As much as I look forward to Thanksgiving, and having time with my family and friends, for Mrs. S and me, it is also the last break before the intensity of December. We have 3 performance opportunities, evening rehearsals, and a Rome trip all in December. It can feel like a lot, especially coupled with the academic pressures of finishing the semester. It is an intense time, but it is also an opportunity that I look forward to and am thankful for. The LZHS orchestras are a great family, and it is an honor to make music with all of you every day. I really believe that this is a special place for music, and we are lucky to have such great support for the community, school district, and families. I look forward to seeing you at one or several concerts in December.
HOPE is having a fundraiser through Do-Rite Donuts. They will be delivering pre-ordered donuts for pick-up on Friday 12/19 after finals. You can sign up for your preferred time, and we will drop them off. You can purchase dozen, ½ dozen, gluten free, and even a frozen dozen if you would like to take some for the holidays. They are great donuts, and the orchestra boosters will receive a percentage of your purchase to help pay for Rome chaperones and other HOPE sponsored events like sectionals and guest clinicians. You can order directly through Do-Rite for LZHS pick-up. Feel free to share with friends and family!
Rome tour information:
- This week is very busy for those students going to Rome- Don’t forget that we have our mandatory parent meeting on Tuesday (11/18) at 7PM in the PAC. All students and at least one parent is required to attend.
- Final Rome orchestra evening rehearsal on Thursday, 11/20 from 6:30-8:30PM
- Purchase your Rome Tour shirts and jackets by Wednesday 11/19
- Mark your calendars for our preview performance at 3PM in the orchestra room.
CSO Trip information:
- Students have the opportunity to go and see the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on Friday, 11/21. We will leave school at 4PM (drop students off at door 15- students can also part at door 15 if they drive themselves). We should be back to LZHS about 10:30.
- Bring money for dinner. We will eat at the Sterling Food Hall for dinner, so please bring money.
- We still have a couple of tickets left. You can purchase them on PushCoin.
- If you have not submitted your field trip form, please print off or return by email by Thursday.
Other News:
HOPE in person Meeting: Join us for an in-person HOPE meeting on Tuesday at 6PM in the orchestra room- right before the Rome trip meeting.
Symphony Evening Rehearsal- All symphony students are required to attend the evening rehearsal on Monday, December 1 from 6:30-8:30 PM in the Orchestra Room.
Winter Concert, Tuesday, December 9 at 7PM:
Concert information:
Dress:
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)
Concert and Philharmonic Orchestra:
Call time is 5:40 for rehearsal on the stage in the PAC. 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 on stage to run the Christmas song.
Alumni- If you have any alumni who would like to join us for the Christmas Song, have them reach out and I will send them the music!
Bear Strings:
The Bear Strings, Bare Voices, Blue Notes concert is going to be similar to our concert last year. We are now calling it Carols and Cocoa. It will be a cabaret style performance with paid seats on the stage and free seats in the audience. This year there will be 2 performances on 12/15. We are initially offering every participant in the ensembles the opportunity to purchase 2 seats. I will have a form to register for seats soon.
2026/25 Concerto Competition- The concerto competition will be on Thursday, January 15th from 4-6PM. Please register on the orchestra website. I will have a Pushcoin link after break.
Important dates:
- Tuesday, 11/18- Mandatory Rome parent meeting
- Monday, 12/1- Evening Symphony Rehearsal-6:30-8:30
- Tuesday, 12/9: Orchestra concert at 7PM
- Thursday, 12/11: Choir Concert (Sinfonietta Only)
- Monday, 12/15: Bear Strings rehearsal and concert- Office Hour-4 rehearsal- Concert at 6 and 8 (tentative times)
- 12/27-1/3 Rome Trip!!!
- Wednesday 1/15- Concert Competition