Winter Concert Info

There will be no dress rehearsal for any orchestra on Monday.  Information regarding the concert is as follows:

Date:            Tuesday Dec. 10
Call Time:    6 pm (performance begins at 7)
Dress:          Full concert uniform

Refreshments can be brought to the table in the atrium that night. We are still in need of a couple of people to assist with the refreshment table as well.  Please click here to sign up if you are able to help us out.

Winter Concert Dress Rehearsal & Cookie Sign Up

The dress rehearsal on the calendar scheduled for Monday Dec 9 (3:30-5:30) will be utilized only for orchestras that still need more rehearsal to prepare for the concert.  An announcement will be made at the end of the week if this applies to any of our orchestras.  Please encourage your student to make a hard push practicing this week!  We are also in need of refreshment donations for our reception after the concert.  Please click here to sign up to bring some holiday cheer and add to December festivities :-) 

Fundraiser Reminder

Don't forget that the cookie dough fundraiser is due on Monday, Nov. 18th.  Please make sure that all checks are made out to Unit 5 Music Parents Association and that everything on the form is filled out and complete.  Payment must be included with the order. Please include all materials in an envelope with the student's name on it. 

Spaghetti Supper Concert & Rehearsal Info

Date: Mon. Nov. 11
Performance Time: 6:40 pm
Dress:  New orchestra t-shirt (the black one) and jeans.

We will be having a short rehearsal for each group prior to the event so that they can warm up and briefly practice with the other orchestra they will be performing with. 

5:00-5:20  Chamber & Intermezzo Orchestras
5:30-6:15  Sinfonia & Concert Orchestras
6:20-6:30  All orchestras for tuning
6:40-7:00  Performance

**We still have NCHS Orchestra spots on the volunteer list that need to be filled!!!  Please help us get these filled ASAP - having to run the Spaghetti Supper every 5 years, we know how nervous these unfilled lists are making our choir parents this close to the event...  Volunteering a little bit of your time will help us ensure that feeding 1300 people goes well and brings in money for our music programs!!!**

Spaghetti & NOPA

Don't forget that all Spaghetti Supper tickets must be purchased by the end of class on Friday. If you and/or your family are planning to eat, please purchase your tickets through us.  It will cost you more at the door that night and with only 150 tickets available for purchase that night, you might leave hungry.  We also have several more spots that need to be filled on the volunteer list for that night.  The shift will not conflict with the orchestras' performances!

**Please note that the tentative NOPA meeting for next week has been cancelled**

Trip Fundraiser Updates

Shop HyVee this weekend and share the love with the NCHS Orchestra & Choir Toronto trip!  Please feel free to share the flyer with all of your friends and get that Thanksgiving shopping done Saturday or Sunday at the HyVee on 1403 N Veterans.  The flier must accompany you at checkout for us to receive our share of the receipts, and we have more copies at school if you would like them.  Click here to sign up to bag for tips if you and/or a parent are going on the trip.

Cookie dough sales also kicked off yesterday - if your student didn't bring home the info, please see below:

Due Date:  Nov 18, 2019

Product Delivery:   Dec 16, 2019 (MUST arrange for product pick-up after school)

Checks Payable:   Unit 5 Music Parents Association

Payment:  Must be collected at time of order

ILMEA Update

Detailed ILMEA information for those students going to ONU on Nov. 16th will be available soon, but there are a couple of things that we need to take care of ASAP.  Students should bring in $9 cash for lunch that day.  They will have their fill of everything Olivet's cafeteria has to offer, and tickets must be purchased in advance.  The only other option for lunch would be to bring a sack lunch (and students without a ticket may not be allowed into the cafeteria). 

We will transport the students to the festival that day but are assuming that since this is a high-level honors concert, parents will be in attendance and will take students home.  If this is not the case for some reason and your student needs a ride after the concert, we need to know immediately so that we can plan.

Hauntcert Thank You's!!!

Huge thank you's go out to the many volunteers (and alumni) who helped make our 25th Hauntcert celebration such a big success!!! It was a fantastic evening and everything from the music to the tech lined up to present a really polished show. We never could have done what we did without the help of so many people and everyone's efforts were so greatly appreciated.  Thanks again for everything you do to help support our student musicians!

Spaghetti Supper Ticket Orders and Volunteer List

If you, your family, or your student would like to eat dinner with us the night of the Spaghetti Supper (Mon. Nov. 11), please print, complete, and return this order form with your money by FRIDAY November, 1st.  A reminder, no one has to pay to hear any performances, only if they choose to eat.  Tickets are more expensive at the door and in a limited quantity.  Order by Friday to ensure you get food!

Our performance will begin at 6:40 pm and information will be posted soon regarding our rehearsal that afternoon after school.  

We are also responsible for providing volunteers to work a shift that evening - please click here and sign up to work the NCHS Orchestra shift from 4:45-6:00 pm.  This is the Unit 5 Music Parents Association's biggest fundraiser of the year and money comes directly back to our music organizations.  Your time is greatly appreciated!!!

Canada Update

Don't forget the deadline to sign up for the choir/orchestra trip to Toronto is Nov. 15th.  You can click here to go to the trip blog that contains all of the necessary information regarding how to sign up, the most updated itinerary, etc. Our first fundraiser (cookie dough) for the trip kicked off today and there are still several spots left for bagging for tips at HyVee this weekend, click here to sign up to help fund your trip!

Last Minute Hauntcert Details

Don't forget that call time is 6:00 pm tomorrow (concert begins at 7:00) and students are wearing their complete uniforms.  Any students staying after school to help with various jobs are more than welcome to hang their uniform in my office, stash some food in my fridge, etc.  We are still in need of more refreshment donations - please click here to let us know if you can help us out.  Refreshments can be dropped off at the tables outside of the auditorium. We would also love to have pictures of the event tomorrow.  Please consider tagging, sharing, etc. pictures that you take to our various orchestra social media sites!  If you have not been to a Hauntcert before please know that this concert is standing room only, if you want a seat you should plan to arrive early...

Orchestra & Choir Are Headed North!!!

The choir/orchestra trip to Canada, summer of 2020 is a go!  Please click here to read an important update about the trip and instructions on how to get involved.  This trip is open to all current NCHS orchestra members.  

Hauntcert Refreshment Donations

Time to roll out the post-Hauntcert cookie parade!!!  We need over 65 dozen cookies for the big event. Please use this sign up to let us know if you can help us out with this momentous task of feeding hundreds. All items must be store bought and in their original packaging.  We are also in need of more parents to help us decorate during the Tuesday night dress rehearsal.  Please click here to let us know you're coming!

Hauntcert Tech Week Schedule (Chamber, Intermezzo, & Sinfonia Orchestras)

Monday - 3:30-6:00 pm rehearsal (bring stands & cellos - we will be rehearsing with percussion)
Tuesday - 6-9 pm rehearsal (bring cellos, this is dress rehearsal - do NOT wear uniforms)
Thursday -7 pm show (call time 6:00 pm, wear uniforms, bring cellos)

**All electric instruments (violin, viola, guitar, bass, piano, etc.) need to have EVERYTHING with them for all rehearsals this week**

Orchestra Spirit Days

As we make our way into Hauntcert week, all orchestra members are invited to participate in a show of team spirit with the following themes:

Monday: Jersey Day

Tuesday: Disney Character Day

Wednesday: Pajama Day

Thursday:  Hauntcert/Orchestra T-Shirt Day

Canada Trip Survey

We have been faced with a number of delays from our travel agent trying to get our orchestra/choir trip to Canada finalized.  Please click on the link to the Google form for our most recent update, itinerary, and a survey that will take about one minute to complete.  We need to have as many surveys completed by Thursday as possible to help us determine whether or not this will become a viable trip. We need your input to determine how we move forward from here, and apologize greatly for all of the problems we have had with the organization of this event. We earnestly seek your advice as to how the delays from the travel agent and the unexpected price increase from what we were originally quoted effect your decision!

Orchestra Update

We are still in desperate need of a room monitor for Monday's Columbus Day ILMEA auditions at Bloomington High School from 10:15-1:15pm.  Our students are unable to audition if we don't provide someone to staff the room. Please email Mrs. Siebenthal asap if you would be able to help out with this easy job!

Please help remind your Chamber, Intermezzo, and Sinfonia student on Tuesday morning that they are to report to orchestra 2nd hour for their last combined rehearsal before tech week.  We are very concerned about them forgetting that morning following the three day weekend... Outside section coaches will be brought in to assist us at the very beginning of the day and it is critical that we don't have to waste valuable time hunting kids down. 

Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend!!!

ILMEA Room Monitor

ILMEA requires that we provide room monitors at auditions, and the NCHS Orchestras are in charge of providing the monitor for one of our string rooms at Bloomington High School.  If you are available on Columbus Day, Oct. 14 from roughly 10:15 am - 1:15 pm we really need your help.  The job simply entails making sure that the student who shows up outside the room to audition matches up with the audition number assigned to them and letting the judges know the candidate's number.  As the auditions are blind, you remain in the room in case the student has any questions - they whisper them to you and you ask the judge on their behalf.  A simple, yet critical job that will stop the audition process completely if we don't staff this position.  Please email Mrs. Siebenthal as soon as possible if you would be able to help out on Columbus Day.  Thanks!

Volunteer List

We still have a couple of very critical jobs left for Hauntcert XXVI - we are looking for someone to help organize our junior high ushers and show them how to "work the crowd" after the show for donations.  We are also hoping that someone might be able to act as photographer and help commemorate our anniversary with some pictures.  Only about half the numbers of volunteers needed for decorating are filled as well.  Please consider volunteering a couple hours of time to help us out!!!

Photo Booth Props

The orchestra is planning to again have a photo booth spot in the Fishbowl at the Hauntcert and we are interested in any props that people might have.  If you have anything we could borrow for this purpose, please send to school with your student.  Thanks!

Hauntcert Decorations

We are still in (desperate) need of decorations for this year's show.  If you have anything related to 25th/Silver anniversary, any old general Halloween decorations you no longer want that we could spray paint, or any white, gray, black fabric or tulle we could use to make a bunting on the stage, we would really appreciate it.  We are also looking for battery donations (double and triple A and a few nine volt) and would like to borrow a number of extension cords and power strips.  Our MC this year is also looking to borrow a crystal ball (the kind a fortune teller might use).  If you have any of the above items that we could use, please send them to school by the end of the week so that we can effectively plan at our NOPA meeting next week. 

Hauntcert Volunteers Still Needed

While we have made some headway on the Hauntcert volunteer list, there are still a number of jobs we need assistance with.  Please thoughtfully consider donating some of your time to this event and help support our musicians!  Click here for the volunteer sign up list. We are also in immediate need of someone to fill our refreshment chairperson for this year.  It's a fairly simple, yet critical job that just involves helping to organize the parent volunteers for our post-concert refreshments. Please contact Mrs. Siebenthal if you would be willing to help us out with filling this position.

NOPA

Our next NCHS Orchestra Parents Association (NOPA) meeting will be on Tuesday October 8th at 7 pm in the orchestra room (rm 50).  Doors J around the back of the building will be unlocked.  We will continue to plan Hauntcert and could really use thoughts and ideas!  Please join us - all orchestra parents are welcome to attend.

Hauntcert Rehearsal #2 Reminder

Date:  Wednesday Oct. 9
Time:  3:30-6:00 pm
Personnel:  Chamber, Intermezzo, and Sinfonia Orchestras
Misc:  Cellos should bring their instruments like the last rehearsal and all students need to bring their folding music stand.  Students should be picked up promptly at 6:00 pm (pickup location TBA)

Hauntcert Volunteer List

The Hauntcert volunteer list is now available.  This is our biggest event of the year and requires so many volunteers - please consider donating a couple of hours of your time to help out our student musicians.  This is a great way to get involved and meet some other parents!!!  Click here to sign up to be a part of Hauntcert XXV.  

Hauntcert Decorations

Our Hauntcert decoration this year will be a blend of "Halloween party meets 25th Anniversary celebration". So we'd love donations of any left over decorations or items from a 25th anniversary celebration you might have laying around. Or any Halloween decor in black or silver, or anything you're willing to part with that you think can be spray painted silver for the occasion and don't necessarily want back (pumpkins, skeletons, bats, spiders, etc). We are also creating a fabric bunting for the front of the stage, so if you have any old fabrics that can be cut up for this use we'll take anything white, black or gray (old bed sheets, table cloths, etc) as well as any tulle in the same colors. Things thin enough to cut and long enough to create 2 ft strips are preferred.  If you would be able to lend/donate any of these items, please send them to school with your student as soon as you are able, labeling anything you would like returned.

Uniform Update

All uniforms have now been distributed, including the ones that were ordered for students.  Please check over your uniform and let us know by Monday if there are any repairs needed we didn't catch.  Tux jackets and shirts should also be looked over carefully for missing buttons.  Have your student let us know immediately if there are any missing, but make sure to let us know specifics (ie front jacket button, shirt cuff/collar button, etc.).  Replacements will be sent home next week.  Double check the hems on dresses and pants to make sure they fit correctly (dresses should be hemmed to pants length).  All hems need to be loosely stitched so that they may be removed in the future. 

Hauntcert Rehearsal Reminder - 9.24.19

Date:  Tuesday Sept. 24
Time:  3:30-6:00 pm
Location:  NCHS Auditorium
Personnel:  Chamber, Intermezzo, Sinfonia Orchestras (not Concert Orchestra)

Misc: Cellists who are able to secure a ride to school that day need to bring their cellos as we don't have nearly enough at school for all the students.  ALL students need to bring their folding music stands.  Students must be picked up promptly at 6:00 pm in the bus lane - they will not be permitted to go through the building unless they have driven and need access to the front lot.

Orchestra Uniforms

Orchestra uniforms should have come home with your student Monday night. We will be placing the order for additional items on WEDNESDAY, so it is critical that all students bring their uniform home and try it on for a parent to double check the size.  All women who still have a dress at home MUST try it on immediately so that we can get something ordered if the fit has changed. Please let me know asap if there is an issue with either the fit of the uniform or any damage that we didn't spot.

NOPA Reminder

Don't forget that our NCHS Orchestra Parents Association will have their first meeting Monday night, Sept. 9 in the orchestra room (50).  Doors J around the back of the building will be open.  Come meet some new faces and help us as we begin brainstorming Hauntcert and fundraising ideas.  All orchestra parents are welcome!

ILMEA Workshop @ ILSTU

Here's another workshop opportunity closer to home for ILMEA students who are interested. Please let me know by the end of this week if your student is interested in attending this one or the one at WIU so that I can assist with carpools, make sure they get registered, answer questions, etc.

Our first NCHS Orchestra Parents Association (NOPA) meeting will be in the orchestra room (50) at 7:00 pm on Monday Sept. 9.  The doors J around the back of the building will be open.  We would love to see all of our orchestra parents there as we work to brainstorm Hauntcert ideas and fundraising activities for our Canada trip in June. Hope to see you there!

 Don't forget the syllabus signature sheet, blog verification, and uniform signature sheet/payment are due on Friday.  Your student also has another online survey due through Google Classroom by Friday as well.  **If your student has not sent in the blog verification homework and you received this update in your inbox, please print it off and send back to school with them** 

ILMEA Audition Workshop

Here's a great opportunity for those auditioning for ILMEA.  See the attached document for information on a free workshop in September at Western IL University to prepare for auditions. While this is not an official orchestra sponsored trip and I cannot attend, I would be happy to help students arrange a carpool with one another.  Please have your student let me know asap if they are interested so we can facilitate rides. 

**If your student has not sent in the blog verification homework and you received this update in your inbox, please print it off and send back to school with them**

Welcome to the 2019-2020 School Year!

Welcome back to the NCHS Orchestra program! We're eagerly anticipating another exciting year of music making together. As we kick things off, a few "notes" for everyone ;-)

If you are receiving this update via email, please print the email as your student will need to turn that in as part of the assignments that are due for them next Friday (Sept. 6).

If you are interested in purchasing Hauntcert apparel you can click here to order online. All purchases are due by Sept 3 and will be delivered to NCHS when they come in. This is not mandatory, just a fun way to show team spirit!

Best wishes for a great year!

Ice Cream Party

Our annual ice cream party in honor of our seniors will be held during class on Friday.  The orchestra will provide the ice cream, the students the toppings!  Please sign up on the spreadsheet on Google Classroom if you are able to supply any treats (no peanuts or tree nuts please). 

Live Music Opportunity

Great opportunity for students to get out and hear an evening of (FUN) live music!  Jeremy Green will be at the Music Shoppe Thursday, May 16th at 5:30 pm. Click here for samples from Jeremy's YouTube channel. Come out, support live music, and hear the world's coolest viola player!!!!

Nelson's Link

It appears that the Nelson's volunteer sign up link in the previous post wasn't working correctly when the email went out.  Please try this link to sign up for Wednesday the 15th to help with running meals.

Week of May 13th Updates

Our last sprint to the finish line begins this week!  There are many things we have left to do this week before we kick back and start to enjoy the carefree days of summer...

Monday May 13th Dress Rehearsal: there will be no rehearsal after school for any ensemble. Students should have instruments at home this weekend making that final push to the finish line!

Tuesday May 14th - Spring Concert (required event for all personnel)

Concert: 7:00 pm
Call Time:  6:00 pm
Dress:  Concert uniforms (senior girls ONLY may wear formal dresses; senior boys ONLY may wear orchestra tuxedo or suit and a white or colored shirt and colored tie).

Uniform Collection:
-ALL tuxedos must be turned in the night of the concert immediately following the performance (boys need to bring clothes to change into and turn in the complete uniform before leaving the building - completing this process is part of the concert grade.
-All SENIOR girls should bring their uniform dress (already laundered) to school on a hanger and turn in on Monday May 13th - completing this process is part of the concert grade.
-Any girl not signed up for orchestra next year must turn in their dress before leaving the building that night (bring clothes to change into) - completing this process is part of the concert grade. 
-All other girls who are signed up for orchestra next year should KEEP their dress, as it has been hemmed specifically for you.  You will be asked in the fall to try it back on and make sure it still fits.  If it does, you won't have to hem another one!

Concert Videographer
-We are in need of someone to push the play button on the school ipad to record our concert.  Please email Mrs. Siebenthal as soon as possible if you would be available to help us out with this.

Cookie Donations
-We are still in need of some more refreshment donations for our post concert celebration honoring our seniors.  You can click here for the Sign Up Genius link. 

Nelson's Dinner Volunteers
-We are also in need of student/parent volunteers to assist us with the Nelson's dinner fundraiser on Wed. May 15th.  Volunteers are needed from 4-6 pm to simply help collect tickets in the drive through and run meals out to the vehicles.  We really need to get this list filled in a hurry and would greatly appreciate your donation of a couple of hours of help! Click here to volunteer for a great cause.  Don't forget that if you ordered meals through the fundraiser that they can be picked up that day from 4-6 pm.

Spring Updates

The dress rehearsal on the calendar scheduled for Monday, May 6th (3:30-5:30 pm) will involve ALL orchestra seniors (regardless of what ensemble they are in) and ALL members of Chamber Orchestra.  

The sign up list for spring concert refreshments is now available.  In addition to those donations, we are also in need of people to help set up/work the table.  Best wishes to all students and parents as we come crashing into the end-of-the-year craziness!

Nelson's Fundraiser

Nelson dinner ticket orders are due this Tuesday, Apr. 30th.  Please make sure that the order form is clearly marked with the choice of each ticket sold, that all checks are made payable to Unit 5 Music Parents, and that everything is included in an envelope with the student's name. 

Cake Roll Delivery This Friday!

Don't forget that cake roll delivery is this Friday, April 12 from 3:30-5:00 in the orchestra room. ALL orders must be picked up by the student or parent during that time frame as there is no cold storage available.  Doors J around the back of the building will be unlocked at 3:30 for your convenience. 

Cake Roll Fundraiser Reminder

Don't forget that all cake roll orders are due on Monday, April 1st (no joke!).  All checks should be made payable to Unit 5 Music Parents and fundraiser materials should be brought to school in an envelope with the student's name on the front.  Please make sure that all columns on the order form have been tallied, the student's name is on the form, and a parent cell number is included on the form.  Cake roll delivery is Friday, April 12 and all orders must be picked up by the student or parent in the orchestra room from 3:30-5 pm.

Unit Orchestra Information

Here is the most current information regarding upcoming Unit Orchestra events.  Please remember that this concert involves all orchestras EXCEPT Chamber Orchestra.





Event:  Unit Rehearsal #1

Date:  Wed. Mar. 13

Time:  4-6 pm

Location:  NCHS cafeteria

Misc:  Students will need to be available immediately after school to help set up the event.  Please ensure that there is a ride waiting for students at 6:00. Any cellists who get a ride to school in the morning should plan on bringing their instruments.  ALL STUDENTS NEED TO BRING A FOLDING MUSIC STAND LABELED WITH THEIR NAME.

Event:  Unit Rehearsal #2

Date:  Mon. Mar. 18

Time:  4-6 pm

Location:  Normal Community WEST High School main gym

Misc:  Students will be dismissed from school 5 min early to avoid parking lot traffic at the end of the day and MUST PROVIDE THEIR OWN TRANSPORTATION TO WEST.  They should go straight there and need to have their instrument out and be in their seat ready to go before 4 pm.  Please make sure that they are picked up promptly at 6. All cellists should plan on having their own instruments for this rehearsal.  ALL STUDENTS NEED TO BRING A FOLDING MUSIC STAND LABELED WITH THEIR NAME.

Event:  Unit Orchestra Concert

Date:  Tues. Mar. 19

Call Time: 6:15 pm

Concert Time:  7:00 pm

Location:  Normal Community WEST High School main gym

Dress:  Concert uniform

Misc:  All cellists should plan on having their own instrument for this concert.  ALL STUDENTS NEED TO BRING A FOLDING MUSIC STAND LABELED WITH THEIR NAME.  The concert will feature 5th grade and high school and is always crowded.  Get your seats early!

Winter Concert Pictures

The yearbook staff has recently contacted us and would like to know if anyone has any pictures from the winter concert.  If you have any photos, please email Mrs. Siebenthal as soon as possible and we will figure out a way to get them shared/transferred.

Unit Orchestra Change

There has been an update to the calendar regarding the Unit Orchestra concert rehearsal schedule (this concert involves all orchestras EXCEPT Chamber orchestra).  The time scheduled for the rehearsal on Mar. 18th has changed.  Instead of rehearsing in the evening, the rehearsal will be from 4-6 pm.  Students will be released from class at 3:25 to get a jump on the parking lot traffic, but ALL STUDENTS WILL NEED TO SECURE A RIDE TO NORMAL WEST THAT AFTERNOON.  Please update your calendar and make sure that you start working on securing transportation that day.

Chipotle Fundraiser

Don't forget about the Chipotle fundraiser Tuesday night (Feb. 5) at the Chipotle at 1601 E. College from 5-9 pm.  Show the flyer on your phone or simply mention that you are there for the NCHS Orchestra program.  Let's pep up our Febuary with some burritos!!!