Final Summer Edition!

• From Dr. Lasansky:
  • First day to bring your instruments to school is August 25.
• The orchestra is still in need of two volunteers to coordinate concessions.  Other volunteer positions are also available for 2016-2017. Thank you for all that you do!
• Wombat weekend updates; please remember to sign up and return your forms soon!
  • Please note: the update last week had September 1 as the first day on the Power of Attorney; the new forms are up, with the new begin date of August 27 which therefore includes Wombat Weekend.  If the forms have already been completed, please change the begin date to August 27 and initial the change. Our apologies for any inconvenience.
• Dr. Lasansky has changed the audition dates to  9/6-9/9 in order not to spoil Wombat Weekend!
• 2016-2017 performance schedule at end

Save the Date!

Hello Orchestra Parents,

Our Wombat Weekend is rapidly approaching and we need your help to make this overnight retreat a success for our kids!

There will be a small fee (under $20 per student) that has yet to be determined for Wombat weekend to pay for camping and pizza, we will let you know as soon as possible.

Please take a look at the three Sign-up Geniuses (transport, food, and equipment) and sign up to help wherever you can.

Any questions, please contact Heidi Domagala at heidave@comcast.net

Please also let Terrie or Heidi know of any dietary restrictions your student has.

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c054ba9a92aa5f94-wombat4
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c054ba9a92aa5f94-wombat6
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c054ba9a92aa5f94-wombat3

Each sign up is different, so please check them all out. Thank you!

Complete Forms for off-campus activities

 Please note the Power of Attorney and Consent for Emergency Care forms, and a copy of the medical insurance card must be completed and turned in for each student before they can attend Wombat Weekend or any off-campus overnight trip/event, even those events where parents are in attendance.  The Power of Attorney form requires both parents to sign and is required to be notarized. You may find a notary at your local bank, or you may contact either Tracy Holt in the main office or Linda Vliet in the counseling office and ask if they can notarize for you.  Both parents must be present to sign if not already completed. Please date both forms for the entire school year so you only have to do this once.  Otherwise you have to complete both for all trips/events.  These forms are available on the DSAO website  (Click Here).  Please print, complete, have notarized and drop off in the orchestra forms box in the orchestra room.  If we do not have forms turned in by 8:00 Wednesday, August 24th, students will NOT be allowed to attend Wombat.  As you can imagine, there is a lot or organization involved in putting together a trip like this and we have to have deadlines.

For students who have medical conditions or who take medications (including over the counter medications), you need to contact the school nurse for the current school year forms for the trip (Please see forms link on website for these forms).  

RSVP:  We need to have a count of you is planning on attending Wombat, and for what duration.  Please email Terrie Tyree (DSAO Assistant) (tyreeworld@centurylink.net) asap with your students name, grade and if he/she will be attending, and if it will be overnight or for a partial day on Saturday.

Thank you!

4th Annual Fiddle Competition

Sponsored by
Colorado Elks and American Furniture

CLICK HERE for more information

Colorado violinists in grades 3rd to 12th are invited to participate in three grade categories.

A non-refundable $10.00 registration fee is required in order to participate. This needs to be sent along with the registration form (see attached). Make your check out to “Colorado Elks Association.” The registration fee and form must be received by September 30, 2016.

Mail your form and check to: Ken McIntosh, 8989 W. 14th Avenue, #405-South, Lakewood, CO 80215.
Contact Ken McIntosh at kenmcintosh@idcomm.com or 303-234-0469 for the music and sound files.

Denver Performing and Visual Arts College Fair

Sponsored by
The National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC)

The National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) is pleased to announce its 2016 Denver Performing and Visual Arts College Fair on Sunday, October 30th, 2016 from 1 p.m to 3 p.m. at Infinity Park Event Center. This program is an important resource for the fine arts students interested in pursuing undergraduate and graduate programs of study in the areas of music, theatre, dance, visual arts, graphic design, film production, and other related disciplines.

Students will have the opportunity to speak with representatives from colleges, universities, conservatories, festivals, and other educational institutions with specialized programs in the visual and performing arts. Attendees of these free events will learn about educational opportunities, admission and financial aid, portfolio days, auditions and entrance requirements, and much more. A workshop on College Admissions 101 for the Performing and Visual Artist will be offered from 12:10 p.m. – 12:50 p.m. at the Four Mile Conference Room.

For more information, please visit  www.nacacnet.org/pva or call (800)822-6285.

Auditions

I don’t know many people who enjoy auditions. However they are used frequently in the performing arts world.   The good news is that the more experience you can get by taking auditions the easier the process  becomes.

I wanted to give you some advice. I’m thinking mainly of the 9th graders who are coming into Advanced Orchestra, since this may be your first time preparing orchestral excerpts (Western States material). The important thing is to make sure you have a very good concept of the piece (movement) the excerpt is taken from. You can’t be very musical when you play if you don’t have this knowledge. Please listen to (at least) the movement your excerpt is taken from (a bunch of times!) so you understand the mood, the tempo, and how the part “fits in”.

I want to emphasize musicality as a crucial element in evaluations this year. This means playing with feeling, phrasing, dynamics, color and having some knowledge of the pieces and the composers.

Hope this helps.

Thanks,
Dr. Lasansky

For those of you who want to get started with next fall’s seating auditions.

High School: Western States audition music

• Western States auditions are due on Sept. 16. This year you will be responsible for making your own mp3 according to the guidelines found at: http://www.unco.edu/arts/music/wshof/default.html#required%20audition%20materials

Middle School:

Follow the same requirements as the entrance auditions (Click Here):

1. A classical solo of your choice (must demonstrate technical and lyrical playing)
2. A major scale, a minor scale and a chromatic scale
3. Sight- reading

Master Mentor/Visiting Artist Program
The school year is fast approaching and we wanted to remind you about the $350 fee,  per family,  for our Master Mentors program.  This is an expectation for all DSAO families.

For all of our new members of DSAO: we use this money throughout the year  to bring in a whole team of outstanding musicians to work with DSAO students. These mentors work with individual sections, coach chamber music, and sometimes work one on one with students. This  aspect of the  DSAO program is one of the main things that set us apart from other school orchestra programs and help us achieve the excellence we are accustomed to.

Contributions can be made by check or through the DSA Friends Foundation at www.dsafriends.org.  If you can’t make the payment all at once, please do so in monthly installments.   Please make checks payable to DSA Friends Foundation, and put “Orchestra family contribution” or “master mentor” in the memo line.
This is also a fantastic way for family and friends to support your student! Please pass along the dsafriends.org website link to those you know are interested in supporting our programs.

For further information, please visit the OFA Fundraising website.

DSAO  SCHEDULE 2016/17

Friday 10/7 Orchestra Concert 7:00 PM  Concert Hall
Sat. 10/8 Orchestra Concert 3:00 PM Concert Hall

Thursday  11/17 Chamber Music Concert 7:00 PM Concert Hall

Saturday 12/10  Orchestra Concert  7:00 PM Concert Hall
Sunday 12/11 Orchestra Concert 3:00 PM Concert Hall

Saturday 1/21  Full Orchestra Concert 7:00pm Concert Hall
Sunday 1/22   Full Orchestra Concert 3:00pm Concert Hall

Friday March 3 7p  L’Histoire du Soldat Concert Hall
Saturday March 4 3p and 7p   L’Histoire du Soldat  Concert Hall

Friday 3/10 Orchestra  Concert 7:00 PM Concert Hall
Saturday  3/11 Orchestra Concert 3:00 PM Concert Hall

Friday 4/28    Chamber Concert 7:00 PM  Concert Hall

Friday  5/12     Disney/Pops Orchestra  Concert 7:00 PM  Concert Hall
Sat.     5/13   Disney/Pops Orchestra Concert  7:00 PM  Concert Hall
Sunday 5/14   Disney/Pops Orchestra Concert  3:00 PM  Concert Hall