Spring Concert & U5MP Update

Spring Concert Updates:

Date:  Tues. May 14

Time:  7:00 pm

Call Time:  6:00 pm

Personnel:  ALL Orchestras

Dress:  Uniforms (seniors will have a separate requirement)

Misc:  ALL students will RETURN THEIR UNIFORM that night as part of their concert grade.  Please make sure that your student has clothes to change into. 

Refreshments:  We will have a refreshment table following the concert.  Please consider helping us out and donating punch and cookies or helping work the table.  Click here for the SignUp Genius list.  

Dress Rehearsals:  Please keep these dates on your calendar (May 10 & 13) - personnel TBA.  Rehearsals will be utilized if necessary. 

Our Unit 5 Music Parents organization, which serves as a district-wide music booster program, is currently facing a shortage of parent volunteers. Unfortunately, due to personal commitments, some key members of the board (President, Vice President, and Treasurer) will be stepping down. As a result, we are in urgent need of new volunteers with leadership experience to step up and help keep Music Parents running smoothly.

If you have any experience in leadership roles, such as PTO or other board commitments, please consider reaching out to the current President Josh Jensen (Unit5MusicParents@gmail.com) and Secretary Angela DeJaynes (U5MPSecretary@gmail.com) of our Unit 5 Music Parents organization. They hold monthly parent meetings and focus on advocacy and managing funds for our music programs.

You are welcome to join with friends, as no single person needs to take on a specific role alone. In particular, if you are comfortable with budgets and spreadsheets, additional support for the Treasurer position would be greatly appreciated.

Your involvement and support in this matter would greatly benefit our music programs and the students involved. Thank you for considering this important opportunity to contribute to our school community.

BCME Award and Nothing Bundt Cakes Fundraiser

Congratulations to the Unit 5 Music Program for again being recognized by the National Association of Music Merchants as a "Best Communities for Music Education".  It was a rigorous application process and is a huge honor for our music students and staff!

Nothing Bundt Cakes fundraiser has kicked off.  Please see the order form for all of the details and make sure that you have due dates and pick up dates on your calendar.  

Orchestra Updates: Mid-Winter Concert, Dine-to-Donate, Showcase Concert Recordings, Sweepstakes Win

Midwinter Concert Update:

Date:  Tues. March 19, 2024

Location:  NCHS

Time:  7:00 pm

Call Time:  6:00 pm

Dress:  Uniforms

Personnel:  Concert, Sinfonia, & Intermezzo Orchestras

Misc:  KJHS 5th, 6th, and 7th grade orchestras will be performing in the auditorium at 5:45 pm that night - welcome!!!

Papa Murphy's Dine-to-Donate is next week, with all money raised benefiting the orchestra and choir programs' general fund.  As in past D2D's, we need to fill the required # of RSVP's.  Please click here to add your name to the list - remember this is not a binding commitment, we just need to fill the list to be allowed to proceed with the fundraiser.  Mark your calendars and enjoy an easy meal next week!

If you missed the Chamber Orchestra's performance at the Showcase concert at the ISU CPA last week, you can find recordings here.  It was an outstanding evening of music that featured the Chamber Orchestra, Chamber Choir, and Wind Ensemble.  

Congratulations to the NCHS Orchestra program on their state championship win for the IHSA Solo and Ensemble contest!  This was a combined effort of so many of our students across a number of the orchestra ensembles and is the 3rd year in a row for this achievement!

Showcase Concert Final Info

Date: Thursday, Mar. 7th

Time: 7:00 pm (call time 6:00)

Personnel: Chamber Orchestra ONLY (program also includes Chamber Choir and Wind Ensemble)

Location:  ISU CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Dress:  Full concert uniform (tuxedo/dress)

Cost:  Free!

Parking: the School Street Parking Garage has about 450 spaces that can be used for free after 5:00 pm. The address for the lot is 400 S School St, Normal, IL 61761. It is directly behind the CPA.  You can enter the building from there and just walk up to the front lobby, which faces the ISU Quad.  The South University Street deck is also near the CPA, and it is $1 per hour for parking. The address for that lot is 450 S. University Street, Normal IL 61761.

To quote the staff at the CPA regarding the School Street deck parking:  "There will be a parking sign illuminated to “open” to verify parking is available (at the School Street Garage). Basically, you can park anywhere once the car starts up a ramp. The bottom floor is accessible and some spots that are reserved 24/7 and the very top floors are blue zones that are off limits. But the middle of the garage has about 450 spots available for free parking for Fine Arts events!"  Please pay attention to parking signs to avoid getting a ticket. 

Mid-Winter Updates

Upcoming Fundraisers

Tuesday, February 20th - THAT BURGER JOINT - As with a number of our previous fundraisers, we need to create an RSVP list in order for the fundraiser to continue to move forward.  This is not a binding agreement to attend the fundraiser, we simply just need to fill the list with names.  Please click here to add your name to the list and view the instructions to ensure we get credit for your purchases should you choose to attend. 

Wednesday, March 20th  -  PAPA MURPHY'S - While you're in the groove adding your name to RSVP lists, would you consider doing the same for our Papa Murphy's fundraiser next month as well?  You can click here to add your name to this list too!

**Profits from both of these fundraisers will go directly to the orchestra and choir programs to be used to purchase music and supplies**

Upcoming Events

Thursday, March 7th -  SHOWCASE CONCERT  -  Chamber Orchestra personnel only.  Like last year, the concert will be at ISU and will feature Chamber Choir, Chamber Orchestra, and Wind Ensemble.  Students will be bussed to ISU that day late morning for dress rehearsals and clinics.  More info to come. 

Tuesday, March 19th  -  MIDWINTER CONCERT  -  Concert, Sinfonia, and Intermezzo Orchestras personnel only.  This concert might start a little later than usual as our friends from KJHS will be performing their concert on stage that night before ours.  More info to come.