September 2015 ~ No. 2
IN THIS ISSUE
Fall Musical - Opens
Upcoming Events
5 Things to Know
Round of Applause
Photo Gallery
Perf Corner
Trio Talk
CHOIR CALENDAR
"WORKING" - The Musical
Celebrating 10 Years of Black Box Musicals
Based on the best-selling book of interviews with American workers by Studs Terkel,
"WORKING" explores the American workday from the universal Monday morning blues to a
construction worker's pride in having "something to point to." Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso
adapted "WORKING" into a stage play, using the original words of some uncommon common
men and women.
In the musical, twenty-six workers, including a truck driver, corporate executive, schoolteacher,
UPS man, housewife, fireman, waitress, millworker, etc., sing and talk about their work. For
some, their jobs effectively define them as human beings. However, for others, a clear
distinction between who they are and what they do is made as they talk about the daily grind and
what they hope and aspire to.
Showtimes:
7:30PM September 18, 19, 25, 26
2:00PM September 20
Get your tickets today - less than 100 seats
available.
ORDER TICKETS TODAY!
UPCOMING EVENTS - NOT TO MISS
UPCOMING FINE ARTS EVENTS
September 16 - St. Agnes - Gifts of Learning Breakfast
September 18 - Opening Night - "Working", The Musical
October 3 - St. Agnes Alumnae Reunion
October 8 - Comedy Sportz @ Strake Jesuit Lowman Theater
October 21 - St. Agnes Open House
October 23 - St. Agnes Theater Retreat
COMEDY SPORTZ IS BACK!
Comedy Sportz® is an improv training
program for high school students that
empowers St. Agnes and Strake Jesuit
students to create their own theatre and
nourishes their communication skills
through improvisational theatre workshops and performances.
Under the supervision of SAA's Jewell Handy and SJ's Theatre Director Michael
Sullivan,students from both schools will study the art of Improvisation with professional
performers from the Comedy Sportz Houston Improv Theatre Company and then compete
against teams from other Houston area schools.
Mark your calendar for our first competition at 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 8th at the Strake
Jesuit Lowman Theater. $5 for advance ticket purchase or $10 at the door.
Pre-sale tickets are available at SAA and SJ Spirit Store
DOUBLE TRIOS PERFORM AT RENFEST
Hear Ye, Hear Ye - By Order of his majesty the King, all citizens of
the realm are hereby instructed to join with members of Court to
celebrate the Renaissance Festival. Please come and support our
Double Triple Trio as they perform at the Texas Renaissance
Festival in Plantersville, Texas. They will perform October 10-11,
www.texrenfest.com
October 31 and November 1, and November 21-22. Our students
are considered part of the professional entertainment at this lively and engaging festival. Make
plans to attend! For event information click here!
CHOIR TOUR 2016
Mixed Chorus is headed to the Chicago on
March 30 - April 2, 2016. We'll "hit the town
running" as soon as we arrive and will be
performing and seeing performances,
sightseeing, dining and shopping. We estimate
that the cost of the trip will be between $1400
and $1500 payable in three increments if
desired. Included in this cost is round trip
airline fare, 3 nights hotel accommodations, meals (with exception of lunch), motor coach
transportation, gratuities, last night dinner cruise and many other amenities.
Educational Travel Adventures will be our travel company again this year and they are in the
process of planning another fabulous trip for us!
Eligibility for the tour is based upon the student passing their Juries with the grade of "A". (Juries
to be held on September 23 and 24). In addition, tour participants must be academically eligible
(please refer to the student handbook of your respective school) as well as be in good standing
with Chorus (disciplined, good attitude, dedicated and required parental consent). Registration
for the trip will follow shortly after Juries and a $250 deposit per traveler will be due at that time.
Please note that a special edition of the Chorus Chronicle will be forthcoming after Juries
and will provide a detailed schedule of the trip.
5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
1. TPSMEA
TPSMEA is the Texas Private School Music Educators Association.
TPSMEA promotes education and competition within private schools
in Texas for choir, band and orchestra. Students will have the
opportunity to compete to be accepted into the High School TPSMEA - All State Choir, Region
Choir, or Treble Choir. Students will have the opportunity to prepare and make a TPSMEA
recording for submission beginning Wednesday, September 30th. To learn more about
TPSMEA visit: www.TPSMEA.org.
2. MUSIC JURIES COMING UP
A music jury is an anonymous individual performance test in the presence of the music faculty.
Each individual jury lasts approximately 4 minutes. Juries are scheduled to begin September 23
and take place over several days and are arranged by the student during Chorus class time,
lunch, open labs or after school. Each student is evaluated on knowledge of specific cuts from
TPSMEA All-State audition music. Chorus members are given ample opportunity to rehearse.
Members are learning the notes daily during Chorus.
Additionally, all students have the option of lunch time rehearsals and practice with mock juries.
Jury music is emailed to Chorus members so that each student has the opportunity to rehearse
at home as well as at school. A student must receive an "A" on their 1st quarter Jury to be
eligible for the Chorus Tour to Chicago.
3. MESSIAH WORKSHOP
Students, please plan in advance for this in school musical field trip on
Friday, September 25th. It is the student's responsibility to
communicate with teachers in advance about participation in Messiah
Workshop. This responsibility includes turning in all assigned work,
taking exams and quizzes. Attending Messiah workshop is not a "free
pass" to get out of any schoolwork.
Special thanks to Bethany Smith and Gracina Linardi for hosting this
year's workshop.
4. VOICE LESSONS AVAILABLE
Private vocal instruction is available for all Mixed Chorus members. Students receive in-depth
study on vocal technique, posture, breathing, diction, foreign language, basic music theory, and
performance/audition techniques. These students will perform a vocal jury before the voice
faculty in the fall and spring. Those who do well at their vocal jury will be invited to perform in a
vocal recital at the conclusion of the spring semester.
Students meet with their instructor for 45
minutes. The cost of this non-credit course is
$47.50 per lesson (approximately
$475/semester).
If your child is interested in taking private voice lessons at St. Agnes, please have them
complete the Private Voice Lesson Information
Form on the "Music at SAA" page on the St. Agnes website. For questions regarding voice
lessons, please contact Mrs. Mendoza at kim.mendoza@st-agnes.org.
5. WISDOM FOR PARENTS
CONCERT DRESS REMINDER
Orders for all formal attire should have been placed by
September 1 to allow time for delivery and alterations in
time for "Dress Check" on November 6. Returning families,
please do NOT make the mistake of assuming that your
student's formal wear is still suitable. Please make your
student try on their gown or tuxedo for you. If something is
too short or too tight - your student will not pass Dress Check. You do not want to discover your
student has "outgrown" their concert dress the day before Messiah!
If you need information with regard to appropriate concert dress, please go to the "Music at SAA"
page on the St. Agnes website or click here for a refresher on Concert Dress. Please email any
questions to Lisa Schoolfield lmariesch@yahoo.com
Round of Applause
SUCCESSFUL
2015 CHOIR
RETREAT
Thank you to Kathy
McLane and Beth
O'Neal for chairing
another wonderful
Mixed Chorus
Retreat.
We also extend thanks
to the Chorus Council, our wonderful volunteers, Directors and Mixed Chorus members for their
enthusiastic participation.
PHOTO GALLERY
Addams Family - Cast
Make Up Workshop -- led by Frank Menna
Make Up Workshop
"PERF" CORNER
"PERF" is Performance Workshop, the select Contemporary and Jazz Ensemble offered by the
St. Agnes Department of Music directed by Jeremy Wood. PERF presents a broad spectrum of
musical styles including popular, jazz, rhythm and blues, rock, country, Broadway and
contemporary music.
The members of Performance Workshop for the 2015-16 season include:
Samantha Bernardy
Mary Dawson Johns
Shannon Lewis
Angie Sanchez Cane
Fran Linardi
Hattie Ralph
Elizabeth Callegari
Victoria McDonald
Hanna Seay
Micah Descartin
Lauren McLane
Victoria Shelby
Madeline Greely
Noora Mustafa
LeeAnne Williams
Lea Greteman
Clare O'Neal
Lillian Young
Camille Guidry
Performance Workshop had their first
public performance of the school year,
singing at the opening Mass at Cristo
Rey High School on August 27th. This
was a huge event at Cristo Rey with
over 800 people in attendance. The
girls did a fantastic job, and many
people expressed gratitude and
compliments. The new president of the
school said in his speech that the girls
made him want to get up and dance
when the girls sang "He Never Failed
Me Yet."
Way to go Perf!!
TRIO TALK
Double Triple Trio is the select vocal ensemble offered at St. Agnes and Strake Jesuit.
Girls Trio is directed by Art Buckley. Boys Trio is directed by Kimberly Mendoza. Double
Triple Trio sings a capella and is known for its mastery of Renaissance and Madrigal
style music. One of their many professional performances includes three weekends at the
Renaissance Festival.
The members of Double Triple Trios for the 2015-16 season include:
LADIES:
LORDS:
Sarah Collins
Blake Bartlett
Maddy Delgado
William Cozort
AnnaMae Durham
Andy Gambini
Laura Ghorayeb
Alexander He
Madelyn Hyzak
Paco Medina
Nicole Linnard
Jonathan Nguyen
Isabel Lohr
Fredrick Sjodin
Olivia Villarreal
Brian Swanson
Audrey Welsh
Daniel Zamora
2015 PERFORMING ARTS -- ALL TICKETS ONLINE NOW!
Tickets for the fall musical are available today! Seating is limited -- don't miss it. Order
your tickets today!
Click here to order your tickets!
SEPTEMBER
SUN
MON
TUES
1
WED
2 NO CHOIR
THUR
3
FRI
4 NO CHOIR
Follow Your
Mass of the Holy
Daughter's
Spirit
SAT
5
Schedule
6
7
8
Labor Day
Board Meeting
Holiday
3:15PM
9
10
11 NO CHOIR
12
17
18
19
Fall Musical
Fall
Perf Dress
Check
(during class
time)
13
14
15
Boy's Trio
Gifts of
President's
5:30
Dinner
Parent/Teacher
20
16 NO CHOIR
21
22
Learning
23 NO CHOIR
24 NO CHOIR
7:30PM
Musical7:30PM
25
26
Messiah
Workshop
Fall Musical
2PM
27
28
29
Choir
Choir
7:10AM-3PM
Juries
Juries
Fall
Fall Musical
7:30PM
Musical7:30PM
30
All State
Recordings
NOTE: Mixed Chorus Rehearses every weekday unless otherwise noted. Dates subject to change.
OCTOBER
SUN
MON
TUES
WED
DTT = Double
THUR
1
FRI
2
Triple Trio
SAT
3
SAT
All State
All State
Recordings
Recordings
4PM Trios SAA
Alumnae Reunion
SJ Homecoming
4
5 Day 1
Trio Parent
6
7
Board Mtg
DTT Improv
3:30
Workshop 8:15
SJ Junior
DTT RenFest
Retreat
Workshop
Meeting 3PM
9
10
DTT RenFest
TRIOS @
Workshop
RENFEST
Comedy
Sportz@ SAA
11
12 NO CHOIR
13
14 NO CHOIR
15
TRIOS @
RENFEST
16 End of 1st
17
Quarter
NO CLASSES/
PRESIDENTS
SAA 9th Grade
SAA 9th Grade
DAY
Retreat
Retreat
Region 3
Judging
18
19
20
21
22 NO CHOIR
SAA OPEN
Audition
HOUSE
Workshop 3:15
28
29
23
24
30
31
Father/Daught
er Brunch
25
26
Day 4
27
TRIOS @
All State Judging
MESSIAH
AUDITIONS
RENFEST
MESSIAH
AUDITIONS
NOTE: Mixed Chorus Rehearses every weekday unless otherwise noted. Dates subject to change.
St. Agnes and Strake Jesuit Mixed Chorus | | mixedchorus@gmail.com
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