Europe Informational Meeting, Monicals Info, & IHSA Solo & Ensemble Update

We are ready to go with our Europe trip itinerary! We will be holding a Europe 2024 kickoff meeting on Monday, March 6 at 6:30 pm in the NCHS Auditorium. Our tour company representative will be here to present the itinerary, discuss costs, and answer questions.  It is not required that you attend the meeting to go on the trip, but we would encourage you to come if you can (or send someone from your family) so you can learn more about it.

For your planning: trip registration will occur in the month of March, with initial deposits ($285 per traveler) due by March 21.  To make this trip affordable, we have to have at least 85 people, but we would prefer to have at least 100 for better rates.  We will send out a message with the details after the meeting for those who aren't able to attend.

We are very excited to get this trip off the ground, and hope you'll join us as we plan to head to Munich, Salzburg, Vienna, and points in between in June 2024!

Don't forget about our Monical's Dine-to-Donate night on Monday February 27th.  You must provide a PAPER copy of this form in order for us to get credit for your purchase (no "cell phone pictures" allowed).  Physical copies are available at school if you don't have access to a printer.  Please be advised that no one is allowed to distribute these on Monical's property or place copies into people's mailboxes. 

We are still in desperate need of volunteers for the IHSA Solo & Ensemble contest on March 4th.  This is a big fundraiser for the NCHS music department and helps us purchase things that we share as a department (ie music stands, pianos, uniforms, etc.).  Please consider helping us out on Saturday!  

Saturday AM Shifts (March 4) - students and adults

Saturday PM Shifts (March 4) - students and adults

IHSA Solo & Ensemble Contest - Volunteers and Schedule

Dear NCHS Music Students & Families,

We are hosting IHSA Solo-Ensemble Contest next Saturday, March 4. This event is a big undertaking, as we will be hosting over 900 student performers from 27 high schools in the area. 

We are known for being great hosts of this event, and that is because we have excellent volunteer help!  We are asking that you please consider helping us in any capacity - we need students and adults to set up, monitor rooms, run judging sheets, help with concessions, tear down, and several other positions. We have divided the jobs into Friday, March 3 (students only), and am / pm shifts on Saturday. This can be for students who are performing or not - we need over 130 volunteer slots filled, so we will take anyone willing to help!

For students performing: please look at the performance schedule, and see if you can sign up for a shift outside of the time of your performance(s). Parents - if you are volunteering when your student is performing, you can absolutely take a quick leave to go watch their performance.

Attached is the performance schedule. Once you have looked at that (if you’re performing), please click on one of the links below to sign up to help. You can sign up for more than one shift if you desire!

Friday sign up (March 3) - students only

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090b4bafaf23a20-ihsa#/

Saturday AM Shifts (March 4) - students and adults

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090b4bafaf23a20-ihsa1#/

Saturday PM Shifts (March 4) - students and adults

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090b4bafaf23a20-ihsa2#/

Please let me know if you have any questions. We greatly appreciate your help, and ask that you go ahead and sign up right away instead of waiting to let everyone else sign up first! : )  We are hoping to complete these lists without having to send out multiple emails!!!

Thanks,

Mr. Luginbuhl

Mrs. Siebenthal

Mr. Carter

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR A SCHEDULE OF CONTEST EVENTS - this is information for those students performing and contains performance times and room numbers.

Showcase Concert Updates and Gobena Fundraiser Reminder

Date: Thursday, Feb. 16th

Time: 7:00 pm (call time 6:15)

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. 

Reminder that our Gobena coffee fundraiser forms and money are due this Friday, Feb 17th.  Checks should be made payable to U5MP or U5 Music Parents.

There are still several slots open for the April 1st Bagging for Tips at Hy-Vee.  Please note that this is during spring break.  Click here to sign up.

Chipotle Reminder and Trip Info

Don't forget about our Chipotle Dine-to-Donate Wednesday, Feb 8.  See the attached flier for more info and note that there is now a code that can be used for online orders.  Make sure to show them the flier below on your phone or click here to download and print the PDF.

A few updates for you on the upcoming trips and fundraisers:

Tennessee Trip (May 31-June 4):

We currently have 44 people signed up for this trip - very close to our minimum of 50 to be able to go.  Registrations and the $250 down payment for this trip are due February 8. If you haven't signed up yet, now is the time! Our bus will hold 54 people, so if we go over that we will take those who signed up first. Register at https://bobrogerstravel.grcoll.co/go/normal9125

Payment plan for Tennessee Trip:

Feb. 8: $250 deposit due

March 1: $400 payment due

April 6: $400 payment due

May 5: Remaining Balance

*fundraised money can be applied whenever you would like - once trip is set, we will make a plan.

Europe Trip (June 2024):

We are still working on the itinerary, trying to lower the cost a little. As of right now, plan on approximately $3500, give or take a few hundred. The currency exchange rate is high right now. This is the best estimate I can give you at the moment.  We hope to have a parent meeting this month with the plans!

Fundraising:

Don't forget about our Gobena coffee trip fundraiser. Orders and money are due Feb. 17. If you don't know anything about Gobena, 100% of the profit they make goes to orphaned children around the world. So, not only will you be helping yourself earn money towards your accounts, but also helping others! And it's great coffee!  More fundraising opportunities will still be taking place this spring - we'll let you know as they become available.

Gobena Coffee & Chipotle Fundraisers

Order forms for our Gobena Coffee fundraiser are now available and the forms and payments should be returned no later than February 17th.  Money earned from this fundraiser will go into individual student accounts to be used for either the Memphis trip this summer or the Europe trip in 2024.

Our next Dine-to-Donate will be Chipotle on Feb. 8th.  Mark your calendar for chips and queso!!!  See the attached flier for more info and note that there is now a code that can be used for online orders.  Make sure to show them the flier below on your phone or click here to download and print the PDF.