Yearly Archives: 2025

2 posts

May 2025 Newsletter

I can’t believe that we are already going to be in May next week. This is an D95 Orchestra Festival year, and I am excited to see all of the orchestra students in the district come together for a fantastic celebration of string playing in D95 on Friday, May 5. This is truly a special place to make music, and I hope that this will highlight the great orchestra family that we have at LZHS. Please also mark your calendars for the final orchestra concert on Tuesday, May 13, and the Orchestra Banquet on May 15th. I will have more banquet information after the festival. See below as well from two chamber music concerts that I will be performing in May and June.

News:

Orchestra Festival information:

  • Date: 5/2 at 7PM in the Field House
  • Rehearsal times:
  • Office Hour- All HS orchestra students will rehearse during office hour on 5/2
  • Final Dress Rehearsal- 6PM all orchestra students
  • Dress: Orchestra shirt, jeans or kakis (no sweatpants, or athletic pants), and tennis shoes
  • Parking: All LZHS students and parents should park in the PAC lot and walk through the orchestra room/main gym to get to the field house. It will make getting out of the concert much easier.

We need everyone to pitch in and help with set-up, tuning, showing parents and students where to go, and taking everything down. Students can get Tri-M hours for helping Please sign up if you can help!

May Concert Information:

May Concert: Tuesday, May 13 at 7PM in the PAC

  • Concert and Philharmonic call time: 5:45
  • Symphony call time: 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.

Remember that boys must purchase their own black pants and tux shirt.

Girls wear solid black: Girls have the freedom to choose their apparel if 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 Treat- To celebrate the end of the year we will do post-concert refreshments. It has been a while since we have done them, but HOPE would like to help organize treats this year. We are going to have Sophomores bring some sort of snack or treat and juniors bring something to drink- small water bottles seem to work best, but juice boxes work as well. Please no soda. Please drop treats off in the lobby before the concert. HOPE volunteers will be there to help organize.

Senior Information:

Seniors, we need your information for the concert program. Please take a minute to fill out the senior bio that we will use for the program and banquet slideshow. Please submit your senior bio by Thursday, May 1st.

HOPE Program Messages

Personal Dedication

It’s hard to believe that the end of the year is almost here, and the last concert is right around the corner. For some of you, your musician’s high school journey has just begun and for some the time at the LZHS music program is coming to a close. A dedication in the concert program is a great way to create a special keepsake and honor the hard work of being a musician in the orchestra.

Below are some examples from previous years.

To STUDENT NAME: we have loved watching you perform in band and orchestra during your time at LZHS. You have grown as a musician and had some amazing experiences along the way. We are so very proud of you and can’t wait to see what your future has in store.
Love, Mom and Dad

To STUDENT NAME: We are so proud of you and all that you have done while following your love of music. It’s been so fun to watch you grow as you tried new musical styles and instruments! Congratulations and can’t wait to see where your next adventures take you. Love Mom and Dad

To STUDENT NAME: Every note has been a jewel, every scale a joy, every chord a blessing, that we will always treasure. Love, Mom & Dad

To STUDENT NAME: We are so proud of you! Thank you for sharing your music with us. We are amazed at how you’ve grown as a musician from when you were little. Love, Grandma and Grandpa

If you would like to include a dedication in the May 13 program, please click the link below

https://forms.gle/9bnm2hZ5RhahTkst8

Tri-M

Lake Zurich’s chapter of Tri-M Music Honor Society is accepting applications for membership next year.

This is a multi-year commitment from when you start until you graduate – fulfilling the requirements gives you the right to your pink cord at graduation…. continuous membership from joining through senior year is required!

The requirements are:

  • Maintain GPA of 3.0 overall, A average in music courses
  • Remain off of ineligible list
  • Regular meeting attendance (once a month)
  • Usher one 2 hour concert of your peers here at LZ
  • 8 additional hours of service in many forms that are provided or that you can ask about qualifying events

This club represents Lake Zurich High School Music and relies on its membership to carry out that representation in many forms. See Mrs. Conover in PA127 if you have questions!

https://forms.gle/cjMNYmiyScPvVhxS9

Jan Sobieski String Quartet Performances

Every year the quartet that I perform in does two concerts in the spring. Our first performance this year will be on Sunday, May 11 at 3PM at Grace Luteran Church in LaGrange- 200 N Catherine Ave, La Grange, IL

We will be performing the Brahms Bb Major Sextet and a work the complete G Major Quartet by Florence Price. Admission is free.

We will also be performing a second concert on June 1st, but we are still working out the exact location. I will keep you posted.

Other dates to keep put on your calendar:

  • 4/24-26- “The Prom” musical performances
  • 5/2- LZ D95 Orchestra festival at 7PM
  • 5/11- Jan Sobieski String Quartet Concert (Mr. S’ string quartet) 3PM Grace Lutheran Church-200 N Catherine Ave, La Grange, IL
  • 5/13- 7PM Orchestra Concert at 7PM
  • 5/15- 5PM Orchestra Banquet at LZHS at 5PM
  • 6/1- Jan Sobieski String Quart Concert at 3PM location TBA

February 2025 Newsletter

I can’t believe that we are already into February. I attended the ILMEA Conference where Kaitlyn Lee performed with the Honors Orchestra. It was inspiring to see their work on some challenging music. Please see below for information about upcoming field trips, solo and ensemble, March Concert, and our 2025/26 Rome Trip.

News:

Concert and Philharmonic Orchestra clinic at NIU on Thursday, February 20. All Concert and Phil students will be attending a clinic and performance at NIU. Please see the information handout for more information. The permission slip should be returned in canvas, or hard copy by Friday 2/14. If you are interested in chaperoning, please let me know.

Symphony and Sinfonietta clinic at UIUC on Saturday, February 22. All symphony students (including winds) and Sinfonietta students will attend UIUC to perform in the Great Hall and have clinics with world renown conductors. The bus will leave about 7:15 and we will return about 7:30PM. The performances will be at 1PM and 2:30 if you have any alumni who would like to attend the concert it is free to attend. Please see the information handout for more information The permission slip should be returned in canvas, or hard copy by Friday 2/14. If you are interested in chaperoning, please let me know.

March Concert on Tuesday, March 4 at 7PM: More information in a couple of weeks. All ensembles will be performing on the concert. Call time for Concert and Philharmonic will be 5:45.

Solo and Ensemble on March 11: Solo and Ensemble entries must be completed by Friday, February 14. Please make sure you sign up on the google form for your solo or ensemble. If you have not done so, please pay for your solo and ensembles in pushcoin. Please contact your accompanist ASAP. We are going to have rehearsal sessions on 3/4 with Ms. Lakisova. Please reach out in the next couple of days to let her know if you are going to use her. Remember that Symphony students do not need to pay for their class ensemble. The honors concert will be on Tuesday, March 18.

Sinfonietta final concert, March 14 at 7PM: This special concert will be at the district office and will feature Sinfonietta performing Dvorak’s Serenade and featuring several student solos and chamber usic.

Rome Trip information:

  1. Please pay your first large payment through the pushcoin link sent to you by Mr. Thompson. If you have multipole people you are paying for, please add each of those to the cart to pay.
  2. It is not too late to join the trip. Let me know if you would like to join the fantastic group we have going. I look forward to seeing you in Rome next winter break!

Thank you, as always, for your support of the orchestra program,