a letter from principal wynkoop -...
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Ballard high school ptsa newsletteR Ballard high school ptsa NEWSLETTER
PTSA BoardPresident: Joel Niemeyer [email protected]
Vice Presidents: Teresa Moore [email protected]
Florence Deleranko [email protected]
Treasurer: Carolyn Stalter [email protected]
Secretary: Christine Segat [email protected]
Volunteer Coordinator: Britta Bowman [email protected]
Legislative Liaisons: Demian Godon [email protected]
Heidi Bennett [email protected]
Nominating Committee Chair: Chris Witeck [email protected]
Building Leadership Team: Lori Bjorklund [email protected] Pam Dundas [email protected]
BALLARD HIGH SCHOOL 1418 NW 65TH
SEATTLE, WA 98117-5237 206.252.1000
Principal: Keven Wynkoop [email protected]
Main Office. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252-1000Attendance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252-1009Counseling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252-1014Career Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252-1011Nurse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252-1007Teen Health Center. . . . . . . . . 784-2142Fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252-1001
ballardhs.seattleschools.org
VOLUME XIX, ISSUE 5 PTSA NO. 6.15.460 JUNE 2016
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BEAVER
A Letter From Principal WynkoopBeaver Families,
Spring at Ballard High School is the season of celebration. I am hardly able to keep up with the steady supply of awards that our talented and hard-working teams and students have won recently. The list is too numerous to include everything, but some of the recent highlights have included a nomination for our amazing Performing Arts Department musical, Children of Eden, for Best Musical in
the state of Washington. This means that out of over 100 musicals judged, our musical is already in the top seven. It is an amazing and truly well-deserved accomplishment. Children of Eden also earned nominations for Best Actress in a Supporting Role and for Best Lighting. Ballard also received Honorable Mentions for the amazing directorial work of Shawn Riley, the stunning lead acting by Aisha Carpenter (she was robbed!) and for the Chorus. Ballard Filmmakers have had many recent local, regional and national awards, including numerous Regional Emmy Award nominations and an award won by Jaya Flanary, Duncan Gowdy and Leo Pfeifer at the international CineYouth Awards for Best Music Video. One other award that is worthy of special attention is that the Ballard Talisman staff won the Best in Show award at the National Journalism Convention in April. Such an amazing list of awards and this only covers the last two months! The accomplishments of our staff and students truly blows my mind.
The last month of school is the time to celebrate the accomplishments of our seniors. Now that most of our students have made their final decisions on which colleges and other programs they will be continuing into next year, a sense of calm settles amongst them and they truly get to enjoy their remaining days. I encourage you to join us for our 2016 Commencement ceremony to honor their hard work and accomplishments and wish them well in their next chapter. For those of you planning to attend, arrive early as there are five graduations happening that night at Seattle Center. I also advise families to arrange a meeting spot after the ceremony (near the International Fountain), as that makes it a lot easier to meet up. The ceremony is at Memorial Stadium on June 20th at 8:00pm and it will be a night to remember.
There are so many reasons to celebrate and I just can’t escape the fact that it is Always Great to Be a Beaver!
Sincerely,
Keven Wynkoop, Principal
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WRAP UP... FROM THE PTSA PRESIDENT
CHECK OUT THE PTSA WEBSITE AT: ballardhighschoolptsa.org/
What a great 2015-2016 school year! I could not be more pleased with the way this year is winding up. While it’s been a very fulfilling year, more than anything else, I’m thrilled with the extent to which we were able to continue to help cultivate an excellent educational environment for all of our Ballard High Students.
On April 23rd, 2016, we hosted the BASH Dinner and Auction. The turnout was fantastic, the event loads of fun, and we raised $87,000!
Overall, this year we raised about $138,000. With your generous donations:
■ We funded $88,000 in Teacher Grants for World Languages, History, and LA curriculum enhanced texts, smart technology for Math, new stage lighting for Drama, Science consumable supplies, Music’s mobile sound, Special Education curriculum materials, Health and Physical Education equipment, and schoolwide direct classroom support and professional development time, copy paper purchase and student project and classroom supplies.
■ We upped our commitments to GAINS Program and Scholarships providing $12,000 to those great programs
■ Tallied 25,000 Ballard Cares programs: Bucky’s Home for the Holidays and InvestEd
■ Provided $8,000 in Family and Community Engagement, Proyecto Saber community events, and Graduation overnight party (SPREE) support
Our PTSA is about more than just dollars, though. It’s also about the Ballard High School Community. I believe we have also been able to enhance the Ballard High School community through our Dinner For Three (D43) program for freshmen families, through our efforts to provide you, the community, with invaluable and relevant information via compelling and interesting speakers at PTSA General Meetings, through our Facebook page, Friends of Ballard High School, through advocacy and legislative efforts, and through keeping you updated via daily/weekly email updates on goings on at school.
We’ve had a great time, we thank you so much for your support, and we hope to see you next year!
Joel Niemeyer, Ballard High School PTSA President
Chamber Orchestra Playing at the BASH
The BASH Dinner and Auction raised $87,000 for Ballard High School
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Farewell from Nurse CarlsonDear Ballard Community,
I wanted to let you all know that I am retiring at the end of this school year. It has been an amazing 15 years in this very supportive and FUN school community! It has been an honor to have been trusted with the health and well-being of so many Beavers – this has been the best job in the world! I leave with many fond memories of students, families, and staff, and I am grateful for the time that I have spent with you.
Annette Cologna, RN, BSN, PCCN will be your new school nurse. She comes with many years of experience as a travel and float nurse and most recently a cardiac unit nurse—she was also my long-term substitute earlier this semester. She is very excited to return to Ballard!
I wish you and yours the best and remember, it’s ALWAYS great to be a Beaver!
Meg Carlson, MSN, RN, NCSN Ballard High School Nurse
Ballard Unified Soccer: Excellent Effort! Ballard Unified Soccer completed an excellent season on May 17. All three teams played hard in the District tournament. All three teams had close games and came close to making the state tournament. The effort, enthusiasm and teamwork were excellent.
See you next year!
Coach Jose
french club: YEAR IN REVIEWFrench Club had a busy year. We made crêpes a couple of times, played trivia, ate yule log cakes for the “Bûche de Noël” competition, delivered May Day grams and April
fools treats. French Club elected new officers for the 2016-17 school year on June 7. The club usually meets once a month on a Tuesday after school. Look for updates on the bulletin board outside of S 207. Any question? Ask Mrs. Sturgeon in S 207.
Annaïck Sturgeon French Teacher, Ballard High School [email protected]
Here is the meeting schedule for the 2015-2016 school year. Board meetings are open. General meetings are for all PTSA members in good standing, and we always have a good reason to attend. Agendas for general meetings will be published at least 72 hours in advance on the PTSA website at: ballardhighschoolptsa.org/ptsa-meetings/
BOARD MEETINGS:November 5, 2015 7:00pm
December 3, 2015 7:00pm
January 7, 2016 7:00pm
February 4, 2016 7:00pm
March 2, 2016 5:30pm
April 7, 2016 7:00pm
May 5, 2016 7:00pm
June 8, 2016 5:30pm
GENERAL MEETINGS:September 24, 2015 7:00pm
February 4, 2016 7:00pm
June 8, 2016 7:00pm
It’s always great to be a Beaver!
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Biotech Genetics Students ShineOn Monday, May 16, Biotechnology Genetics students presented their capstone projects at the 16th annual Student BioExpo at Shoreline Community College. They did an excellent job presenting their work and received several accolades from the judges. The BioExpo is a science fair where students can enter in several different categories ranging from Drama/Dance and Lab Research to Creative Writing and Molecular Modeling.
All projects are judged for their scientific content and for creativity in each category. Twenty schools from the state of Washington participated. All of the students represented Ballard with poise and grace. Our students exceled in several categories. The following students received special recognition:
■ Drama Dance: 3rd Place: Anna Leipertz, Anna Volk, Bella Williams and Rees Williams for their ballet interpretive dance” Cri du Chat”
■ Art: 2nd Place: Hunter Kulik-“Ironing out Hemochromatosis”
■ SeaVuria: 1st Place : Samara Barwell, Dorian Stump, Jessie MacKenzie, and Polina Skrypka “Obstetric Fistulas—The Untold Story”
■ Molecular Modeling: 1st Place: Emma B. Doherty “Missense Modeling”
■ Multimedia: Honorable Mention: Bryce Heinen, Niles Requarth, Antonio Martorano “Concentrating on ADHD: and Honorable Mention: Aaron Mamaril, Cale Spence, Manny Xenos, and Sam Rogers “Schizophrenia-A Rock Opera”
■ People’s Choice! Hunter Thompsen, Luis Winters, and Sam Blank “Down Syndrome Rap”
SeaVuria 1st Place Molecular Modeling 1st Place
Drama Dance 3rd Place
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Biotech Genetics CONTINUED...On May 20-22, Biotechnology Biology students competed at the 9th annual Imagine Tomorrow competition in Pullman, WA on the WSU campus. This competition asks students to take on the world’s energy issues and other grand challenges with creative, well-researched ideas. Students competed in one of four challenge areas: Biofuels, Aerospace, Built Environment, or Food, Energy, and Water. Each challenge had three different approaches in which students use to address solving an energy problem: technology, design or behavior. There were 121 teams from the Pacific Northwest who competed in this year’s event titled: Pursue Sustainability Nonstop.
Our Ballard students did an excellent job presenting their scientific projects to the judges. Teams were praised for their knowledge, presentation styles, and
thoroughness. Teams also returned home with awards for their ideas.
In the Food, Energy and Water challenge, using the behavior approach Ballad’s Green Ground team won 2nd place for their project: creating a working model of a seesaw that generates electricity, to demonstrate for the children the capabilities of reusable energy. Team members Amika Smalley, Alex Van Loen, Franny Berger, and Ezra Finch won $1800 in cash prizes.
And in the Biofuels challenge, using the behavior approach Ballard’s Wake Up and Smell the Coffee team won Honorable Mention for their project: turning coffee grounds into biofuel. Team members Fiona Doherty, Samantha Smith, Annabelle Fryer, Parker Crotty, and Sarah Jane Hayward won $1000 in cash prizes.
WSU Imagine Tomorrow: Wake Up and Smell the Coffee WSU Imagine Tomorrow: Green Ground 2nd Place
Biotech Group Photo WSU
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Journalism Students Earn National Honors Society Membership
Quill & Scroll, the International Honorary Society for High School Journalists recently accepted several BHS journalists as members. Yearbook (Shingle) members include juniors Max Miyake, Jolie Boget, Gianna Barbadillo and Aiden Sheckler. Newspaper members include seniors Elliot Bailey, Jaya Flanary, Grace Harmon, Meagen Tajalle and junior Cecilia Atkins.
The above journalists have been instrumental in both publication’s success over the last two years. Both of BHS’s publications have been members for over 50 years in Quill and Scroll, which was founded at the University of Iowa, in 1926, hoping to recognize and to reward worthy high school journalists.
Student members must meet the following qualifications: he or she must have served as part of the staff serving in their 2nd year; he or she must maintain a B grade average; he or she must have done superior work in some phase of high school journalism; he or she must be recommended by the adviser and they must be approved by the Executive Director.
Special mention for senior national journalism honor member Tess Harstrick.
Senior Tess Harstrick has been a student in the introductory journalism class, a reporter on the Talisman staff, a News Editor and this year a Co-Editor-in-Chief, all in the past four years.
During her tenure as a student journalist she has matured as a multifaceted reporter, comfortable and respectful in interviewing sources, skilled in research, and confident in writing and helping design the publication each month.
As a result of her hard work and dedication, Harstrick, already a member of the Quill and Scroll (2015) was recently nominated as a member of the Journalism Education Association (JEA) national Honor Society.
The adviser noted, “usually throughout a typical year as an adviser, I will notice ways the staff can improve but this has been minimal since Tess and her Co-EIC have steered the staff in ways I have not seen in my ten years of advising publications.” Her confidence and ambition are without measure, and it is a key reason why the Talisman has been nominated as Pacemaker finalists for consecutive years.
Tess Harstrick during a Staff Meeting
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talisman earns Best in Show at National Competition in LA
The Ballard Talisman newspaper earned the top award, better known as the, Best in Show, at the National High School Journalism Convention in Los Angeles in April.
The first-place award is the highest placement in a national competition for the Talisman newspaper. The staff submitted one issue from this year which focused on teenagers and mental health.* More than 3,000 students representing hundreds of school newspapers and yearbooks nationwide attended the convention. The National Scholastic Press Association, along with the Journalism Education Association sponsors two annual conventions each year.
Five journalism students also won individual awards (2 yearbook editors & 3 newspaper reporters) in the on-site writing, design and photography contests. The winners included junior Aiden Sheckler who won the top award, a Superior in Photography Portfolio. In addition, Junior Editor-in-Chief Max Miyake won an Excellent in Yearbook Design, marking the first national yearbook design award in the school’s history.
In addition, several Talisman reporters took home awards as well. Junior Rachel Halmrast won an Excellent in Editorial Cartooning. Halmrast was recently chosen as the Editor-in-Chief for next year’s staff. Sophomore reporter Jackson Croy was awarded the top honor with a Superior in Review Writing. Croy will serve as next year’s Managing Editor. Junior Sports Editor Sam Heikell won an Honorable Mention in Sports Writing. Heikell has earned the most writing awards at journalism competitions (state and national), with six, in the school’s history.
*Judge’s Comments: … Here’s what set the Talisman apart:
■ An expansive news section that shared communal awareness at a school, district and local level.
■ Sports was inclusive and really captured my attention.
■ Items that spanned multiple sections addressing issues from several different sides.
■ Compelling features coverage and A&E that drove me to want more.
■ Opinions that were well researched, as was evident by arguments presented from different sides of a particular issue and supported by resources.
■ The visuals and the layouts flowed well and helped tell the story.
■ Photos and graphics were clear and relevant. They helped the reader connect and didn’t distract me from the content.
Journalism Crew in LA Journalism Staff Awards LA
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Pinhole Photography in Physics and Astronomy Classes
Mr. Muhs ends the year in his upper-level science classes with the ultimate hands-on project: Pinhole Photography. The back quarter of the classroom turns into a makeshift darkroom, and students capture light on photo paper using handmade lensless camera boxes.
There’s a lot of struggle at first: everybody takes pictures with their phone, but getting at the fundamentals of how light works is a much deeper question entirely. Unlike a lot of school projects, where students get a little taste of an idea and move on, we take enough time to really develop some expertise. After mandatory still life, hallway, and outdoor pictures, students branch off into all kinds of other subjects: double exposure, super long exposure, and refraction & reflection, to name a few. Astronomy students, having done more extensive study of light earlier, work on studying color lights of different wavelengths and the mathematical relationship between light intensity and distance.
At the end of darkroom phase, students make a portfolio of their work. They’ve kept a detailed log of each photo, good or bad, as they go, but they also include theory, troubleshooting, scans and positives of their pictures, as well as a narrative about what they did. In particular, I’m very interested to see how they adapted themselves to the capabilities of the camera system. It is VERY different from what their eyes see. I really try to push them to tackle any project that interests them, and solve problems in order to take great pictures.
It’s a very exciting and positive way to keep seniors engaged and thinking, and students create a lot of very good work that ties together science and art. This year, we’ll exhibit the best of the finished photos in the foyer of the BHS library at the end of the year.
The pinhole photography project uses a lot of consumables, and would not be possible with the generous support of Ballard parents and the Ballard PTSA.
Clara Yardley
Jordan Eng
Aaron Miller Emma Doherty
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Ballard Performing Arts – Take a Bow!!! The Ballard Performing Arts 2015-2016 season has been nothing short of remarkable. We cannot end the year without thanking our outstanding students for their enthusiasm and dedication, our tireless directors who all went above and beyond to bring exceptional opportunities to our students, and our families that have been lending all kinds of support to help the students and the programs reach new levels.
The Theater department started the season with a visually beautiful production of Eurydice that was an otherworldly piece showcasing Ballard’s talented actors and the skill of the crew. When you think there is no way to top such a fine production, the musical, Children of Eden, opens to rave reviews. Thanks to Director Shawn Riley for your vision and ability to bring everyone on board for this ambitious production which was a perfect fit for cast, crew, and orchestra and a transcendent theater experience for the community. The 5th Avenue Theater Awards have recognized this production with 2016 nominations for Best Musical, Best Lighting design, and Best Supporting Actress (Camaira Metz), and Honorable Mentions for best Direction, Best Actress (Aisha Carpenter), and Best Chorus! The cast will be performing the show-stopping 2nd act number, "Ain’t It Good", at McCaw Hall on the evening of June 6th during the awards ceremony! These students are experiencing the magic that happens when inspiration, hard work, talent and heart come together. The annual musical is also special because it draws from all corners of the performing arts department. The theater season finished with four intriguing student-directed one act plays to make us laugh, cringe and ponder. These shows not only created opportunity for our actors, but four of our students now know what it takes to put on a production front to back.
The performance of seven movements from Carmina Burana at the holiday concerts was, like the musical, an example of collaboration and coordination between directors which created a standout moment in the year. Courtney Rowley, Michael James, and Brittany Newell brought musicians from choirs, bands and orchestras together for an epic winter concert finale.
This was a year of travel for many of our performing arts students. Attending festivals and conferences broadens their skills individually and collectively. They are exposed to their peers from other regions and to clinics with college level instruction and beyond. Along with elevated skills comes an increased knowledge of the possibilities in music beyond Ballard High. Based on the merits of past performances, the Chamber Orchestra was accepted to perform at the National Orchestra Festival in Tampa, Florida, and the Concert Choir and Advanced Women’s Chorale were invited to Choirs of America Nationals for Top Choirs in New York City where they performed at Carnegie Hall. Looking forward, the Wind Ensemble was accepted into the New York International Music Festival to be held next April where they will also perform at Carnegie Hall. What a year! These events are in addition to the normal schedule of festivals and performances and our energetic directors and supportive families are to be recognized for helping our students take such expanding leaps.
The Ballard Performing Arts program is also expanding in the number of students served. It is exciting and it continues to work because of support from our families, the Ballard High administration, the Performing Arts Boosters, the Ballard High Foundation and sponsorship from local businesses and organizations. They keep the program in uniforms, sheet music, clinicians, and scholarships. Without this support, Ballard High would not have been represented on the national stage this year.
We look forward to the next year with gratitude and great anticipation. The following news will bring you up to date on the past couple months of activity and the events to look forward to as the year wraps up. Additionally, the 2016-2017 theater season has been announced! You will see some of our performers at graduation as we send all Ballard seniors off and wish them well.
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Vocal Jazz Solo NightVocal Jazz Solo Night will be held Wednesday, June 8th at 7:00 PM in the Black Box Theatre. The evening will feature performances of jazz standards sung by all Vocal Jazz members, in collaboration with the incomparable Ev Stern Jazz Trio (a professional Seattle-based jazz combo). Please join us for an evening of great music!
Patxi’s Pizza Fundraiser June 11th – ALL DAY!5323 Ballard Ave NW Seattle, WA 98107
“Buy a Seat” in the Earl Kelly Performing Arts Center
Patxi’s Pizza Ballard has generously offered to donate 10% of proceeds from the total sales on June 11th from Dine In, Phone Orders & Smartphone App Deliveries. Saturday, June 11th is a GREAT day for pizza and you’ll probably run into some of your Ballard High chums there!!
After such a fantastic year in Ballard Performing Arts, you may be inspired to “buy a seat” in the Earl Kelly Performing Arts Center. For $50 we will place a plaque on the arm of a seat where you can remember your favorite student actor, a specific song or play, or put your own name down to stand among Ballard supporters. These funds contribute significantly to the Ballard High School Theatre program and the small engravings enliven the space by carrying memories and dreams of those who passed through. Choose your seat TODAY! Click here for an Order Form.
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News Around Washington…
Congratulations to Vocal Jazz, Percussion Ensemble, and soloists Aisha Carpenter, Satchel Dunnell, Ezra Finch, Diego Roberts Buceta, Meg Shepherd, and Aidan Ward-Richter on an outstanding showing the first weekend in May at the WIAA-WMEA State Solo and Ensemble Competition. These individuals qualified for State by
winning their categories at Regionals. All Ballard students received across the board scores of Superior or Excellent. In addition, Aisha Carpenter won 2nd place in the Alto Vocal category, and a duet by Diego Roberts Buceta and Aisha Carpenter won 2nd place in the Small Mixed Vocal category!
On May 16th the Ballard Vocal Jazz, Jazz Band I and Jazz Band II performed at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley. They walk in the footsteps of jazz greats on that stage. This is a unique evening where Ballard jazz fans are able to hear our musicians in a club setting that is a Seattle institution
while enjoying dinner and drinks. We are thankful to Jazz Alley for welcoming us to their esteemed venue and we are proud of our musicians who showed that they know how to swing hard. Thanks to everyone who came out in support. What a night! See you next year.
Jazz Band II at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley
Ballard Musicians Score High at State Solo and Ensemble Competition!
Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley Hosts Jazz Bands and Vocal Jazz
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News Around Washington… continued
The spring theater production was a set of four student-directed one act plays that took us to four completely different places. Our directors, Aisha Carpenter, Alex Howell, Izzy Mar, and Camaira Metz, stepped up for something that does not happen often at Ballard. The students were completely responsible for these productions and program director, Shawn Riley, held an advisory role. The directors managed everything from rehearsal schedule to technical theater directions. Their casts took their direction and worked hard to execute their vision.
Director Izabel Mar opened the evening with her cutting of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), a comedy featuring actors Diego Roberts Buceta, Zoe Adamson, and Cora Tipping. In its full length, it is a fast paced romp through all of the Bards plays which ran for nine years on London’s West End. Director Mar edited down to one act for the truly abridged edition! It was a madcap and irreverent look at the history of Shakespeare and his play Romeo and Juliet. Mar’s cast had great comic timing and they had us in stitches.
Camaira Metz followed with her production of David Ives’ short comedy Sure Thing starring Scotty McKinney and Sophia Rice. This relatable story featured a chance meeting of two characters, Betty and Bill, whose conversation was continually reset by the use of a ringing bell, allowing them to re-state their point when one of them responded negatively to the other. Full of tricky timing and funny unexpected twists. Did you ever wish for a reset button in conversation? It’s an exercise in “What if?”.
Alex Howell’s treatment of The Scribe’s Paradox/The Mechanical Rabbit featured a cast of nine led by Helen Maclay. Alex chose to add an ensemble of 4 actors to the original 5 characters. Their physical actions served to reinforce the humor in the script. The topics of theater, business and modernization were addressed in this humorous Michael Feingold play. A playwright has a lot of people to please in crafting a well-structured play!
In direct contrast to the quest for a well-structured play, Aisha Carpenter closed with Christopher Durangs absurdist comedy, Diversions, with ten students portraying some of the wackiest characters to grace the BHS stage. The absurdists were not an organized movement, but responded to World War II with a pessimistic vision of humanity struggling vainly to find a purpose and to control its fate. Social order and logical progression of events went out the window. Durang is a prolific modern playwright who penned this piece while at university and, no doubt, took inspiration from the theater of the absurd. Darkly funny and outlandish in plot with characters played convincingly.
Congratulations to our directors, actors, and crews on a job well done!
Students Direct One Act Plays
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News Around Washington… continued
The largest 17th of May celebration outside of Norway happens annually in Ballard and our impressive band was on hand with Beaver Spirit to spare. Syttende Mai is Norwegian Constitution Day. The big sound of the Marching Band with 130 musicians strong made
the Beaver presence known. Ya’,for sure! It’s fantastic to have Ballard High represented so well in our own neighborhood event. Congratulations to the Marching Band on a year well-done. See you next fall!
Kwangena Thina Bo - "We come in, the spirit is moved." There was definitely something very moving and powerful when hundreds of students came together to sing this African folk song as the finale of the annual Choral Showcase on April 6th. It was fun to see the progression
of talent with different ages and the excitement on the elementary and middle school students’ faces at participating in an event at the high school. There were many future Beavers in there and they are sounding good!
Marching Band Brings Beaver Spirit to Syttende Mai Parade
NW Regional Choral Showcase Fills the Ballard Gym with Song April 6
Courtney Rowley directs the joint choirs in the finale.
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FROM THE ROAD…
Congratulations to Ballard Jazz Band I for their 4th Place finish at the Reno Jazz Festival! Soloist awards for the Big Band performance were given to Mason Lim,
Alex Thiersch, Denali Cornwell and Amy Gore. Combo awards went to Katie Webster, Kaye Gill, Mason Lim and Denali Cornwell.
Over spring break weekend, the Wind Ensemble attended band clinics at Western Washington University and the University of British Columbia. Western’s Department of Music was the first stop for a clinic with Dr. Christopher Bianca, Director of Bands. This was a joint clinic with the Auburn High School Band. The next stop in the weekend tour took the group to the University of British Columbia School of Music for an inspiring clinic with Dr. Robert Taylor, Director of Bands, in the magnificent Chan Centre for the Performing Arts.
Saturday evening the group attended a performance of Beethoven’s majestic Ninth Symphony with Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and UBC’s University Singers & Choral Union at the Orpheum Theatre. On the last day in BC, the Wind Ensemble staged a street performance on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery to an enthusiastic and welcoming Vancouver city crowd!
Jazz Band I Places 4th at Reno Jazz Festival
Wind Ensemble in Vancouver B.C.
Jazz band I at Reno Jazz Festival
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FROM THE ROAD… continued
Symphonic & Chamber Orchestras had a wonderful tour of Los Angeles over spring break. Highlights include performing and recording at Disney for a Soundtrack Session with Musical Director Tom Griffin, performing at the Colburn School for Dr. Nate Zeisler, visiting the Broad Museum of Contemporary Art, the Grammy Museum, the Griffith Observatory, Rodeo Drive, Hollywood Boulevard,
attending an evening show of "Stage Kiss" by Sarah Ruhl at the Geffen Playhouse Theater, attending Pacific Symphony’s performance of "Rhapsody in Blue" and Ives’ Symphony No. 2, and getting a peek inside Jascha Heifetz’s original violin studio at the Colburn School. It was a busy, but unforgettable and inspirational weekend!
Orchestra Los Angeles Tour
Orchestra on Los Angeles tour
It’s always great to be a Beaver!
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2016-2017 Theatrical Season
Ballard High School
Two young gentlemen living in 1890's England have taken to bending the truth in order to put some excitement into their lives. Jack Worthing has invented a brother, Earnest, who he uses as an excuse to leave his dull country life behind to visit the ravishing Gwendolen. Algy Montcrieff decides to take the name 'Earnest' when visiting Worthing's young and beautiful ward, Cecily at the country manor. Things start to go awry when they end up together in the country, and their deceptions are discovered threatening to spoil their romantic pursuits.
The Foreigner is a fun, two-act comedy by American playwright Larry Shue. The story takes place in a fishing lodge in rural Tilghman County, Georgia where two Englishmen, Froggy and Charlie, arrive as guests. The shy Charlie agreed to accompany Froggy on the trip after his sick wife begged him to go. When people at the lodge try to talk to Charlie, however, he remains silent: he is terribly shy, depressed about his wife's illness, and cannot find the words to reply. Froggy claims that Charlie cannot talk because he is a "foreigner" from an exotic country, and does not understand English. Taking the explanation that he's a non-English speaker as fact, the lodge's guests quickly begin revealing their secrets, and Charlie soon discovers scandals amongst some of the residents of thelodge.
Les Misérables based on the novel by French poet and novelist Victor Hugo. Premiering in Paris in 1980, The London production has run continuously since October 1985 – the longest-running musical in the West End and the second longest-running musical in the world. Set in early 19th-century France, it is the story of Jean Valjean, a French peasant, and his quest for redemption after serving nineteen years in jail for having stolen a loaf of bread for his sister's starving child. Valjean decides to break his parole and start his life anew after a kindly bishop inspires him by a tremendous act of mercy, but he is relentlessly tracked down by a police inspector named Javert. Along the way, Valjean and a slew of characters are swept into a revolutionary period in France, where a group of young idealists make their last stand at a street barricade.