Northwood Junior High Band and Orchestra

Are you hearing the sounds of jazz in the air??  The Ravinia residency is in full swing at Northwood!  Next Monday, March 21, 2011, we will officially swing into spring with the last Ravinia visits for our woodwinds and brass members.  Our  percussionists will have their first visit from a professional set player! Please be sure to mark your calendars for our performance in the Bennett – Gordon Hall on April 19th at 9:30 AM.

The Northwood Orchestras and Chorus will be participating in this year’s High Note Festival!!!  An information letter is being developed for this exciting opportunity on May 13, 2011.  Please stay tuned for more details!!!  There is a cost involved.  I’m trying to get you the most accurate information in a timely manner to allow families time to prepare.  - Mrs. D

The bands of Northwood, Edgewood, and Elm Place will have the honor of hosting a residency program sponsored by Ravinia this spring.  Our young band members in Senior Band will have the opportunity to work with outstanding members of Ravinia’s Jazz Mentor Program.  This is an exciting opportunity!  You will know if your lesson is being taught by a jazz mentor if it says, “Ravinia” in the space with your lesson.  There will be a culminating performance in the Bennett-Gordon Hall on Tuesday, April 19th at 9:30 AM.  Parents are welcome to attend.

Solo and ensemble was a huge success for our  21 events!  Out of these events our 25 Husky musicians brought home 18 first place events and 3 second place!  Great job everyone!!!!  You have a lot to be proud of!

After many hours of preparation, the All City Concert was a huge success!  I thank all of the students for their hard work and the families of our young musicians for supporting the fine arts!

The winter band concert will be held Thursday, January 13, 2011 in the Northwood Multipurpose room.  Students report to Northwood at 6:30 for warm up and tuning.  The concert will begin at 7PM.

Students will be taking playing assessments over the next two weeks.  Material will come from their concert selections and scale sheets.  Please encourage your student to practice at home so they are prepared for their tests.

This Thursday, December 9, 2010 is our winter chorus and orchestra concert.  A reminder page with the details was sent home last Friday, 12-3-10, and can be found on the handouts page of this blog.

Who?  All Orchestra and Chorus Members

When? December 9, 2010

What time?  ALL chorus and orchestra students report to the school at 6:30.  We begin at 7 PM.

Since chorus and orchestra are performing fine arts our performance is a natural assessment of the work we have been doing in class.  This is a significant part of their second quarter grade.  Any student that will not be attending the concert must give me, Mrs. Delligatti, a note signed by a parent or guardian at least 2 weeks in advance to give time for an alternate assessment.

Concert Attire:  Orchestra /  Chorus Shirt or a black t-shirt and jeans

Exciting news!  Junior AND Senior bands will play at the pep rally next week! All band members are expected to participate.  This will be your performance grade for first quarter.  Senior band will play the Addams Family and part of March Bits and Pieces. Junior Band will play Rock-a-saurus Rex. Together we will play the Northwood Fight Song. Senior band should wear their band shirt or black t-shirt from last year.  Junior band wear a black or red t-shirt. If you’ll be in costume, that’s OK too!  Just make sure you can still play your instrument correctly.  Spirit Squad members will play with the band, as always, when students enter the gym.  After the school song all band members will be dismissed to sit with their groups.  (Spirit Squad, student council, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, etc.)

Congratulations to the following band and orchestra students for their leadership and spirit when participating in this year’s IMEA (Illinois Music Educators Association) District VII auditions this year!  The band candidates were Marianne C and Sophia O.  Our Orchestra contestants were Katrina L, Noah W, Carli F and Keana D.  I’m proud of you all for taking on this musical challenge!  Sophia and Noah will move on to the district level festival on November 6, 2010 to represent Northwood at this prestigious music festival.  You are all Class Act musicians!