year. I hope to see everybody soon, but please feel free to reach out to me by email if you have any questions.

Nathan Sackschewsky

LZHS Orchestra Director

Happy spring! I hope that everybody had a great spring break. I have enjoyed learning about what everybody did over spring break, I especially enjoyed hearing what the Choir did in the tour of Italy this year. It makes me excited for our orchestra tour in 2020-21. For those of you who are sophomores and juniors, start saving now!

Before I get into upcoming dates, I wanted to congratulate everybody once again on a great couple weeks of concerts in March.

Sinfonietta also had a great performance on March 16^th at the PDC. We had several great soloists and even a siting from baby Nora.

Great work to everybody who participated in solo and ensemble on March 18^th. We have five performances selected for best in room: Schubert Quartet (Olivia, William, Annette, and Alex); Dvorak Viola Quintet (Gabby, Andrew, Lydia, Kirsten, Tiffany); Nathila, violin solo; Andrew, violin solo; and Annette, viola solo. Congrats to everybody!

Bear Strings finished up the week before break with a mini tour to three elementary schools. It was so great to meet the enthusiastic string players over there, and I look forward to seeing them in a few years at the high school!

We have a very busy end of the end of the year. Please take some time to make sure these events are on your calendar, and make sure that you know what performances you are required to attend.

-Tuesday, 4/2:  Honors recital from solo and ensemble: Come watch the Schubert Quartet and Andrew perform their winning pieces from solo and ensemble. The concert starts at 7:00 in the choir room.

-Tuesday, 4/16: Bear Strings and MS district Alt. Strings Festival (7:00 on the stage in Middle School North): All current Bear String members should plan on attending. The performance starts at 7:00, dress rehearsal at 6:00.

-Friday, 5/3: D95 String Festival Concert (7:00 in the LZHS Field House): All students must attend this concert for a grade. Rehearsal 4:00-4:30, call time for dress rehearsal with all students starts at 6:15. Students who are not on time for either rehearsal will lose points for their performance grade. Pay attention to future emails for opportunities to sign up to help. Students will be able to get tri-m credit for the event.

-Tuesday, 5/21: Spring Orchestra Concert (7:00 in the PAC): Dress rehearsal for Concert Orchestra will start at 5:45, Symphony call will be 6:30. Symphony seniors should plan on being at the 12:00 rehearsal the day of the concert. We will also be honoring our seniors at the performance. Attendance is mandatory.

-Thursday, 5/23: Orchestra Awards Night @LZHS: more information to come, the event will be catered with food from California Pizza Kitchen. All orchestra and orchestra parents are encouraged to attend. At the awards night seniors will be able to pick up their picture, students will get superlative awards, and we will announce Orchestra Board election results for the 2019-2020 school year.

Thank you as always for your support of music at LZHS, and I look forward to seeing you at the great events coming up this spring!

Nathan Sackschewsky
LZHS Orchestra Director

March Newsletter and Concert information:

I can’t believe that our March concerts are next week already. We have two concerts coming up, and a busy couple of weeks to prepare.

Today we were visited by Mr. Jason Heath who worked with all of the orchestras today. Mr. Heath has the popular Contrabass Conversations podcast and travels the country talking about the bass and directing orchestras. We were lucky to have him stop by.

Please continue reading for more information about the upcoming concerts:

Tuesday, March 12^th concert- 7:00 in the PAC:

Concert Orchestra:

Call time is 5:40 for rehearsal. Please come dressed and we will also take a picture for the yearbook at that time. Call times are the time that the rehearsal will start. Students not in their seats and ready to perform will be marked down on the summative concert attendance grade.

Symphony Orchestra: Call time at 6:30

Snacks

Trying to get the right mix of students bringing snacks here is what we are going to try, Snacks for Juniors and Seniors this concert:

Violin, Viola and bass: A snack or treat

Cello: Water or juice

Dress:

Please follow dress code as outlined in the handbook. Boys must show up in black pants, tux shirt, black shoes, and socks. We will distribute tux jackets and bow ties before the concert

Girls wear solid black: Girls have the freedom to choose their apparel as long as sleeves extend below the elbow and skirts or slacks to the ankle, and the midriff must not show while standing or sitting. This may be a long-sleeve all black dress or black blouse or sweater and ankle-length skirt. Full black slacks are also appropriate, and encouraged for cello players. Girls must also wear black closed-toe dress shoes (not more than 2” heel) and black stockings or hose.

Sinfonietta:

There is a bust week this week and next as we finish of the Sinfonietta Season. There are two performances left as well as an extend rehearsal on Friday. The schedule is as follows:

3/5- Normal rehearsal

3/8- Extended rehearsal 3:30-5:30- special guest clinician, Mr. Fawkes

3/12- Perform Tchaikovsky at the orchestra concert

3/16- 5:00 dress rehearsal

6:00 concert at the PDC- Mozart, Vivaldi, Tchaikovsky and potentially chamber ensembles ready to perform.

Sinfonietta parents, please sign up to bring something for the refreshments at the end if you have not done so already

Bear Strings:

We are doing the first ever Bear Strings tour to the elementary on Wednesday, March 20^th. Please have the permission slip returned by Friday, March 8^th.

I want to make sure that all Bear String performers have the joint MS and HS concert at MSN in the calendar for April 16^th. More information to come!

Solo and Ensemble:

Solo and Ensemble will be held on Monday, March 18^th. I will have an official schedule out to everybody in the next day or two. Please remember that Symphony Orchestra chamber ensembles are free, however all other entries must pay $10 for solos and $15 for ensembles to Mrs. McLeod in the bookkeeper’s office before you can participate.

Auditions for Symphony Orchestra:

Auditions for Symphony will be held next week. Students will perform there auditions during class after the week of the concert. I would encourage students to stop in and do a demo audition this week. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask!

Some other big events from the month of February:

On February 13^th Sinfonietta performed at the Norther Illinois University Orchestra Clinic. It was a great day with performances from area schools, the Avalon String Quartet and even a masterclass, where Olivia performed some Bach and received some comments.

On February 20^th, Dr. Allan Dennis from Midwest Young Artists- No pictures, but it was a great time!

On Saturday, February 23^rd, Symphony Orchestra traveled to the University of Illinois to perform for the orchestra clinic. We received great comments from the two renowned clinicians and really had a fantastic experience overall.

As always, thank you to everybody for all of your support of the orchestra program. I look forward to seeing everybody at the concerts coming up.