Summer News July 24, 2016

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  • Wombat weekend and back-to-school potluck coming up!
  •  Volunteers needed for registration, Aug. 9-12
  • Audition materials below
  • 2016-2017 schedule at end
  • Volunteer positions available for 2016-2017. Thank you for all that you do!

Save the Date!

  • Coming Soon! DSAO Back-to-School Potluck!
  • Aug. 9-12: Registration Volunteers Needed.
  • Weekend of Aug. 27-28: Wombat Weekend-For all middle and high school students! – sign-ups and more information coming soon!
  • Aug. 29-31: Auditions
    • Middle School: Same requirements as entrance auditions:  major scale, minor scale, chromatic scale, solo piece and sight reading
    • High School: Same as Western States (Click Here)
  •  Wednesday, Sept. 16: High School Western State Auditions Due (Click Here)

Upcoming Events

  • Please click here for the 2016-2017 schedule (the full schedule is also at the bottom of the newsletter).  As events get closer they will be displayed in this section.  Please check this space for any revisions as the year gets closer.

Registration Days August 9-12

During Registration August 9-12, DSAO will staff a table to assist families with general questions, collect student fees, and sign-up with the Orchestra Family Association to volunteer with various activities during the year. We need help during Registration, so please see the sign-up sheet (Click Here) to find times you are able to assist (students and parents are welcome to apply!). Thank you for helping to ensure a smooth registration period!

2016-2017 DSAO Volunteer Positions

Please take a look at the sign-up for 2016-2017  and reply to this email if you have any questions about roles and responsibilities.

2016-2017 Concert Ushers

This is a great way to meet and greet Orchestra concert attendees-many of them orchestra families but also people who are new to DSAO performances. Once signed up (CLICK HERE), you will be on a contact list for our House Manager Julie Padilla to coordinate availability for each concert.

2016-2017 Fundraising

In addition to the auction opportunities, there are many ways big and small to assist DSAO, and we have great fundraising opportunities that only take a bit of time but have a big impact. Please reply to this email if you wish to assist with fundraising.

No contribution is too small.  Every minute of volunteer time is valuable and appreciated.

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

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