New opportunity for girls in music!

News from the Orchestra Room

Our local American Association of University Women (AAUW) is offering a great new opportunity for middle school girls.  GetSTEAM is a project that encourages young women to try new challenges in Science, Technology, the Arts, and Math.  Included are learning experiences in cross-cultural communication and composing with technology!

Here is a link to their flyer!  You will have to copy and paste it into your browser, as this website won't permit me to link it.

https://indiana-pa.aauw.net/files/2018/08/GETSTEAM-FLYER.pdf

A great opportunity for our string students!

I recently received this email from the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, as a part of the PSO's educational outreach program.  Even though it reads "Allegheny County,"  they may consider including Indiana County, and certainly intended to send this email to me.  I have already shared it with our string students through the Google classroom.  Please let me know if you are considering this opportunity for your family! 

Dear educators:

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is thrilled to announce the launch of a new pilot program for the 18-19 season, “Coach and Play.” This program is a direct response to feedback provided to the Learning & Community Engagement team over the summer about how to shape programming to better meet the needs and interests of local music educators and their students.

Coach & Play pairs PSO musicians with middle and high school student musicians at schools across Allegheny County to provide customized training such as masterclasses, sectionals, play-ins, audition preparation, and chamber group coaching. Each participating school will work directly with PSO staff to develop three in-school sessions for their students and PSO “Coach.” By focusing on providing student musicians in grades 6-12 with individualized coaching and opportunities for mentorship, the program aims to support and advance the next generation of musicians in our region.

Applications to participate in the Coach & Play pilot program are now available atpittsburghsymphony.org/coach with an application deadline of October 5.

Once all applications are in, our team will work to match schools with specific PSO musicians based on the goals and interests teachers share in their application. Dates and times for all Coach & Play sessions will then be coordinated to accommodate the schedules of both the participating school and PSO musicians. Our Learning & Community Engagement team will support all of the program’s logistical details, facilitate conversations to customize the program to student needs, and conduct ongoing evaluation as the pilot program unfolds.

We hope you will consider joining us for this exciting new opportunity. Please feel free to spread the word to any colleagues who you think might also be interested in participating!

With best wishes for a productive and successful new school year –
The PSO Learning & Community Engagement Department

PS:  If you are interested in finding out more about our other programs for high school students – the EQT Student Side-By-Side program and the Kraft Heinz Hear & Now program – please visit our website at pittsburghsymphony.org/community.

Welcome back to the IASD Orchestras Blog!

Welcome back to all of our wonderful orchestra students and parents!  I'm thrilled to be back in Indiana after an AMAZING year studying music at West Virginia University!

Please remember to check out our website, which is in the attached document.  The calendar will be changed soon to include all of the arts activities of the SH, as well as all of the orchestra activities throughout the district.  We are working hard to improve the ease of communicating with our families, so this cross-reference should be helpful!

Attached are the documents that students will receive this week with regard to concert and event dates and links to information.  I would be very interested to hear from parents so that I know which of these are the most helpful.

For those of you who are interested, my sabbatical year was a life-changing, exhilarating experience.  I worked from sun-up to sun-down every day from August, 2017 to August, 2018.  My coursework is complete and I wrote my comprehensive exams over the summer.  I am still a full-time student at WVU as well as a full-time teacher here in Indiana. I will be singing full recitals this fall (December 9) and in the spring (April 13) at WVU.  I will also be working on my final project/paper/lecture recital, which will be a formal recital on the works and collections of folk icon Jean Ritchie.  That paper and recital will be presented in the fall of 2019.  I will graduate with a Doctor of Musical Arts in December of 2019. 

It is an honor and a privilege to teach your children, and I'm looking forward to an outstanding academic year!

Link to beginning of school year contact info and dates:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WvH_vBi4KJmccQJEVwpdfzmrzQO4jY_93wNd8Mi8Ipc/edit

JH AND SH ORCHESTRA CONCERT IS THIS MONDAY, MAY 1 AT 7:30 IN THE SH AUDITORIUM

The Junior and Senior High spring concert will be held this Monday, May 1 at 7:30 in the Senior High Auditorium.  

This concert will feature a special recognition by the school board in honor of Dr. David H. Laird, Superintendent of Schools from 1979 - 1997, who was and remains a great advocate of performing arts education in the Indiana Area School District.

Performing on the program are the Junior High Orchestra, Corelli Chamber Strings, and the Senior High Orchestra.  The concert should conclude by 8:45 PM.

Junior High Orchestra members are to wear white shirts and black bottoms.  Senior High Orchestra members will wear all black.  Skirts should be knee length or below, as we are sitting at eye-level with the audience.

Students are to report at 7:00.  Junior High students will report to the choral room at the Senior High, and Senior High students will report to the band room for tuning.

The concert is free and open to the public.

Thanks so much for your continued support of our stringed instrument program!

ELEMENTARY DISTRICT ORCHESTRA CONCERT IS THIS TUESDAY AT 7:00 AT THE JH

Our spring concert will be held this Tuesday, May 2 at 7:00 in the Junior High Auditorium.  The concert will conclude around 7:30.

Students are to wear colorful shirts and pants or skirts that have a right hand pocket for our big surprise entrance!  Students should be on stage and ready to have a quick rehearsal at 6:30.  They do not need to bring any music or books for this concert, but should bring stringed instruments and bows.

I won't be opening the auditorium doors for families until 6:45.  I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but you will understand when you see our program!!!! 

You won't want to miss this...it'll be EPIC!

We will continue to have Wednesday morning rehearsals through the month of May in order to prepare for our "world tour" field trip on June 1.

Thanks so much for your continued support of our stringed instrument program!

Still have room for FREE FIELD TRIP to Heinz Hall with a GUIDED TOUR and a concert!!!

There is still room on the bus, but I need to know by MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20 if would like to join us for the Saturday, February 25 field trip to Heinz Hall to see the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra.

The parents of the PYSO are providing a special FREE GUIDED TOUR of Heinz Hall especially for us.  Apparently we're the buzz of the Parent Association!

At the moment, we have a LOT more adults going on our trip than students.

Originally, this was a "thank you" trip for anyone who helped with District Orchestra, However, it would be GREAT to fill the bus, so anyone associated with our string program may join us, on a first come, first served basis.

We will be leaving from the JH parking lot at 10 AM on Saturday morning.  This is slightly different from the original time on the form.  Bring your lunch and snacks and drinks, since we won't be stopping for a meal.

We will return around 6:00 PM.

FAN BUS to HEINZ HALL on FEBRUARY 25 for all participants and helpers with District Orchestra

As a thank you to all who worked so hard on our District Orchestra festival, we are taking a bus to see IASD string student Joanna Li in the February 25  Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra concert!  Everyone who participated or helped out with our festival is welcome to come along, and we welcome families to join us!

A bus is a great way to see a concert without the hassles of driving into downtown Pittsburgh. We will leave from the Junior High School at 10:30 AM on Saturday, February 25.  We will hopefully have a backstage tour of Heinz Hall before the concert (still working on it)!!!  The concert will begin at 2:00, and afterward we'll stay a few minutes to congratulate our symphony stars!  We expect to get back to the JH around 6:00 PM.  Feel free to bring snacks or a lunch to enjoy on the bus.

The concert is FREE and open to the public.  There is NO CHARGE for this field trip for anyone who participated or helped in our District Orchestra festival.

  

Reserve your seat today!  Reservations will be taken on a first come, first served basis!  

  

We will accept reservations until we have 48 people (one school bus, two per seat).  

Come on out and support our AMAZING string students! 

Thank you so very much for your continued support of our school string program!

Please email me for a copy of the permission slip, if you are interested.  EVERYONE (even adults) must fill out a form!!!!  

ALSO...keep Sunday, April 30 at 7:30 on your calendar...it's the Spring Johnstown Youth Symphony Orchestra concert!  More info on that to follow!