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March 4, 2010
Instrumental Music Boosters Spring Semester Notes 2010
The band, orchestra, and color guard had a successful and busy fall semester and are poised for more activity and accomplishment in spring 2010!
Congratulations to students Peter Nguyen and Jack Peak who spearheaded a student-run winter pep band to play at home basketball games and swim meets. WHS can always use some extra school spirit!
Over a dozen students from band and orchestra will perform as the orchestra pit directed by Mr. Dion for the drama club spring production “Curtains.” Performance dates are March 5 and 6 at 7:30 p.m., March 7 at 3:30 p.m., and March 12 and 13 at 7:30 p.m. Many instrumentalists are also acting in this entertaining spoof of murder mysteries that won a 2007 Tony award on Broadway. Mark your calendars!
Several student musicians successfully auditioned for the Connecticut Music Educators’ Northern Region Festival and performed in the January 16 concert at New Britain High School. Ryan Griffin, Laura Morrison and Drew Niedzielski performed with the orchestra. Catherine Preysner and Ben Scanlan played with the concert band. Four band students sang with the chorus: Matt Burke, Connor Sullivan, Jane Meditz, and Rose Lewis. Six students were selected in a second round of auditions to perform with the All-State Festival: Ryan Griffin, Drew Niedzielski, Ben Scanlan, Rose Lewis, Matt Burke, and Laura Morrison. Congratulations to all our talented students!
Below is specific information for you to note on your calendars for the coming months. Please join us at our remaining Boosters meetings on March 11, April 8, May 13 and June 10 to learn more about these activities and start planning for next year.
UPCOMING CONCERT DATES:
March 22, 7:30 p.m. (be sure to buy goodies at the Color Guard BAKE SALE!!)
June 9, 7:30 p.m
June 22, 6:30 p.m. (Graduation-as of 3/1)
UPCOMING PARADE DATES:
May 29, Memorial Day Parade, 9:00 a.m.
TRIP TO WASHINGTON, D.C:
Students have been given a proposed itinerary for the March 25-March 29 trip to Williamsburg and Washington, D.C. More information will be provided soon. Students will be issued our new spring uniform polo shirts for the trip. These shirts will stay at school and be laundered by professionals so they retain their color and shape. They will be distributed again for the Memorial Day parade.
BAND BANQUET:
Our annual potluck band banquet is at the Pitkin Community Center on Friday, May 21. Nella Szilagyi and Elia Walsh will be contacting parents to coordinate food donations and decorating. This is our celebration of our graduating seniors and the slide show and roast of Mr. Dion are always a highlight. Please be sure to bring the entire family. Tickets are $5.00 per person.
FRUIT SALE RECAP:
Thank you to Eva and Joe Nascimento, Jane MacFarlane, and so many other volunteers too numerous to mention for a highly successful fruit sale that netted just over $19,000 for the band and student accounts. Also thanks to Joe and Eva for hosting a warm and friendly holiday party at their home in December.
CHRISTMAS TREE DRIVE RECAP:
Thank you to Jerome Sauer and John MacFarlane for organizing parents with trucks to pick up trees and to Yolanda Preysner for coordinating phone calls and pick up dates. Rocco Catricala, Richard Wiszniak, Nancy and Dan Andrews, and Jay and Stacey Veley were also key contributors allowing this fundraiser to net $2,600.
ROCK CATS CONCESSION STAND NEWS:
The Boosters voted to discontinue this fundraiser due to difficulties with Rock Cats management and consistent problems with finding enough volunteers.
UPCOMING FUNDRAISERS:
BOTTLE & CAN DRIVE: Please save your bottles and cans and ask family and friends to do so. Bring them to the Silas Deane Middle School on Saturday, May 1 from 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. This is a painless way to support our musical groups! Parent and student volunteers are needed to work a shift sorting the cans. Please call Jerome Sauer (860-916-1576) or John MacFarlane (860-510-2651) to be on the sorting crew.
DVD SALES: DVDs of the marching band season and December concert are available from Gail Griffin (860-721-9617) for $10.
MAGNET SALE: Support Instrumental Music and the Wethersfield Eagles sports teams by purchasing a car magnet for $5.00 from Stacey Veley (860-257-1699).
ADVERTISING BOOK: Philomena Marinelli successfully solicited area businesses and parents for the ad book we will receive at the March 22 concert. Please be sure to patronize the businesses that support our music program!
BUSINESS GRANTS REMINDER:
If you work for Aetna, Travelers, ING, or another company that gives grants, please consider filling out the required paperwork. In past years, the band received more than $2,000 from parents who worked at Aetna and Travelers and completed the necessary paperwork. Aetna apparently gives $300 per person per year if you volunteer 20 hours during the year. There is no limit on the number of organizations an individual can submit volunteer grants for. Aetna also matches 50% of any cash donations to nonprofits. Please check with your company on volunteer and non profit grants.
Again, thank you for all your help and support. Our students would not have an enriched musical experience without the efforts of so many committed volunteers. If you have any questions or concerns about the Boosters please contact one of your officers below. Please consider volunteering for next year on one of the committees mentioned above as there will be vacancies as parents move on from WHS.
President: Eva Nascimento (563-0135)
Vice President: Elia Walsh (257-3844)
Treasurer: Mario Ciampi (257-7400)
Secretary: Nella Szilagyi (563-2295)
Communications: Yolanda Preysner (721-8854)
REMEMBER, SIGN UP ON THE WEBSITE (WWW.WIMB.INFO) AND CHECK IT FREQUENTLY SO YOU’RE ALWAYS UP-TO-DATE AND INFORMED!
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