August 1, 2010
Dear Chorus Parents & Students,
Welcome to another great year at Piney Grove Middle School! I hope
you had a restful, relaxing summer and are ready to begin our 2010 - 2011
chorus year. We have a lot going on in chorus this year and I am very eager
to get started. In this packet you will find important information regarding
our chorus program, including a calendar of rehearsals and performances,
special events, audition dates, uniform information, fundraiser information,
classroom supplies, etc. I have also included a copy of our PGMS Chorus
Handbook. All Chorus information will also be posted on our PGMS Chorus
website under the Connections tab and on my ANGEL website for your
convenience.
We have four choruses here at PGMS. While there is no audition
required for the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade choruses, an audition/interview is
required for members of the Bel Canto Chorus. Bel Canto Chorus is a select
group of 6th, 7th, and 8th grade girls that meets before and after school 1-2
times a week. This group performs a variety of more difficult music and will
have several opportunities to perform throughout the community this year.
More information regarding auditions, performances, and fees will be
handed out soon.
Each chorus member will be required to have a concert uniform. 7th
and 8th graders will wear their concert black dresses and tuxes and 6 th
graders will wear a PGMS Chorus polo shirt and a black skirt or black dress
pants. In May, all chorus members will participate in our annual Spring
Variety Show. For this event, we will have special t-shirts that will be worn
with blue denim jeans. The cost of this shirt is included in the uniform fees.
Chorus members and parents will also be given the opportunity to purchase
PGMS Chorus T-Shirts to wear as a display of ensemble pride. You will find
order forms included. Parents and family members are also welcome to
purchase a Chorus polo shirt or Spring Variety Show t-shirt for themselves.
While we do receive instructional monies to help purchase choral
music and other classroom supplies, it is never enough as we work to build
our growing choral program here at PGMS. In the past, we were able to
purchase 2 new sets of risers and several pieces of music for our choral
library last year, but there are more classroom supplies and pieces of music
that we need.
In short, we need your help. I am asking for chorus parents to consider
donating something of themselves to improve their child’s chorus program.
Donations of money or time are what I am asking for to help us reach our
goals. A donation of $75 per family would go a very long way to help us
purchase music, sound equipment for performances, pay for an accompanist,
pay for buses to and from events, etc. If you are able to donate more, please
do so. If you need to donate less, please do so. However, this is not a NEED
TO in order to participate in Chorus. Any and all donations are very much
appreciated, but are by no means required for Chorus membership.
If a donation of time suits you best, please consider donating some of
your time this year. There will be several opportunities to chaperone chorus
trips/concerts and help in the chorus room during the day. We also need
parents to help apply for grants and seek corporate sponsorship. Please fill
out the attached form and return it to the school. If you write a check, please
make it out to Piney Grove Middle School.
Thank you so much for all of your continued support. You are very
important to the success of our PGMS Choral Program. As always, feel free
to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Amanda N. Writtenhouse
Piney Grove Middle School
Choral Director