We need people to sing the National Anthem and Alma Mater at the home varisty (boys and girls) basketball games.  For all days, the girls’ game is at 6pm and the boys’ is at 7:30.  You will be singing 15 minutes before each game.  If you sign up, you are committing to singing for both games that night and will get into the games for free.  You will need to meet outside of the gym at 5:30 to warm-up together.  For each game, one person will be selected by Ms. Thomas to be in charge.  That person is responsible for warming up the group and starting the songs.

5 letter jacket points will be given for each game.  If you sign up for a game and no-show, you will lose 5 letter jacket points.  There is no limit to the number of games you can sign up for but please do not sign-up for multiple games until everyone has had a chance to sign-up.  EVERYONE is singing the homecoming game.

The sign-up will be posted in the chorus room.  The dates are:

Tuesday, December 1st- 6pm Girls vs. Walton, 7:30 Boys vs. Walton

Friday, December 4th- 6pm Girls vs. Campbell, 7:30 Boys vs. Campbell

Friday, December 11th- 6pm Girls vs. Lassiter, 7:30 Boys vs. Lassiter

Tuesday, January 12th- 6pm Girls vs. Campbell, 7:30 Boys vs. Campbell

Friday, January 22nd- WINTER HOMECOMING!!!  ALL SINGING!!!  6pm Girls vs. Alpharetta, 7:30 Boys vs. Alpharetta

Saturday, January 23rd- 4pm Girls vs. Sprayberry, Boys vs. Sprayberry

Tuesday, January 26th- 6pm Girls vs. Centennial, 7:30 Boys vs. Centennial

Friday, January 29th- 6pm Girls vs. Milton, 7:30 Boys vs. Milton

Tuesday, February 9th- 6pm Girls vs. Roswell, 7:30 Boys vs. Roswell

Honor chorus is almost upon us!  The first rehearsal is THIS Thursday- November 12th, 5:15-8:30, at McEachern High School (2400 New Macland Road, Powder Springs, GA).

The second rehearsal is this Friday, November 13th, 5:15-8:30, also at McEachern High School.

The big all-day Saturday rehearsal is this Saturday, November 14th, from 9am-4pm.  The rehearsal and then concert at 5pm is at Burnt Hickory Baptist Church (5145 Due West Road, Powder Springs, GA)

There will be food provided at all of the rehearsals- pizza on Thursday, subs on Friday, and Chick-fil-a on Saturday.  If you do not like any of that food or want to eat something different, please bring your own.  Also, the only drink that will be provided with all of the meals is water.  If you would like something else to drink, please bring it.  I also recommend bringing a bottle of water to keep with you during the rehearsals.  It’s gonna be a lot of singing!

What to bring: Black Honor Chorus Folder, Honor Chorus Music, Pencil, Bottle of Water, Chorus uniform on Saturday (black dress for girls, tux for guys), any other food/snack you might want

And finally- I have a few students looking for rides on the various days.  If you are driving and are able to provide a ride, please let me know ASAP and I will connect you with those looking for transportation.  I recommend leaving straight from school to get to McEachern High School on Thursday and Friday.  It is about 40 minutes from Kell and traffic can be temperamental at that time.

Please let me know ASAP if you are able to provide a ride for a fellow singer or if you have any questions!

Honor Chorus Rehearsals!!

November 2^nd, Monday, 3:30pm- Mixed Chorus

November 4^th, Wednesday, 7:30am- Women’s Chorus

November 5^th, Thursday, 3:30pm- Mixed Chorus

November 6^th, Friday, 3:30pm- Women’s Chorus

November 9^th, Monday, 7:30am- Mixed Chorus

November 11^th, Wednesday, 7:30am- Women’s Chorus

These rehearsals are optional and are to help the students learn the music.

Honor Chorus Dates!!

November 12^th, Thursday, 5:15-8:30 @ McEachern High School (Dinner will be served)

November 13^th, Friday, 5:15-8:30 @ McEachern High School (Dinner will be served)

November 14^th, Saturday, 9am-4pm @ Burnt Hickory Baptist Church (lunch will be served)

November 14^th, Saturday, 5pm Concert- friends, family, neighbors are invited- cost is free!

All students are required to be at every rehearsal. For all of the days, dinner or lunch is provided and is free for all (it was included in your registration cost).  Students are responsible for finding their own ride to and from all events.  If you are a student or parent driver and are able to take others with you, please let Ms. Thomas know!  If you are a student in need of a ride, please let Ms. Thomas know!!!

Hello Chorus Families!

Thank you all for your time and support last week at our Fall Concert.  The students did an excellent job and I am especially grateful to all the families that brought their students in for extra rehearsals throughout the week.  I would also like to thank the parents and families that ensured our concert ran so smoothly– we had many people bring in cookies and treats for the reception, parents that came early to help set up, etc.  Special thanks to my booster club officers Gina Waldsmith and Lori Borg for their assistance throughout the week, the Whang family for their eagerness and skill in making our programs, and the Bowlin family for all of the lovely fall decorations you saw on stage.

Following the concert we had a brief informational meeting about our spring trip to Dollywood.  Many of you were able to attend, but a few were not and I would like to share the information with you.  Our trip has been graciously coordinated by Tara Lawson- here is the tentative Dollywood itinerary she has put together.  We will leave Kell on Friday, April 30th, following the end of school.  We will drive to Pigeon Forge, TN, eating dinner along the way.  Once there, we will check into our hotel for the night.  On Saturday morning, we will wake up bright and early and all will sing at a local festival.  From there, we will go to Dollywood and spend the entire day in the park.  When the park closes that night, we will get back on the bus and return to Kell.  I expect that we will arrive back at Kell around midnight on Saturday evening.

Here is the Trip Payment Plan.  We are currently estimating the trip at about $275.  This includes: bus transportation, admission to the music festival, admission to Dollywood Park, breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Saturday.  The only thing the students will be responsible for is dinner on Friday and any souveneirs or snacks they might want the rest of the trip.  Everything else is included!

Though the cost is currently estimated at $275, we are hoping that the final cost will be closer to $225.  In that case, we will refund any extra money to you or lower the cost of the final payment.  The current payment plan is as follows:

$100 due November 1st (This is non-refundable and states your child’s interest in attending the trip)

$100 due December 1st

$75 or balance due February 1st, 2010

When we have the exact number of participants for the trip on November 1st, we will be able to finalize the cost of the trip.  We will also notify you about chaperones for the trip- until we have a number of students, we do not know how many chaperones will be needed.  Chaperones will have to pay their way on the trip, but it will not be the full student cost.  If you are interested in chaperoning, please notate that on your student’s form and we will be in touch!

And finally- fundraising!!  There are several ways that each student can earn money to help pay for the cost of the trip.  You may continue to sell program advertisements- 60% of which goes directly to your student’s account and can be used for the trip.  We will also be starting a fundraiser at the beginning of November selling cheesecakes, cookie dough, gift wrapping, magazines, small gift items, etc.  The profit your student earns will go into their personal account and used for the trip.

We also are selling Kell Caroling- students will travel together and sing for families/organizations in the Kell area that hire us for $20.  We make an excellent gift for your friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, or yourself!  All profit will go directly to your student’s account.

As we have more information on the trip (particularly the final cost!), we will keep you posted.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at kellcbc@gmail.com  The initial trip deposit is due on November 1st and can be turned in at any time prior to that.

Thank you and have a wonderful week!

Hello chorus students and families!

Congratulations on a wonderful job at the concert last night.  I would like to especially thank all the students that came in early before school or stayed after school for rehearsals, the parents that helped to organize and decorate for the concert and reception, and our parents that made the concert programs!

Following the concert we had a brief meeting to discuss the upcoming trip to Dollywood.  I will have the information we discussed in an e-mail and blog form for you at the beginning of next week.

Have a great weekend!

Ms. Thomas

Hello!

I have posted the All-State audition music on our Chorus podbean account.  Here is the link:

All-State Solos

For each solo there is a recording with the voice part and another recording with piano only.  The recording with the voice is for you to practice and hear how the song goes.  The “piano only” recording is what you will need for the All-State audition.  When you go to the all-state audition you will need the piano only track on a CD.  You can do this by yourself, or I can do it for you.

The solos are as follows:

Caro Mio Ben (high key)- Natalie, Rachel, Jackie, Roger

Caro Mio Ben (low key)- Chelsea

Se Tu M’ami (low key)- May

Non Posso Disperar (high key)- Andy and Blake

Start practicing!  Remember that I am available before school every day (except Wednesday and Thursday) and after school every day.  Set up a time with me and we will practice!!  This includes sight-singing!!!!

REMINDER!!

Wednesday, September 16th, is our Kabaret Dress Rehearsal.  This  means to be dressed for the show!

The outfit is jeans (no rips or tears, please!) and the black chorus T-shirt or a plain black t-shirt.  The chorus t-shirts are being ordered and will be here tomorrow!

For “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” students can wear ‘hippie’ attire (tye-dye, flowers in hair, bandanas, sandals, etc.).

Soloists should bring their outfit as well!

For the performance- call is at 6pm.  The show starts at 7pm.  Tickets are $5!

See you at rehearsal Wednesday and the show Thursday!

Reminder about the schedule for next week- it’s a busy one!

All dates listed are mandatory for everybody!

Monday, September 14th- Kabaret Rehearsal, 3:30-6pm

Tuesday, September 15th- Kabaret Rehearsal, 3:30-6pm

Wednesday, September 16th- Kabaret Rehearsal, 3:30-6pm

Thursday, September 17th- Kabaret Performance, Call 6pm, Show 7pm

The show and all rehearsals will be in the Kell Auditorium.  Tickets are $5 and will only be sold the night of the event before the show.  There will be ticket tables set up in the auditorium lobby.

See you soon!

Hello Chorus families!

Thank you so much to all of you that were able to make it to the lasagna dinner on Tuesday.  We ate a lot of food and shared a lot of information.  I also met many new parents and friendly faces!  I greatly appreciate you taking the time out of your own schedule to be there.

If you were not able to attend the meeting, or even if you were there and would like a review, I am recap-ing all of the information we shared.  Please let me know if you have any questions about anything- you can always e-mail me at kellcbc@gmail.com

Topics Discussed:

1. Kell Chorus Booster Club

The booster club is responsible for all extra-curricular events of the chorus.  This includes concerts, trips, fund raisers, events, etc.  We are ALWAYS in need of parent volunteers to help us in the planning and execution of these events.  The booster club also helps fund the chorus program.  This includes money for uniforms, trips, accompanists at concerts, concert and event decorations, program printing, etc.

To help cover these costs we are asking each student to pay dues in the amount of $30.  It can be made in a check payable to KCBC (Kell Chorus Booster Club). Paying the chorus dues will also cover your student’s chorus T-shirt.

The chorus T-shirt this year will be black.  On the front it will have a longhorn and say “Kell Chorus 2009-2010″ in Copper and white.  On the back it will say “Warning: Owner is subject to spontaneous outbursts of song” in copper and white writing.

2. Uniforms

All students are required to wear the Kell Chorus uniform for all concerts.  For ladies it is a black floor-length dress, for gentlemen it is a tuxedo with a vest.  This uniform will last for all four years of chorus.

You have the option of either buying or renting the uniform.  If you buy the uniform, the cost is $75 dollars.  The uniform is then yours for the rest of your life!  If you would like to rent the uniform, the fee is $20 per semester and must be returned (drycleaned!!) before the end of the semester.

If your student is planning on being in chorus for 2 years or more, it is more cost-effective to purchase the uniform.

Uniforms will be fitted this week and dresses will be available before the fall concert in October.  If you have already paid to buy or rent the uniform, your student will be able to take home the uniform as soon as it is available.  If you have not yet paid, you may send in the payment (check made out to KCBC) at any time.  We will be sending home reminders in the upcoming weeks to families that have not yet paid.  If you don’t remember if you have paid, please e-mail me and I can let you know!

3. District and State-wide Chorus Events

There are several events this year that are open to Kell students wishing to sing with other chorus students from around the area.

Kennesaw State Men’s Choir Day is Tuesday, October 27th, 2009.  It is a full day of singing for high school men from around the KSU area.  The students meet in the morning and afternoon to rehearse at KSU, lunch is provided, and there is a concert that night.  All students will be excused from school for the day and the absence does not count against exam exemptions.  If you would like to participate, the cost is $15 (lunch and t-shirt included) and the form is due to me Friday, September 11th.

Here is the form: KSU-Male-Chorus-Day

Ladies- don’t despair!  There is the exact same event for you!  All the information is the same, but the date is Tuesday, November 17th.  The registration is $15 (lunch and t-shirt included) and the form is due to me Friday, September 11th.

Here is the form: KSU Womens Chorus Day

Honor Chorus is select students from all over Cobb County that meet together for an intense rehearsal schedule November 12th-14th.  Rehearsals are Thursday and Friday evening after school and all day Saturday with a concert Saturday night.  This year there will be a mixed and treble chorus and I am able to send 16 people and possibly 8 alternates.  I feel that every student would benefit from the experience and would like as many to participate as possible.  In the event that more people register than are eligible to go, I will narrow down the list with preference given by seniority.  If you are interested, there is a $55 registration fee and the form and money are due to me Friday, September 11th.

Here is the form: Honor Chorus Student Packet

A final opportunity is auditioning for All-State Chorus.  This is an intense audition process with the first audition on October 10th.  Students selected at the first audition compete in a second audition January 9th.  Those students are then invited to perform with the All-State chorus in Savannah, GA, in late February.  Information about the audition process and the form to return to me if you are interested in auditioning are below.  There is an $18 registration fee.  If you are interested in auditioning but can not pay the fee, please come talk with me.  The registration fee and interest form are due to me Friday, September 11th.

Here is the form: ASC Registration

4. Spring Trip

We will be taking a chorus trip this year.  We are going to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, April 30th-May 1st.  We are still working out the specifics of the trip, but the general plan is to leave Friday afternoon from school and drive the 4-ish hours to Pigeon Forge, TN.  We will check into our hotel, see the town, and have dinner.  Saturday morning, we will sing in the choral festival at Dollywood and then have the rest of the day to play in the park.  The park has rides, shows, food, etc.  When the park closes that evening we will return to Kell.  It will be a very late return on Saturday evening.

We are currently estimating the cost of the trip to be between $250 and $300.  We hope to have a lower number when all logistics are arranged.  You will be hearing from us about the trip very soon and we will set up a payment plan for each student so that you can pay in small increments instead of one lump sum.

5. Fund raising!

Fund raising is a necessary evil for the chorus.  I strongly encourage students to participate in the fund raisers and earn money to pay for various chorus events and trips.  Students are not required to participate in fund raising- if you like to pay for things, go right ahead!

All money that your student earns will go into their own personal student account to be used for chorus events as they desire.  If a student personally raises $200, they are the only person eligible to use that money.  It will not go toward a general fund.

There will be many fund raising opportunities throughout the year and we are always looking for more.  If a parent would like to help brainstorm ideas or organize different fundraisers, please contact me- we would love your help!

A few fundraisers are already set up for the year:

Program Advertisements- we run business advertisements in each of our 4 major concerts throughout the year.  Businesses can buy an ad for $100, $50, or $25 (depending on the size).  Businesses that have supported the chorus in the past are local restaurants, theaters, doctors, florists, dry-cleaners, lawyers, etc.  Sixty percent of the money earned from program ad sales goes directly to the student’s account.  These ads are due to me by Friday, October 2nd, for the fall concert program, but can be sold year-round.

Here is the form: Ad Information Letter

Holiday Caroling- Caroling is another fund raiser that was started in the chorus last year.  For $20, a group from the Kell Chorus can be hired to sing 10 minutes of Christmas carols for your friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, or yourself!  We will be doing this on Saturday, December 5th, from 6-9pm in the Kell area.  We make a great holiday gift!  Caroling money and forms will need to be turned in by Friday, November 20th.  Students may sell as many as they like!

Here is the form: Kell Caroling Info

We will also be selling from a brochure that has cheesecakes, cookie dough, wrapping paper, magazines, gifts, etc.  That will be some time in late September or early October- stay tuned!

6. Ways to help us out!

I’ll be honest.  We need help with everything.  We will gladly use your assistance for large and small tasks.  You can help us out in small ways by working hospitality at the concerts- which means you would bring a plate of cookies to the concert to be shared at the end.  We need chaperones for our various events- including the upcoming after school Kell Kabaret rehearsals.

You can help us out in big ways by joining the trip planning committee or the fund raising committee.

If you have a talent that you think can help us- sewing skills for uniforms, graphic design for programs and a website, etc., we will be more than happy to give you a task!

If you are interested in helping out in any way, please let me know at kellcbc@gmail.com

Whew! I think that is all the information I have!  Please feel free to ask me any questions you might have.  This can be an overwhelming amount of information and I am more than happy to discuss it with you!  The easiest way to reach me is by e-mail.  That address again is kellcbc@gmail.com.  You will also get occasional reminders about upcoming events from that address.

Thank you for taking the time to look through all of this! I will see you soon- our first performance is Kell Kabaret and is a mere two weeks away on Thursday, September 17th.  See you there!

-Ms. Thomas

Just a quick reminder about the Parents Meeting this Tuesday, September 1st.

We’ll be meeting at 6pm in the cafeteria and there will be lots of food!

Topics to discuss will be uniforms, fund raisers, T-shirts, the spring trip, and any questions you might have.

To help with feeding the chorus and families, we are asking you bring food to feed the troops.  Everything has been divided up by:

9th grade Sopranos: Salad, 9th grade Altos/Guys: Rolls

10th grade Sopranos: Plates, 10th grade Altos: Napkins, 10th grade guys: Silverware

11th grade: Drinks and cups

12th grade: Desserts

See you Tuesday, thank you in advance!