Prep Freeze Reminder

Don't forget that our Prep Freeze Cook fundraiser is this Thursday, March 22 at their facility on Oakland Avenue.  Stock up on some fast, delicious meals to get your family through the busy spring semester!  We will get a percentage of the profit from all items sold during their regular business hours.  See the attached flyer for more details.  

Incorrect Concert Date in Last Email

A correction to yesterday's updates:  while the post on the blog has been updated, the email sent to you had the incorrect date for the Unit Orchestra concert.  The concert is this Tuesday, March 20th!  Sorry for the typo!!

Prep Freeze Cook fundraiser is this coming Thursday, March 22 at their facility on Oakland Avenue.  Stock up on some fast, delicious meals to get your family through the busy spring semester!  We will get a percentage of the profit from all items sold during their regular business hours.

Trip Update

Trip balance sheets have been sent home with students (Chamber Orchestra will receive theirs on Monday).  The final payment is due by April 30th.  However, we are asking that you hold off for a few weeks as we still have a couple more fundraisers in the works.  If you pay the final balance and then earn fundraising money, we will have to cut you a check for the balance of the over payment. 

Unit Orchestra Rehearsal and Concert

Information regarding Unit Orchestra commitments this week:

Mon. March 19 - rehearsal

• Location: NCHS East Gym
• Time:  6:45-8:45 pm (please note the 15 min difference from the original calendar!)
• Misc: students will meet in the cafeteria for tuning prior to the rehearsal

Tues. March 20 - concert

• Location:  NCHS East Gym
• Call Time:  6:20 pm (meet in the cafeteria)
• Performance: 7:00 pm
• Dress: Concert uniform

**Equipment crew members should plan on staying a little later for both of these events to help tear down.

**Students need to bring a folding stand to both the rehearsal and the concert (clearly labeled with their name on both parts) in addition to their instrument and their pencil. 

**This rehearsal involves Concert, Sinfonia, and Intermezzo orchestras only

Update: Week of March 12th

A quick reminder regarding upcoming events this week:

1.  NOPA Meeting - Tues. March 12th; 7 pm; NCHS Orchestra room (50); doors J around the back will be open.

2. Unit Orchestra Rehearsal - Wed. March 14th; 4-6 pm; Normal Community WEST High School. This involves Intermezzo, Sinfonia, and Concert Orchestras only.  Make sure to bring a folding stand with your name on it.

**The orchestras' spring Prep Freeze Cook fundraiser will be held on March 22nd at their facility on Oakland Avenue.  The orchestras will receive a percentage of all items purchased that day, so mark you calendars to stock up on some great, easy meals to get your family through the crazy spring semester!**  

NOPA Update

Our next NCHS Orchestra Parents (NOPA) meeting will be Tuesday, March 13th at 7:00 pm in the orchestra room. Doors J around the back will be unlocked. We will be focusing on a few more fundraising efforts for the New York trip and/or new uniforms next year.  We will also be discussing the transfer of executive offices held by outgoing senior parents.  All parents are invited to attend - it's a great way to be involved with your student and their interests (without embarrassing them by chaperoning them at a school dance ;-).

Unit Orchestra Rehearsal Info

Don't forget that our first Unit Orchestra rehearsal will be next Wednesday, March 14th at Normal Community WEST High school from 4-6 pm.  Students will need to provide their own transportation over to WEST that afternoon and will be receiving a pass to leave 8th hour 5 minutes early that day to ensure that they are able to get out of the parking lot safely.  As guests in WEST's building, it is imperative that all students are picked up promptly at 6 pm.  Please make arrangements to car pool if you are unable to be there no later than 6.  Students need to bring a folding stand to the rehearsal (clearly labeled with their name on both parts) in addition to their instrument and their pencil. 

Solo & Ensemble Follow-Up

Huge thank-yous go out to all of the music students and parents who helped out with the IHSA Solo & Ensemble Contest on Saturday! We had thousands of people come through our doors at NCHS, and everything worked seamlessly because of all of our volunteers' efforts.  Not only did we have a successful organizational day, but our orchestra program had a very successful musical day as well - THE NCHS ORCHESTRA PROGRAM PLACED 1st IN THE STATE FOR THE IHSA CLASS AA SOLO & ENSEMBLE CONTEST!!!!  We are so proud of our orchestra musicians and the growth and dedication that they have shown over the last few weeks. Way to go, Iron Strings!

S&E Contest Info and Volunteer Plea

The big day is almost here and we are still in desperate need of volunteers to help complete our lists!  Please consider giving up a few hours to help support the music department on Saturday in this massive endeavor that raises money for our department. As of Thursday morning we still have 11 morning spots unfilled and 17 in the afternoon.  You can click on the links below to volunteer.  Also, please refer to the links below if participating in the event. An information sheet is attached as well as the program of events again. 

Friday After-School Set-up (students only)
Saturday Concessions (adults only)
Saturday Morning Volunteer Shifts (students and adults)
Saturday Afternoon Volunteer Shifts (students and adults)

Program of Events 
Participant information sheet 

IHSA Solo & Ensemble Contest Event Schedule & Volunteer Sign-Ups

The NCHS Music Department is once again hosting the IHSA Solo & Ensemble Contest on March 3rd and will be running over 1200 different events through our building on that day. We are in need of an army of both student and parent volunteers to assist us in this massive endeavor. Not only is it a service to our musicians and student musicians from around the area, but is a fundraiser for our department as well. Links can be found below to the many different opportunities and we would be extremely grateful for any assistance that you and your student can offer. A link is also included to a schedule of all of the NCHS events for the day if your student is participating. Please note that you are more than welcome to leave a volunteer post for a few minutes to hear your student perform! 

Friday After-School Set-up (students only)
Saturday Concessions (adults only)
Saturday Morning Volunteer Shifts (students and adults)
Saturday Afternoon Volunteer Shifts (students and adults)

Program of Events 

Butter Braid Pick-Up

Don't forget that Butter Braid pick-up is scheduled for this Thursday (Dec. 14) in the orchestra room from 3:30-5:30 pm.  Without exception, ALL orders must be picked up at this time by the family who sold the product! Please make sure that you have made arrangements not only to pick up the items, but to ensure that they are able to be kept frozen until you deliver them to your customers. Happy holiday pastries to you and yours this month!

End of Semester Wrap-Up

Winter Concert Information

Date:  Tues. Dec. 12
Concert: 7 pm
Call Time: 6 pm
Dress:  Uniforms

There will be no rehearsal for any orchestra on Monday.  Thanks to all who volunteered to donate refreshments - you may bring them to the refreshment table at 6:30 the night of the concert.  If you arrive earlier or the tables are not set up, refreshments can go to the desk in the orchestra room. Don't forget that cello players should bring their instruments to the concert!

FINAL EXAMS - Orchestra final exams consist of 3 parts:

1.  Written - taken at the scheduled exam time. This is nothing that students need to study for and typically consists of reflection based essay questions.

2.  Scales - students must have passed all scales tested in the first semester by Mon. Dec. 18.  Students will have the opportunity to make up scales not previously passed during the days after the winter concert.

3.  Playing exam - students will be tested over material from the winter concert the day following the performance. This ensures that the material is still fresh and it should be very easy for students as they were all prepared to the best of their ability on the music the night before. 

Winter Concert Update

Winter Concert Information

Date:  Tues. Dec. 12
Concert: 7 pm
Call Time: 6 pm
Dress:  Uniforms

The dress rehearsal scheduled for Monday, Dec. 11 will be utilized by any group that needs a final rehearsal to help prepare them for the concert.  Please make sure that the date remains open in case it needs to be utilized - a decision will be made by the end of this week.  Don't forget that cello players should bring their instruments to the concert!

The sign up for post-concert refreshments is now available and we would be most grateful if you would consider helping us out and donating some punch or cookies.  You can click here for the refreshment volunteer list.  Best wishes to you and your family for a strong finish to the first semester!!!

Butter Braid Fundraiser Due

Please get Butter Braid orders in as soon as possible. The last day to turn them in will be this Friday (Dec. 1).  Don't forget that students (or their parents) must pick up their order after school on Thurs. Dec. 14th between 3:30-5:30 pm.  Students orders will be bundled and packaged together, so it is not possible to sort out individual customer items.