Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Festival/Audition Links

Students:

We are now two weeks away from All-Cape auditions, and just over three weeks away from Senior Districts auditions!  Just a reminder...please get your forms signed and returned to me by Friday.  There are separate forms for All-Cape and Senior Districts -- both need to be signed by you and your parents!  Once again, the audition fee is $5 for All-Cape and $15 for Senior Districts.  For anyone who makes it into the festival, the school pays your entrance fee, music, and transportation.

On the day of the audition, remember you need to dress nice and no photocopied music will be aloud in the audition room (I have hard copies that we will use for auditioning).  It is important that you work to memorize the music especially for those auditioning for Senior Districts. 

For your practice, click on the links below.  You can download the mp3 and put it on your phones/ipods so you can listen/sing along to the song often.  In your audition, you will be singing with the track that has your voice part removed (ex. "ATB" for Sopranos)

All-Cape/Senior District Audition Recordings/MP3:

http://www.semmea.org/sr-audition-pieces.html
 (download link can be found below the play button for each individual track)

All-State Audition Recordings/MP3:

http://www.mmeaonline.org/concert/auditions_2014.htm
(scroll to the bottom of the page to find the mp3 links)

Details about the actual audition day will be coming soon.
Any questions email me: braymond@mashpee.k12.ma.us

Good luck practicing.... and GO RED SOX!

Friday, October 25, 2013

Festivals!!

Preparations are in full swing for All-Cape and Senior Southeast District

Please get your forms filled out, signed, and turned in by Friday November 1st
(note: you don't have to get the money to me by then, but it would help!!)
There will be another deadline for money soon...for now get your forms in by Friday Nov 1st. 

These festivals provide an exciting opportunity for you to audition and hopefully get selected to join many other talented singers from all over the Cape and Southeastern Massachusetts to sing in a select honors choir at a festival.  This group will feature a guest conductor, outstanding music, and will be an incredibly memorable, educational, and inspirational experience!

I will begin registering students next week.  You need to turn in the registration form as well as the audition fee.  The school will pay the acceptance fee and provide transportation in the event that you get accepted.  All-Cape audition fee is $5 and Senior District is $15.  If you are doing both = $20.  If you hand in the forms, you are responsible for paying the audition fee.  Turn in your forms ASAP!

Again the audition and festival dates are as follows:



All Cape Cod (Grade 9-12)
-          Auditions: November 13 – Mashpee HS (3:30pm)
-          Festival: Jan 30-Feb 1 – TBA

Senior Southeast District (Grade 9-12)
-          Auditions: Nov 23 – King Philip HS (Wrentham)
-          Festival: Jan 10-11 – Silver Lake HS (Kingston)

Junior Southeast District (Grade 7-9)
-          Auditions: Dec 7 –Furnace Brook MS (Wrentham)
-          Festival: March 7-8 – Attleboro High School


All State Music (Grade 9-12) -- Auditions decided based on Senior Southeast
-          Auditions: Jan 25 – Shrewsbury HS
-          Festival: March 20-23 – Boston



All Cape Cod Jazz Choir (Grade 9-12)
-          Auditions: Feb 12 – DY High School
-          Festival: April 30-May1 – Mashpee HS 

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Weekend Updates 10/19-10/20

Congratulations everyone on a very successful first annual Coffehouse night! There were many talented performers and you all did a fantastic job.  We were able to raise a very respectable amount for our choral program thanks to some very generous donations and delicious baked goods.  A special thanks goes out to Alexis Pascal for all her hard work on this event as her senior project and to all the parents and students who helped out.  I have video recordings available for anyone who would like one.  Again awesome job to all involved!!

This week...we will begin to focus and work hard toward upcoming All-Cape and All-District auditions.  We will have practice on Wednesday after school. Begin working on memorization!

Also, Vocal Jazz Tuesday...3-4:30pm!

Have a great weekend everyone...Go Red Sox!

-Mr. Raymond

Monday, October 14, 2013

Coffeehouse Friday!

Weekly Updates:

We have a busy week ahead with rehearsals and coffeehouse!

Coffeehouse will be this Friday at 5pm.  If you are performing, please be there at least twenty minutes early (4:40pm) ready to perform.  We will be finalizing a performance order on Tuesday which will be posted outside the chorus room.  There will be a dress rehearsal for coffeehouse on Thursday after school in the chorus room starting at 2:30pm.  We will run each performance act in order.  If you cannot attend, please see me right away.

For those of you who I am accompanying, please see me after school Tuesday to run your song.  For those using a recording, please get me an mp3 file or copy of your song on a CD by Wednesday!

Also let me know if you or your parents are planning on baking or bringing anything in to sell.  Once again, all proceeds/donations will be going directly to the choral fund account which benefits activities including festivals, transportation, and more.

I will also need student and parent volunteers to help set up (around 4:15), sell baked goods, and tear down at the end!!  Let me know if you or your parents are available to help!


Also this week:
Vocal Jazz Rehearsal Tuesday 3-4:30pm
All-District/All-Cape Practice Wednesday: 2-3:15pm
Coffeehouse Dress Rehearsal: Thursday: 2:30-4:00
Coffeehouse: Friday: 4:30-6:30pm

Be working hard on your audition music.  We will be ramping up the intensity on audition preparation starting next week (including mock auditions!)

Hope everyone is having a great Columbus Day Holiday!

-Mr. Raymond

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Updates October 7-11

Coffeehouse: Friday October 18th : 5pm

Informal practice Thursday October 10 after school: 2-3:15pm.
Formal Practice In Performance Order: Thursday October 17: 2:30-4:00pm

Let me know if you or your parents are planning on making any baked goods or assisting in any way... Alexis and I need volunteers!

Practice and polish your songs!  Those that I am accompanying need to see me after school this Thursday to work on your song.

Let me or Alexis know if you have any questions.


Vocal Jazz
Soprano Sectional Thursday at Lunch
Full Rehearsal Tuesday October 15 3-4:30pm --- With Rhythm Section
Work On: Green Dolphin Street, Terrified, The Ocean, and Gotta Get You Into My Life


Districts/All-Cape
Begin filling out forms and bringing in your registration fee in an envelope.  Make sure to attend weekly practices on Wednesday after school.

If you want any individual help on any or all of the music -- see me after school or at lunch!

---Mr. Raymond