NewsfromtheNorthHillsHighSchoolChoralProgram October2017MovingRightAlong!It’shardtobelievethatwe’reabouttoenterthesecondquarteroftheschoolyear.We’vehadaproductivefirst9-weeksinthechoralprogram.WhatafantasticnightofmusicwehadWednesdayattheFallCollageConcert!Itwasagreatwaytoshowcaseourhighschoolmusicensemblesaswestartthisyearofmakingmusictogether.Thecollaborationsonpieceswithchoir,strings,andbandswerefuntoputtogether,andwehopetheaudienceenjoyeditasmuchaswedidpreparingforthechoralportionsoftheconcerthavebeencompiledintoavideoanditispostedonourNorthHillsChoirYouTubechannel.Checkitouttorelivethemusic!OurDreamcatchersandArrowensemblesareoffandrunning.TheDreamcatchershadtheirfirstperformancefortheNorthHillsSchoolBoardlastThursday,andallwereimpressedwiththelevelofperformanceafterjustafewrehearsals.

VoicesofSpiritatNHHSTheselectchamberchoirfromDuquesneUniversity,theVoicesofSpirit,andtheirdirectorDr.CaronDaley,paidoursingersavisitafewweeksago.TheVoSperformedabriefconcertofthepiecestheywerelearningfortheirupcomingconcert,thentheyspentabout20minuteswiththeNorthHillsSingersafterschooldiscussinglifeasacollegesingerandwhattheexpectationsareforinvolvementinthechoirafterhighschool.Dr.Daleystayedforanadditional30minutestoworkwiththeNHSingers,coachingthemonthesongstheyperformedatthisweek’sconcert.

PMEAHonorsChoirNextweekend,sixofourchoirmemberswillparticipateinthePMEADistrict1HonorsChoirfestivalatTrinityHighSchoolinWashington,PA:

• EleanorePavelle,Soprano1• MarissaKarpinski,Soprano1• KatieEmmons,Alto2• EricJazbinsek,Tenor1• AidanKelly,Tenor2• CharlieKnox,Bass1

Theywillspendthedaywithover100otherhighschoolsingersfromour5-countydistrictlearningfromguestconductors,thenwillperformaconcertonSaturdayafternoonforthepublic.Goodlucktooursingers!

FreshmentoAttendSweetHarmonyTheAmericanChoralDirectorsAssociationofPennsylvania(ACDA-PA)annuallysponsorsfestivalsfordevelopingsingersingrades6-9.FourofourfreshmenWomen’sChoirmemberswillparticipateintheSweetHarmonyfestivalonNovember2atWestAlleghenyHighSchool.AlenaBrisco,MarieGurtner,KayleeMoffitt,andSheaSweeneywillspendthedaywithgirlsfrom20otherschools,learningtousetheirvoicesandexperiencethepowerofgirlssingingtogether.Theywillendtheafternoonwithanclosing“informance,”aninformalperformancetoendtheirtimetogetherandtorunthepiecestheyusedtolearnduringtheday.

OrlandoPerformanceTourUpdateThisinformationwassharedonSeptember29,butisworthre-posting:WehavefinallybeenabletoconnectwiththestaffatDisneyPerformingArtstogetsomemoredefinitiveanswersregardingourschedule.ItappearsthattheweekendwearevisitingOrlandoisoneofthebusiestforschoolgroupsandtherearewaitinglistsforperformanceandworkshopslots.Aswehave3groupsbetweenthechoir,marchingband,andorchestra,eachwithaworkshopandaperformance,ithasbeenchallengingtotrytoputtogetheraschedulethatworksforeveryonethatallowstimetoalsoenjoytheparks.ThemarchingbandisscheduledtoperformonSaturdayintheparadeatMagicKingdomatoneof3possibletimes.Amajorconcernwasraisedthatifanythingdelayedourarrival,theycouldpotentiallymissthescheduledperformancetime(nottomentioncomingstraightfroman18+hourbusridedirectlyintoaperformance!).Weattemptedtomovedays,butwithsomanyschoolscompetingforperformanceslots,therewasawaitinglistandnoguaranteethatitcouldbemoved.Soaftertalkingwithourtourcompanies,we'veadjustedthedatesofthetourtodepartafterschoolonThursday,March22andreturnlateafternoononTuesday,March27.LeavingafterschoolonThursdaywillalloweveryonetobewell-restedandreadyforperformances/workshopsaswellastimetorideandexperienceDisney.Studentswillnowmissonedayofclasses,butwillreturnadayearlierandbewithfamilyforanadditionaldayofspringbreak.(NotethatwhenthetourwasoriginallyproposedtotheSchoolBoardlastspring,werequesteditinerariesleavingeitherThursday,March22orFriday,March23.WewereinitiallyconfidentindepartingonFriday,butDisney'sschedulingnowrequiresthatwedepartonthe22nd.)Asmorespecifictimesanddetailsbecomeavailable,wewilladdthemtoouritinerary.Whatwecancommunicatesofaristhefollowing:

Thursday,3/22DepartNHHSafterschoolTravelovernightFriday,3/23DisneyWaterParkCheckintohotelVisitDisneySprings(possibleorchestraperformance:onwaitlist)Saturday,3/24MagicKingdomdayMarchingBandperformanceinmorningparadedownMainStreet

Sunday,3/25HollywoodStudiosinmorning(sincehalfoftheparkisunderconstruction)AnimalKingdominafternoon/eveningChoirperformanceTBAatDisneySprings

• (performancetimewilldictatetheschedule-forexample,wemayleaveHollywoodStudiostogoperform,thengotoAnimalKingdom,orleaveAKandreturn,orbacktohotel,etc.)

Instrumentalworkshopat6:00PMPossibleFlag&MajorettesworkshopTBAMonday,3/26EPCOTdayChoirworkshopatSarasotaSpringsResortat6:00PMDepartOrlandoat8:30PMTuesday,3/27ArriveatNHHSlateafternoon

TourPricingI’vebeenintouchwithRick’sofficeatArtisticAmbassadors/ClassicTravel&Tourstoworkoutmoredetailsnowthatthescheduleiscomingtogether.Thewaythepricingstructureworksismostlybasedonthenumberofseatsonthebusesthatarefilled.Wearestillgettinginafewmorecommitmentformsfromfolks,andI’mwaitingonofficialconfirmationofallofourchaperones(ifyouareplanningtogowithusbuthaven’tofficiallytoldmeorsubmittedapayment,IneedtoknowASAPsowecanstartfinalizingpricing),soIdon’thavethefinalnumbertravelingjustyet.Thingsthatgointothecostperperson:Coachbusrentals(withdriverchanges),driveraccommodations,registrationcostsinvolvedinDisneyPerformingArtsOnStageandDisneySings!Workshop,discountedparkhopperpassesthatallowusintoalloftheDisneyparkswearevisitingaswellasthewaterpark,mealcouponsfordaysweareintheparks,securityatthehotel,hotelrooms(basedon4perroom,additionalchargesfortriplesanddoubles),cashallotmentsformealsnotlocatedattheparks(reststops,etc.),otherincidentaladministrativecostsinvolvedinbookingandarrangingbythetourcompany.Allofthisgoesintoacomputersystemthatfactorsinallcostsanddividesitbythenumbertraveling.Thisiswhywetrytogetasmanyseatsonthebusesfilled,asthemorewhotravelwithustogetusclosetofullbuses,thelesseachpersonhastopay.90wouldbetheidealnumber,butIamguessingwe’llbecloserto70.Ourtargethasbeenaround$1,000perperson,lessifwecanmakeitwork.Mr.Lavellestatedintheinstrumentalletterthattheirtargetwas$990maximum.Theadditionofa4thparkvisitandthewaterparkhavechangedthetotals,soI’mworkingwithRickandLaurenatArtisticAmbassadorstotweaktheitineraryandmakesurewearriveatthetarget.Anyfullgroupfundraiserswecansuccessfullyrunwillalsohelptodefraythecostperperson,sowhenyouhearaboutrestaurantnightsfortheChoralParentsAssociationortheMadrigalDinnerandCabaretNight,talkituptofriendsandfamiliestomakethesesuccessfulfinanciallyforusall!FundraisingYou’vereceivedlotsofcommunicationfromtheChoralParentsAssociationregardingfundraising.We’veheldhoagie,pepperoniroll,Stromboli,andcandybarsalessofar.MorefundraisersareonthescheduleincludingPartyLiteandJennyLeeBread&Cookies,whichallgotowardindividualgoals.Thankyoutoalloftheparentswhohavesteppedupandchairedthesefundraisertohelpfamiliescovercosts!Soon,youwillgetwordofanupcomingChoralParentsmembershipmeeting.WewillneedtoputtogethertheteamstohelpmakeourMadrigalDinner(December9)andCabaretNight(January19)eventssuccessful.I’lltakecareofgettingthekidspreparedwiththeskitsandsongs,buttherestofitcomestogetherthroughthehelpofchoirfamilies.So,whenyougetthecalltohelp,pleaseconsiderjoiningus!ChoirApparelForthepastseveralyears,wehaverunchoirapparelshopsfeaturingclothingitemswiththeNorthHillsChoirlogoembroideredonthem.I’dliketoorganizeanotheroneforthisfall,hopefullywithdeliveryaroundtheholidaysforthosewhomaywishtopurchaseitemsasgifts.Inthepast,wehavesoldhoodedsweatshirts,quarter-zippullovers,polos,track-stylejackets,fleecejackets,flannelpajamapants,runningshorts,gearbags,andblankets.AssoonasIhaveconfirmedtheitemswithGPSAandgettheorderformsandonlinestoreupandrunning,we’llputthewordout.UpcomingDates&EventsFriday,October20 StromboliordersdueThursday,October26 Strombolipick-upFri-Sat,October27-28 PMEAHonorsChoiratTrinityHighSchoolWeekofOctober30 SweetHarmonypracticesafterschoolWednesday,November1 MarchingBandStadiumReviewThursday,November2 SweetHarmonyatWestAlleghenyHighSchoolFriday,November3 NextDisneyTourPaymentdue($200)Wednesday,November8 NHCPAChipotleFundraisingNightThur-Sat,November9-11 FallPlay“Pride&Prejudice”Friday,November17 StudentMadrigalDinnerMeetingafterschoolSaturday,November18 NorthHillsSingersFallRetreat(atHighSchoolwithlunchprovided)

ReminderofCommunicationMethodsThereareseveralwaystofindoutaboutwhatishappeningwiththeNorthHillsChoirs:

• NHChoirsonFacebook:www.facebook.com/northhillschoirs• NHChoirsonTwitter:www.twitter.com/NorthHillsChoiror@NorthHillsChoir• NHChoirsonInstagram:@northhillschoirs• EmailorCall/VoiceMailMr.Cloonan:cloonans@nhsd.netor412-318-1400,x3047.• NorthHillsChoral&Dramawebsite:www.northhillschoralmusic.org(whichincludestheTwitterfeed)• NHChoirsYouTubeChannel:www.youtube.com/northhillschoirs

RemindAppDirections:Searchbyclasscodename—

Women’sChoir:@nhwomens SymphonicChoir:@nhhssymph NHSingers:@nhsingersDreamcatchers:@nhhsdream Arrow:@nhhsarrowToreceivemessagesviatext,text@classcodenameto81010.Youcanoptoutofmessagesatanytimebyreplying,'unsubscribe@classcodename'.Troubleusing81010?Trytexting@classcodenameto(302)321-6356instead.Ortoreceivemessagesviaemail,sendanemailtoclasscodename@mail.remind.com.Tounsubscribe,replywith'unsubscribe'inthesubjectline.