Newsletter

When I heard about the tragedy in New York and Washington, I was driving in to the parking lot to start school. I reacted with so many emotions that I wasn’t sure how I would be able to keep it together in front of the kids. When Acapella came in I saw the faces of the future who are now forever changed. They may never have the same freedoms that we now take for granted. But the kids were very eager to listen and wanted to know what was going on. The more we learned the more numbness we began feeling. I want to thank the kids for being so mature about this horrific event, and for their maturity in dealing with it.

Our year is well under way and I am so excited about the drive that these kids have to be great. They want it and are working for it. I cannot wait to hear our kids in our new auditorium. I can’t wait for you to see your kids in your new auditorium. Did I mention that we have a NEW AUDITORIUM!!!!

Welcome to a new and exciting year at North High School Vocal Music Department.

Ryan

BACK ♫

North Voices

♫ ♫ ♫

New Faces

We have had to say goodbye to Mrs. Amie Callahan as our accompanist. She and her husband are expecting another child in November to add to their family. We wish them well!

Mr. Matt Noah will now be our full-time accompanist. Matt worked with us part time last year and also at Williams Middle School. Matt, his wife, Jennifer, and daughter, Shaisa, live in Moline. He will be working with concert choirs, All State, show choirs and the musical. He also does some musical arranging for us. We welcome Matt’s positive attitude and sense of humor and know he is already committed to the excellence of North High Vocal Music.

BACK . ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫

Boosters – Officers and Committee Chairs

Our Vocal Music Booster Officers this year are:

Pres. Dave Jorth 386-6745

V.P. Dan Virtue 386-9522

Treas. Sue McGregor 386-0793

Sec. Bonnie Beyhl 391-3556

BACK ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫

Committees –

Ice Cream Social –Bonnie Metz 388-7663

Costumes - (Concert) -Carole Hoeller 355-2498

Sewing – (Show Choir) - Mary Jorth 386-6745

Silent Auction & Follies – Tammy Thistle 388-7033

Fund-Raising – Gale Doxie /Sharon Virtue 386-9522

Publicity – John Hoeller 355-2498/Tina Denney 388-9885 (NHS attendance)

Big Dance – Bart Hall 391-3530

Buses/Show choir trips – Jay Murphy 386-4671

If you have any questions concerning any part of our program, please feel free to call them and they will have all of the answers!!!

BACK ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫

All-State

The first big event of our school year is always All-State Camp. This event was held at Ft. Madison High School on August 5, 6, and 7. It was hosted by Allen Chapman, choir director at Ft. Madison H.S. Thank you, Allen, for your time and knowledge. We took 22 All-State hopefuls to this event and they stayed at the homes of Ft. Madison students. Their meals were provided by Ft. Madison booster moms, which allowed the directors to truly focus on the music and the kids learning. In addition to Davenport North there were students from Central Lee , West Delaware , Ft. Madison, and S.E. Polk high schools. It was a great three day event and the kids got a real jump on the All-State music. A special thanks to Colleen and Matt for coming down and sharing their talents during the summer. More thank you’s go to Brent Peterson, Duane Philgreen, Jennifer Larson, Allen Chapman, and Doug Churchman for adding their incredible knowledge of music so our kids could be ready for this All-State process. The kids have been working very hard after school since the year started. Next Saturday, September 15^th, our All-State hopefuls travel to Muscatine High School for Pre All-State. They will work in sectionals with area teachers and get to sing through all of the music under the direction of North High’s very own Ryan Riewerts!

All-State auditions are held on October 20th in Washington, Iowa. We will have 28 of our best vocalists leaving at 5:00 in the morning to audition for the Iowa All-State Choir.

All State Festival will be November 15-17^th in Ames, IA,

We have a tradition of having an All-State potluck for the parents and kids involved with All-State. This year the All-State potluck will be Thursday, October 19^th at 6:00 in the NHS cafeteria. Please bring your favorite dish to share and your own table service.

BACK ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫

OPUS

All 9^th grade choir members are learning the audition “cuts” for this year’s state 9^th grade Opus Honor Choir. The students will then perform a taped audition and this will be submitted by September 25, 2001. The tapes are then judged and students are selected to represent the state in a concert held in Ames Iowa during All State week. Best of luck to the kids who are trying out!

BACK ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫

Concert Choirs

Acapella, Varsity Singers, and Chamber will have their first concert, the 11^th Annual Metrofest, on Monday, October 15^th at Bettendorf High School. The kids need to be at Bettendorf by 12:45. There will be a bus available for those students who cannot drive. They can get on the bus at 12:30 in the East parking lot of the school. The concert that night is at 7:00 P.M. The bus will return after the concert at approximately 9:30 to 10:00. We hope to see all of our parents there that night to show support for their kids.

Acapella, Varsity, Mixed and Chamber will then have our traditional Fall Friends Concert on Thursday, October 25^th, in the Small Gym.

The Winter Concert – December 18^th Time & location - TBA

BACK ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫

Concert Choir Outfits

We are in the process of getting all of our students fitted for costumes for concert choirs. We have already begun passing out our outfits to Acapella and Varsity Singers. We will be getting robes out to Mixed Chorus in the upcoming weeks before the Fall Concert.

Please make every possible arrangement to come in and get your costume on one of those two days. In order to get your costumes we MUST HAVE your payment for the year. If you are a choir only student then it is $45 or $60 and if you are a show choir student it is your first installment.(Due Sept. 15^th) Without these fees our program will not be able to offer the opportunities it has. A huge debt of gratitude goes to Carole Hoeller for heading this committee. She will need help, so if you would like to volunteer, please contact Carole. (355-2498)

BACK ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫

Follies/Silent Auction

Follies, our all school variety show, is set for December 7^th and 8^th. We have had to move the date for Follies because of the Little Miss Iowa Pageant in the auditorium. Auditions for Follies will be held Nov. 5^th and 6^th. If you have any questions about what we are looking for, just ask Mr. Riewerts. The Silent Auction will be held on Dec. 7^th, the first night of Follies. Items are donated by parents, community businesses and friends of North. They are sold for the highest bidder. If a student has obtained an item for auction, they will receive 100% of what it is sold for as credit to their assessment fees for show choir.

BACK ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫

Fundraisers

Entertainment 2002 Coupon Books – Last date to purchase is September 17^th.

Party Time Pizza and Cookie Dough Order deadline has been extended to October 1^st. Item pickup will be Oct. 18^th at 2:30 in cafeteria. We will need volunteers to help sort orders and check them out to students

Longaberger Baskets - October

Home Interior Candles – Nov. –Dec.

These Fundraising opportunities will be available to your student to help them raise money for their choir fees.

BACK ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫

Show Choir

Assessment payment of $120 is due on September 15^th. Ryan will have the final cost available soon.

First Big Dance Meeting – Sunday, September 16^th at 7 P.M. in the choir room. Planning meetings each month on Sunday at 7 P.M. Please come to find out what this is all about and offer your talents to help make this year the biggest yet!

TBA – Christy Chitwood will be at North to choreograph another show number with Northside.

Show Choir Rehearsals – Each Monday

Elegance 5:00 – 7:00 PM

Center Stage 7:15 – 9:30 PM

Northside 6:00 – 9:30 PM

SHIRTS!!!!! Blue chambray and denim shirts are available to order. These shirts have the North paw print and musical notes monogrammed in gold. Wear them to our competitions to show support.

Please contact Gale Doxie for ordering information.

BACK ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫

Website

www.davnorthmusic.com/nhsmusic

Please check out our new website. You can access the calendar, fundraiser, choir and show choir info and great pictures. Also Dan Virtue has added a section where you can post inquiries and get responses from other members. Please add your e-mail to the list if we don’t already have it. This is a great way to find info that may not have been brought home by your student! There is a message archive also.

BACK ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫

Show Choir Competitions

Jan 12^th - NSE only to Linn-Mar in Marion,Ia.

Jan 19^th - Mt. Zion,IL All 3 choirs attend, only NSE competes

Jan 26^th - State Contest – Center Stage and Elegance only at TBA

Feb 9^th - LaCrosse, WI – all 3 choirs compete

Feb 16^th - Ft. Atkinson, WI – all 3 choirs compete

Mar 9^th - Cedar Rapids, IA – all 3 choirs compete

BACK ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫

Important Dates

Oct 1 Required Booster Meeting 7:00 PM

Oct 15 Metro Fest – Bettendorf 1:00 PM, Concert 7:00 PM

Oct 18 All State Potluck – NHS 6:00 PM

Oct 20 All State Auditions, Washington,IA – All Day

Oct 25 Vocal Fall Concert – NHS 7:30 PM

Nov 5 Vocal Booster Mtg. 7:00 PM

Nov 14 OPUS Honor Choir – Ames,IA – All Day

Nov 15-17 All State Festival – Ames,IA – All 3 days

Nov 27 Holiday Concert Rehearsal – CHS – 6:00 PM

Dec 3 Holiday Concert Rehearsal – Lyceum Hall – 6:00 PM

Dec 4 Holiday Concert Performance – Lyceum Hall – 6:00 PM

Dec 10 Vocal Music Booster Mtg – NHS – 7:00 PM

Dec 18 Winter Concert – Time and Location TBA

BACK ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫

HOME