I realize I’m early with the October Newsletter, but I wanted to make sure that everyone has plenty of time to prepare for the upcoming concert and special activities over the next few weeks.
September has been a very busy month. We had two clinicians work with our orchestras. Dr. Rebecca MacLeod from UIUC worked with all the orchestras last Thursday, and Professor Taka Matsunaga from Elmhurst University worked with Symphony Orchestra today. I am really excited for everyone to hear our hard work on October 7th.
Rome Orchestra Rehearsal: All students playing in the orchestra for the Rome tour are required to attend the Rome Orchestra rehearsal on Thursday, September 25 from 6:30-8PM.
Concert Information
10/7 October Orchestra Concert
Concert Start 7PM in the Performing Arts Center- Please enter through door 15
If you can’t make it or would like to let people watch the concert they can stream it live.
Concert and Philharmonic Orchestra Call time: 5:15 (PAC Stage)
Symphony Call Time: 6PM (choir room)
Remember if students are not in their seats or in their correct room by their call time, they will receive an 85% for the concert.
New Dress Code- We are no longer supplying tux jackets. Instead, all students will wear all black: All clothing should be appropriate for a formal business setting and be free of prints, embroidery, or patterns. Please choose from the following options:
TOP:
Black long-sleeved button-down shirt
Black blouse – at least ¾ length sleeve
Black sweater (no sweatshirts)
BOTTOM:
Black skirt – shin-length minimum while sitting
Black dress pants (NO JEANS, YOGA PANTS, LEGGINGS, ETC.)
Black sleeved dress (shin-length minimum while sitting, no sleeveless dresses)
Black Socks – Socks need to be high enough so that there is no skin showing when a student is seated.· Black dress shoes (closed toe) – no sneakers, no white soles, heels should be low (not more than 2” heel)
A reminder that ILMEA videos must be emailed to me by 9/30 so that I can make sure everything is OK and we don’t have to wait until the night of the concert to get everything all taken care of.
Sinfonietta Auditions: Auditions for the after-school orchestra here at LZHS called Sinfonietta are due October 9th. The rehearsals will be every Tuesday from 3:50-5:15. Students should submit their ILMEA video, or the ILMEA scales and the first page of a concerto they are working on. Students will be performing advanced music composed for small chamber orchestras. Students can audition in person or by submitting a video. All auditions must be submitted/completed by October 9th. The first Sinfonietta Rehearsal will be Tuesday, 10/21
The Augustana Symphony Orchestra will perform for all of the orchestra students on Thursday, 10/23 in the PAC. Students will be excused from class. Professor Bravo Groover will work with the Symphony students after the performance.
Thank you as always for your support of the orchestra program at LZHS!
Welcome back to orchestra at LZHS. I am excited to see all the returning faces and welcome the Freshmen at LZHS. Orchestra here is truly a fantastic community where we work together to create great friendships, experiences, and art. I hope that everyone had a restful and fun summer. Mrs. S, Nora and I had the opportunity to travel to Australia this year and other than seeing a performance in the famous Sydney Opera House, we loved seeing all the unique animals- many of which could potentially kill you. It made for an exciting trip.
Plan on a newsletter every month, and occasional email updates with any extra information.
This is our big tour year with all students in orchestra having the opportunity to travel to Rome over New Years. For Freshmen who aren’t attending, don’t worry, you will have another opportunity to travel your senior year.
If you are interested in finding way to volunteer for the orchestra program, we have our first Orchestra Boosters meeting of the year on Monday, August 25 at 6PM on Zoom. The meeting is open to everyone and should last about 45 minutes or so.
Please see below for important beginning of the year information
Orchestra Shirts and Hoodies: Once again this year we are offering LZHS Orchestra shirts and hoodies. They feature our orchestra logo and are comfortable. All students should purchase a shirt or sweatshirt for our performances outside LZHS. All orchestra will be participating outside performances again this year and so all students should have a shirt or sweatshirt. All orders are due by Tuesday, September 2.
Private teacher forms (for all students) and Handbook forms are due by Friday 8/22. The links are posted in Canvas. Please make sure you are paying special attention to the new dress code for concerts this year.
New Dress Code- We are no longer supplying tux jackets. Instead all students will wear all black: All clothing should be appropriate for a formal business setting and be free of prints, embroidery, or patterns. Please choose from the following options:
TOP:
· Black long-sleeved button-down shirt
· Black blouse – at least ¾ length sleeve
· Black sweater (no sweatshirts)
. The midriff must not show while standing or sitting
BOTTOM:
· Black skirt – shin-length minimum while sitting
· Black dress pants (NO JEANS, YOGA PANTS, LEGGINGS, ETC.)
· Black sleeved dress (shin-length minimum while sitting, no sleeveless dresses)
· Black Socks – Socks need to be high enough so that there is no skin showing when a student is seated.· Black dress shoes (closed toe) – no sneakers, no white soles, heels should be low (not more than 2” heel)
Private Teachers- if you are currently taking private lessons please make sure you are communicating your schedule with your teacher. Everyone will be back in the building over the next couple of weeks. If you are interested in private lessons, please make sure you state that in your private teacher form and I will send you some information.
Orchestra Boosters (HOPE) If you would like to learn more about HOPE or support HOPE. Please see their welcome letter. We are just beginning our annual membership drive. Please consider becoming a member today!
The orchestra Picnic will be on Friday September 12th from 4PM-5:30PM in Breezewald park. Pease signup by Tuesday, 9/9 so that HOPE knows how many hotdogs and veggie burgers to purchase. If you are coming, please consider bringing something to help with the picnic. Please signup and let us know what you are brining.
Bear Strings starts on Thursday, 8/28 from 3:50-4:45PM. 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.
ILMEA Signup is currently going on. Fill out this form and pay online to sign up. Sign-up is due by Friday, September 17. All ILMEA participants must participate in at least one help session, or you will not be allowed to participate. I am available to help everyday periods 4, 5, and 7. Orchestra Office hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. All students auditioning must pay $10 on pushcoin. I will have a link up soon.
All Freshmen will purchase a Sound Innovations Advanced book. I have ordered books already. I will send a bill through pushcoin in the next week or so.
I would encourage you to add the orchestra calendar to your personal calendar. The calendar is will always be the most up to date calendar. Please pay special attention to the four LZHS concert dates for the year.
I hope everyone has a great year, and I hope to see everybody at our first concert on 10/07. Please feel free to reach out to me by email if you have any questions.
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!
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
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:
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.
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,
