We will be rehearsing on Friday - March 25th

We DO meet this Friday, March 25th. There may have been some confusion about taking that day off due to Spring Break, but we WILL meet as usual.

However, thinking ahead: we will NOT meet on April 15th or April 22nd.

The 15th is the Blue Ridge Festival and several of the kids will be competing as well as the older choir.

April 22nd is Good Friday, we always take Good Friday off.

With missing two Fridays in April, please try to be at all the remaining rehearsals so all the music can be polished and ready for the spring recital/TEACH Night - May 9th.

Have a great week and see you Friday!

Spring recital/TEACH Night - May 9th

Hello Encore Families,

Our spring recital will be on May 9th, at CBC, starting at 7pm. Directions : http://www.mapquest.com/maps?address=906+N.+1464+Rd.&city=Lawrence&state=KS&zipcode=66049

We will join in with the TEACH Talent Night for our spring recital, so our groups aren't the only ones performing. The program will start at 7pm.

We ask that all the groups - EXCEPT the elementary choir, to wear concert black and white to the program. That means all black, all white, or a combination of black and white. If you have any questions, let me know. Mr.Gaskin will let the elementary choir know what to wear.

The groups are sounding VERY good. We are pleased with the progress the kids have made this semester.

The jazz band has been asked to play at The Lawrence Arts Center on April 7th. If you would like to come out and support the members, they will play at 7pm in the lobby of the Arts Center, before the performance of The Music Man. The band will play for approximately 20 minutes.

The jr. high/sr. high choir will be competing at the Blue Ridge Festival on April 15th.

Thanks to everyone for your support.

Martha

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No Encore rehearsals tomorrow, February 25th

Due to the weather, we will cancel rehearsals tomorrow, February 25th.

We will see everyone next week as we prepare for the spring recital.

Thanks,

Martha

Post recital information/reminders

Mr. Swisher, Mr. Gaskin, and I would like to thank all of you for your support this semester. Thank you for sharing your children with us. All the groups did well and we hope that everyone enjoyed seeing and hearing the groups perform. We continue to be incredibly blessed with great families and kids!

A few reminders: Second semester starts on January 7th. I have had several inquiries about joining our group at the semester. If you know of others interested in our program, we can take new students in all the groups but beginning band and orchestra. (exception to that are students that already play an instrument and want to be in a beginning instrumental group)

Always refer to this website/blog for information, updates, cancellations due to weather, etc. That will be my main way of communicating with the group.

If anyone took photos that we could post on the site, and would like to share them, please email them to me. I forgot my camera on Friday and was hoping to get pictures of all the groups that day.

I noticed that both directors were sampling the "treats" that were given to them before ever leaving the building on Friday. I let both of them know that it is okay to not eat everything in one day :o)
Thanks to all of you that contributed, I know they enjoyed them.

A beginning band percussion player left their xylo after the recital on Friday. It is in the church office.

We wish you a blessed Christmas and healthy New Year!

See you all in January!

Martha

Recital and end of semester reminders

* This coming Friday, December 17th, will be our end of semester recital. The recital will begin at 10:30 but the kids are to be there earlier for tuning and warming up.

* PLEASE NOTE: The recital is at the same location we meet each week - The Morris Center.

* Beginning band and beginning orchestra are to arrive by 9:00.

* Intermediate band, jazz band, and intermediate orchestra are to arrive and be ready to tune and warm up at 9:30.

* Choirs are to arrive and work with Mr. Gaskin at 10:00.

* No need to dress up for the recital.

* Second semester starts on January 7th.


* This is the week to bring cookies/brownies/etc to your child's director, if that is something you would like to do.

* There is still time to sign up for the National Federation of Music Clubs Festival. The Festival is in March but membership dues must be paid by the end of this month. There are many areas to compete in - call me if you are interested in this. It is an affordable and homeschool friendly competition.

The kids had a great rehearsal on Friday!

Email or call with questions - 785-841-6308 (home) - 785-865-3422 (cell) - hsmom@sbcglobal.net

See you all on Friday!

Announcements and updates - please read

Please read the following information for the latest announcements and updates concerning our fine arts groups:

** We do not rehearse this Friday - a traditional week off for Thanksgiving. We will resume rehearsals on December 3rd and need everyone to attend the final rehearsals.

** There will be a recital on Friday, December 17th, beginning at 10:30am. This will be our last day to meet for the semester. There were so many conflicts that led to the decision to have the groups perform on a rehearsal day, rather than our traditional evening recital. The kids will need to be there earlier for tuning and warming up - each director will let the groups know what time to arrive on the 17th.

** For those in choir, Mr. Gaskin is returning to direct your group. As many of you are aware, he had surgery and needed more time to recover than originally thought. Thanks to Mrs. Laytimi for filling in for Mr. Gaskin in his absence.

** For those interested, we traditionally bring cookies/candy/baked item/etc. to the directors on the final day we meet, which is December 17th. I will send out a reminder on that when we get closer to that date.

** Second semester will being on January 7th.

** For those interested in competitions this year: the deadline to join the National Federation of Music Clubs is quickly approaching. They offer a nice competition for kids in many areas, in music, dance, poetry, essay writing, etc. If you have interest in this, let me know ASAP so I can get you the necessary forms. It is a friendly and affordable competition, many of our students have participated and enjoyed the experience. The competition takes place on March 5th, in Lawrence. There are many levels of competition - this isn't just for the student that has been playing for years.

** Those that want to compete at the Blue Ridge Festival, information will be sent out as soon as I receive it.

I look forward to seeing you at the recital on the 17th. The kids have worked hard and are sounding great.

If you have any questions, please email or call me - hsmom@sbcglobal.net - 785-841-6308. Check the Encore site for updates and announcements. That will be the place to check for weather related cancellations - www.encorehomeschoolfinearts.blogspot.com


Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Martha

December Recital

I know many of you have been waiting for a date to be put on the calender for our December recital. We usually have a date planned long before now but there were circumstances that we were working around, causing a long delay in a final decision.

Due to all that is going on within our group, we will have a small recital in the morning on December 17th - a regular rehearsal day - time to be announced as soon as the logistics are figured out - but it will be in the morning of that day.

Contact me with any questions :o)