Monthly Archives: April 2019

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May Newsletter

Even though the weather isn’t playing nice, spring is here and we have some fantastic end of the year events and celebrations. Please see below for more information, and I look forward to seeing everybody at the D95 Orchestra Festival on Friday. Congratulations as well to those students who performed in the pit and performed in Spamalot. Great performances from everybody

D95 Orchestra Festival:

Friday, 5/3: D95 String Festival Concert (7:00 in the LZHS Field House): All students must attend this concert for a grade.

High School Rehearsal: All orchestra students should meet in the orchestra room directly after the bell to set up our seating and do our dress rehearsal. We should end our dress rehearsal around 4:15

The grand finale dress rehearsal will start at 6:30 with a call time of 6:20. Please be there on time for full points.

 The dress for the evening will be concert black.

Parents and students are encouraged to park in the PAC lot for the concert.
Help:

All high school orchestra students and parents are encouraged to take a shift if possible to help with set up, tuning, monitoring, and tear-down after the festival.

Set up for non-high school ensemble seating: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090445A4AF28ABFD0-2019

We will also need tuning help: 5th grade tuning starts at 5:20, you can sign up on this list: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090445A4AF28ABFD0-2019

4th grade tuning help starts at 4:35 and you can sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090445A4AF28ABFD0-2019

The last thing that we will need the most help with is tear-down. Parents are strongly encouraged to help out here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090445A4AF28ABFD0-2019 If all of the sign-ups are filled, please plan on coming anyway.

May 21 Concert information:

Note to seniors: We are excited to honor you as part of the festivities of the evening. Remember that your concert grade is part of your summative grade and attendance at the concert in mandatory. A note about senior dress. It is tradition that seniors have the opportunity to wear other formalwear for their last concert. Please remember concert dress protocols of length and other appropriate requirements. Remember you must be able to move to play in whatever you wear, so consider practicing in whatever you choose.

Concert Orchestra:

Dress rehearsal starts at 5:45- please be ready to rehearse at 5:45. Students who are tardy will lose points for their summative orchestra concert grade.

Symphony Orchestra:

Dress rehearsal 12:00-12:44 on 5/21- seniors not testing should plan on attending.

Call time for SO: 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.

Orchestra Awards Banquette:

Our Annual Music Awards Night Banquet is on Thursday, May 23 and will be catered by California Pizza Kitchen. It’s an evening to celebrate the past year and to look forward to the new one. We will recognize the contributions to the orchestra from the Senior Class and acknowledge hard work of all orchestra students. Student-designed awards will be given too! In preparation for next year we will also announce the results of the Orchestra Board elections.

Please fill out the information sheet at the bottom and attach a check and return it to Mrs. McLeod in the bookkeeper’s office. Students usually “dress up” for this event.

Please return your reservation with the attached form and a $15 per attendee no later than Friday, May 17.

Orchestra Board

Orchestra Board applications for President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Librarian are due by Thursday, 5/9 Read more about the open positions and how to sign up here:

Senior Bios

Seniors, please complete your bio information by Friday, May 10th or your information will not be included in the program:

As always, thank you for your support of the orchestra programs here at LZHS. I look forward to seeing all of you at our end of the year events!

April Newsletter

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 16th 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 18th. 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