Thursday, March 14, 2013

Update: 3.14.13

AUDITIONS
Auditions for the 13.14 school year are complete!  Results will be posted after-school on Friday, March 15 and on the choir website: www.oechoirs.org.

Things to keep in mind related to auditions:

  • Over 200 students auditioned for choir--the selection process was very competitive.
  • Auditions results are objective and based on a point system (25 points - vocal audition; 10 points sight-singing audition).
  • The audition results are final.
  • If you did not make the choir you wanted you should be upset.  If you aren't you didn't really want it.  However, the audition results should never be taken personally.
  • Avoid conspiracy theories ("he hates me", "He plays favorites" etc.).  There is no conspiracy and if you assume there is one you are unable to learn from the experience. 
  • If you would like feedback regarding your individual audition results I am happy to discuss them with you after spring break.

As a choir director one of the most difficult days of the year is the day audition results are posted.  Many of you will be extremely excited and I share in that excitement.   Many of you will also be disappointed and I share in your disappointment.  We have worked, based on each on audition, to place each student in the choir that will allow them to be their best. 


IT'S CONTEST TIME!
The next two months will begin one of my favorite seasons of the school year as it relates to choir:  CONTEST!   We participate in two music festivals (contests) sanctioned by the Kansas State High School Activities Association:
  • Regional Solo/Ensemble Festival - April 13 @ Olathe South - Includes selected soloists and small ensembles
  • State Large Ensemble Festival - April 17 @ BV North - Includes our Combined Chorale (Mads, Arms and Chorale), Combined Men and Combined Women
These two events are awesome experiences with valuable lessons regarding both work as and individual and as a team.  One point I always like to make regarding "contest" relates to our ratings.  Our performances will include singing for a judge or a panel of judges who will write constructive comments and ultimately give us a rating (1-Outstanding thru 5-Poor).  While ratings are a motivator they are not the standard by which we evaluate our performances.  The success of our singing is determined by our hardwork, growth as it relates to the entire process of preparing for and performing at contest.  Bottom line:  we will celebrate the "1" however, it will not define us.  We will strive to be the best, but our best.

 OE CHOIR TRIVIA NIGHT!
The Olathe East Choir Boosters will hold its first-ever Trivia Night on Saturday, April 20, from 5-9p at the Sports Cave (11440 W. 135TH ST).  Cash and prizes for the top 3 teams!  Reserve a table of up to 5 players for $100.  Raffle and Silent Auction featuring sports memorabilia, gift certificates and more!  Reservations may be made through a OE Choir student or email Rhonda Hornberger, OE Choir Boosters Fundraising Chair:  rhonda.hornberger@yahoo.com.  Trivia Night is a fundraiser for those students going on the New York Trip. 
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