Notes

•  Middle School students and parents – ASTA DVD purchase sign-up deadline is this Wednesday!  Please return the payment form (CLICK HERE) and your full $30 payment to the orchestra room by Thursday February 10th.  Late orders cannot be accepted.
•  The All-School Talent Show, sponsored by DSAO, is coming up!  Entries due by February 26th.
• Orchestra concert information
• Volunteer positions for 2016-2017!  You are what makes our orchestra family strong in support of our students!
• Don’t forget to shop with FlipGive and contribute to DSAO at the same time!

To-Do:  Week of February 7, 2016

• Wed, Feb 10: Deadline for ASTA DVD
• Thurs, Feb 11-Sat, Feb 13: Colorado All-State Orchestra

Upcoming (See performance schedule below or on website)

• Tues, Feb 23: Middle School Pre-ASTA Performances
  • 9:45a: Village at Lowry
  • 11a: Colorado State Veterans Home
• Fri, Feb 26: Deadline for Talent Show Entry
• Fri, Feb 26, 7p: Orchestra Concert
  • 5:45p: ASTA Trip meeting
• Sat, Feb 27, 3p: Orchestra Concert
  • After the concert: Europe Trip meeting
• Tues, Mar 1:Middle School Pre-ASTA Performance, McAuliffe Middle School
• Wed, Mar 2-Sun, Mar 6: ASTA National Orchestra Festival
•  Talent Show
  • Fri, Mar 11, 7p
  • Sat, Mar 12, 3p

Homework Assignments

• Juries: This year all students except Seniors will be required to play juries. The jury will consist of two scales (same requirements as DSA auditions-see website under:apply) and one movement of a major solo piece.  Juries will begin after the final concerts in May.
• Seniors are required to present a senior recital. See Dr. Lasansky if you have questions.

Master Mentor/Visiting Artist Program
Wrapping up 2015-2016 – Confirm your family’s donation here!

Dear DSAO parents ,

As you know we are very lucky to have a group of first-rate professional musicians (otherwise known as “Master Mentors”) who work with our students on a regular basis . This is one of the features of DSAO which distinguishes us from other schools in Colorado. As a result of this program our  students receive expert, detailed instruction on all the string instruments. Among other things, this permits our advanced orchestra to play professional level music and allows our middle school to play high school (and college level) music!

I wanted to remind you that we are totally dependent on each family contributing $350 to fund this program which is so crucial to our continued success. Please remember that we receive absolutely NO MONEY from the school district to fund Master Mentors.

So, if you have not made your payment, please do so at your earliest convenience. We are well into 2nd. semester preparations and need to pay the Mentors. As always we welcome spreading out the payments if you prefer this option. Please go to our website  (CLICK HERE) for instructions on making this payment
Thank you for all your support. I personally feel extremely lucky to be  working  at a school with  such amazing students and amazing parents!

Sincerely,
Dr. Lasansky

We have a new email address dedicated ONLY to payment confirmations and inquiries as they relate to the exchange of money for orchestra-related activities including the orchestra family donation, travel and any additional fees that come up through the year. With all that our families are involved in, it is very easy to miss payments or forget if you even made one, so we want to have a dedicated place for questions/confirmations.

Please send an email to  dsaorchestrapayments@gmail.com to confirm whether or not your family has completed the 2015-2016 family contribution of $350 or more. We know roughly 48% of our families have completed this task, but this email will serve as a confirmation from you. Once we receive your email, we will check it against our records and contact you if there are any questions.

Also, please feel free to use this email to let us know if payments DUE (either now or still DUE for past trips, for instance) are on their way or if you need to discuss a payment plan.

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.  Please give checks to Tracy Holt in the main office.

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.

2016-2017 DSAO Volunteer Positions

The executive committee is getting a jump start in securing next year’s volunteer roles to ensure the new group gets together before the end of the year so they can plan for 2016-2017. On behalf of our executive committee, I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of our parents who have committed time to volunteer with DSAO this year-whether it is concessions, ushering, chaperoning, travel coordination, or community outreach, the effort has been amazing and none of it could happen with our our parents.  Please take a look at the sign-up for 2016-2017  and contact me should you have any questions about roles and responsibilities.

With all the parents who’ve helped this year, we help lessen the burden for everyone and make it an enjoyable experience to be involved at DSA!

2016-2017 Fundraising Team Positions – Including Advertising and the 2016 Winter Auction Committee!

Also volunteer positions, this group is focused on fundraising activities that help support our Master Mentor and Visiting Artist program, master classes, and orchestra supplies not covered by the budget provided to our department by DPS. From concessions to auction organizing, we need your help and expertise! Given the wildly successful inaugural Winter Silent Auction masterfully organized by parent extraordinaire Carol Fennell , and our tremendous inaugural advertising efforts led by Chari Pashman and Anne Miller, we have a great start at establishing fundraising strategies and we want to gain traction.  Please visit SignUp Genius here and sign up to be part of this critical fundraising team. Specifically, if you have experience in advertising and marketing and connections with local businesses, this would be a great spot for you!

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