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Parent’s Newsletter –March 2008 |
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♫♫
A
NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR
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Our
retreat was a huge success! We got so much work done and
we had a blast together. Retreat is such an important
time for team building and it is when our chorus really
has a chance to "gel" as a choir. I have always enjoyed
retreat, but this year was especially meaningful to me.
Number one: Mrs. Rosellyn McIver, who has been through
so much in the past year, was there with us, smiling and
making things happen, from organizing everything to
building a campfire. She is amazing. Number two: This
group of singers is the top of the heap! These kids love
to sing, love to work hard and are just plain fun to be
around. They know when it is time to focus and listen
and when it is time to partay. I love our singers! And
chaperones and cooks, how can we ever thank you for all
you did for us. I am so grateful for you.
So,
here we are, just a few short weeks away from our big
mondo performances of the year: Seussical Jr. for BBK
and our fifth anniversary at Festival Hill for BCC. I
hope you are excited about the quality of what you about
to share with the public. We have lots of polishing and
fine tuning to do before April, but we are up for it.
Take care of yourself, enjoy your Spring Break, don't
sweat the TAKS, and remember that chorus is the place
where you can be your best musical self. Some might not
understand the joy of making beautiful music, but once
you have experienced it, there is no turning back!
You've simply GOTTA SING!!! I'm so glad that you are
using that determination and talent in the Brenham
Children's Chorus. You da bom.
Keep on Singing,
Pam
Bennett Young
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THANK YOU! THANK YOU! |
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Thank you to Danny Dahlquist for installing lighting in
the auditorium. Now we can read our music! We appreciate
your help so much. Thank you Danny! |
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Thank you Retreat Chaperones! |
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On Friday,
February 22, two bus loads of choristers left for the
Cathedral Oaks Retreat Center in Weimar, Texas. There
were many dedicated adults who accompanied our singers
and served as chaperones for the weekend retreat. We
want to offer special thanks to the involved parents for
changing and rearranging their busy schedules so our
children would be safe, well cared for, and happy. Thank
you to head chaperone Donna Kaltwasser for all her
planning and organization. Thank you to Lillian Yelenic,
Penny Dahlquist, Rhonda Boeker, Tiffany Jenkins, Laura
Upchurch, Gerri Williams, and Shelly Miller. Special
thanks to our chaperone dads Rick Weiss and Edward
Wills. Thanks to the planning, coordination, and
expertise of Beth Appel, everyone was well fed and happy
with her delicious meals and snacks. We also appreciate
arriving safely thanks to the bus driving skills of Mary
Thornton. We appreciate all these wonderful adults who
gave up a weekend to be with our choristers . . . and
how fun for them to get a sneak preview of our spring
music and roast marshmallows around the campfire. Thank
you, Thank you! |
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* *
Please pick up your chorister from rehearsal on time and
ask for memos
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Now
that spring is around the corner and schedules are
becoming packed with a wide variety of activities, pick
up time is becoming more challenging. Please make sure
you pick up your chorister on time -- our chaperones and
staff have busy schedules as well. Having to stay late
with a chorister that has not been picked up on time
delays them from their evening activities and family
time. Remember, Monday rehearsals for BCC end at
5:30 and “Singenspiel” rehearsals end at 5:00.
Please be there to pick up your chorister on time. To
facilitate smooth pick-up, please stay in the carline
and follow the map directions that were dispensed in
August. A chaperone will escort your child to your
car. Thank you for assisting us in this process!
NOTE
TO SINGENSPIEL PARENTS: Please pick your child up at
5:00 PM after rehearsal. We realize it might be
inconvenient if you have to wait for another child who
is singing with BCC, but letting these young singers
roam the halls of the Community Ed Building unsupervised
is not safe. Thank you for your help. |
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A NOTE
FROM SINGENSPIEL DIRECTOR |
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Dear Singenspiel kids and
parents,
Spring is right around the
corner! We went outside to play a game at our last
rehearsal. I'm from Minnesota, and believe me when I
say we wouldn't be doing that in Minnesota in February,
unless it was a "snow" game!
Last Monday, the first thing we
did was sing, "Do, a deer, a female deer, Re, a drop of
golden sun,".....some knew this song from "The Sound of
Music" and some did not. We are learning yet another
way to identify notes. If your child has not seen the
movie, it would be a great rental from the video store!
I have seen it many times and still enjoy the story and
music. Our room has been cleaned out and it is much
nicer now. Thanks to anyone who helped with that job.
We appreciate it very much!
I know everyone is looking
forward to Spring Break. The following week we will
begin rehearsing some music for the concert in April at
Festival Hill. It will be a wonderful experience for
all of us and I look forward to it. Until then, keep
encouraging your young ones. Now and through the end of
the school year is the when they get so busy and start
feeling the time crunch!
They are a fun and talented group. Thanks for letting
them share their precious time with me.
Mrs. Chance |
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THANK
YOU TO OUR STAFF! |
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Thanks to the planning, skill, and dedication of our
staff, the choristers who attended the retreat in Weimar
learned a lot of music and choreography and they had a
wonderful time. From roasting marshmallows to warm-up
dances to ringing the bell for dinner, it was a great
weekend. The weather was beautiful, the accommodations
were comfortable and roomy, the food was delicious, and
the camaraderie couldn’t have been better. Thank you to
those staff members who gave up their weekend time with
their families to be with the BCC family. Thank you to
Pam Young, Julie Steen, Martha Haydon, Amy Schramm, and
Amy Bentke. Our choristers are very fortunate to learn
from these fine musicians and wonderful, caring human
beings. Thank you for a great weekend of music, fun,
sharing, and caring! |
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“Seussical Jr.” |
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The BBK
will be performing “Seussical Jr,” at Blinn College on
Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5 at 7 PM. Tickets
will be available for $5.00 each in the chorus office
after spring break. Plan to see one or both of these
fine performances. The BBK members have been hard at
work since September of last year. Since January, they
have been practicing on Tuesdays, Sundays, and some
Saturdays. In addition to these performances for the
public, BBK will perform for elementary school classes
on April 2, 3, and 4. Plan to come see these talented
young performers. You will be amazed and impressed with
their talent and poise and you will be entertained and
delighted by their performance. Plan to be there! |
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Please keep the office informed about your change of address, phone
number, or email. |
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Formal Uniform Size Check! |
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Each chorister was issued a formal uniform or black
slacks (Singenspiel) for the Christmas concert. It is
time to make sure that all the pieces of those uniforms
fit properly. Spring Break is the perfect time to try on
those slacks (Singenspiel), shirts and vests (BCC). If
your child’s uniform does not fit, please contact the
chorus office immediately after spring break and we will
make sure you get one that fits properly. Please do not
wait until the week before the concert to try the
uniforms on. We want to make sure that all our
choristers have uniforms that are comfortable and fit
properly. It’s hard to sing and enjoy it when your
clothes don’t fit!
Thanks for your help. |
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Spring Break |
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There will be no rehearsals during the week of Spring
Break, March 9 – 15, 2008. BBK Rehearsals will resume on
Sunday, March 16 at Community Ed, and Singenspiel and
BCC rehearsals will resume on Monday, March 17. Happy
Break! |
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Festival Hill Concert |
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Happy
5th Anniversary BCC! On Sunday, April 27 at
4:00 PM, the chorus will be performing at the
International Festival-Institute in Round Top. This
concert is one of the highlights of our concert season.
This year, the chorus will be celebrating its 5th
Anniversary as they perform in one of the premier
concert venues in the world. To commemorate this special
occasion, BCC alumni have been invited back to sing
several musical selections with the chorus. In addition,
the winner of the Battle for the Baton will be
conducting the chorus, the alumni, the accompanying
orchestra, and the audience in the singing of the “Star
Spangled Banner”. It is going to be a memorable
afternoon of music and celebration. After Spring Break,
each chorister will be asked to sell tickets to this
wonderful concert. Additional tickets will be available
in the chorus office. Put it on your calendar and invite
family and friends to attend this memorable concert.
Happy Anniversary Brenham Children’s Chorus! |
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COMMITTEE NEWS |
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If
you signed up for a committee and have not been called
to help – or – if you would like to volunteer for a
particular committee, please contact the chorus office,
979-277-6540. We have so many willing parents and we
have so many areas that parents can help the chorus,
during concert time and throughout the entire music
season. We want to give everyone an opportunity to be
involved in the chorus and in their child’s life.
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The
Chorus website and scrapbook are always looking for
pictures or articles about the Chorus or its activities
or concerts (especially “Cinderella Kids”). If you have
any of these, please get them to the Chorus office or
email them to
bccinfo@brenhamchildrenschorus.org |
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Spring Cleaning! |
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Next
time you visit the Community Ed Building, peek into the
auditorium and the Singenspiel Room. On Thursday,
February 21, we had a massive workday at Community Ed.
Thanks to the efforts of Allicyn Robinson, Penny
Dahlquist, the office staff, the ESL classes, and BISD
Maintenance, a lot of unused furniture, books, etc. were
“re-located”. Allicyn’s broom cleaned years of dust,
etc. from the auditorium floor and stage. Thank you to
these fine folks for helping us make our rehearsal space
more useable and neat. We appreciate this roomy facility
and the kindness of BISD and the Community Ed staff!
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CHAPERONE – SECURITY UPDATE
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If
someone else is picking up your child after rehearsal,
please remember to send a written note. Your child
cannot be released to another adult without your written
permission or a call to the office staff. Thank you for
helping us keep our children safe. |
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REHEARSAL ABSENCES
If your
child is going to be absent from rehearsal, please call
or e-mail the chorus office:
chris@brenhamchildrenschorus.org -or-
rosellyn@brenhamchildrenschorus.org. Please do not
contact the artistic staff. The office will notify the
artistic staff of chorister absences. Regular rehearsal
attendance enables your singer to be confident and
secure when performing on stage. As noted in your
Parent Handbook, more than 2 unexcused rehearsal
absences per semester may result in dismissal from the
choir. |
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NOTE: All choristers should bring their music folders
to every rehearsal -- this includes members of
Singenspiel. Children in BCC and Singenspiel
will be assessed $1.00 each time they forget to bring
their music folder. Please make sure your child has
his/her music each rehearsal day. |
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