Month: August 2017

Final Reminders!

Just a quick note to remind you about a few things that are due tomorrow, August 31, 2017.

Domino’s Slice the Price of Pizza Card Fundraiser

Please bring your completed order form, prepaid orders and put in an envelope and drop to the collection box.  We accept cash and checks payable to AHSOA.

The flyer and information can be downloaded here. (PDF)

SPF

Please send in your Student Participation Fee of $120.  Checks should be made payable to AHSOA.  Please contact Dr. Laux if you need to make payment arrangements.

Dress Payments

Dresses are in and will be distributed tomorrow to those who have paid.  The cost is $65 payable to AHSOA.

All-State Audition Fee

Please submit your audition fee of $25 payable to AHSOA.  Put in an envelope and drop in the lock box.  Be sure you have completed the online form so Dr. Laux knows you will be auditioning.

Tuxedos

Tuxedo payments go directly to Tuxedo Warehouse.  The easiest way is to call them and pay over the phone at 470-259-8552. The cost is $117.17 including tax.

 

ENJOY YOUR LONG WEEKEND!!! 🙂

Sincerely,

Dr. Laux

Orchestra Newsletter – 08-23-2017

There is a lot of important information below!

Potluck Dinner Thank You’s

Special thanks to the AHSOA Board and the student leadership team for all of their work organizing, setting up, and cleaning up for our Annual Potluck Dinner. There were approximately 250 RSVPs which was the most we have had!  It was nice speaking with you and getting to know some of you as well.

“Bach to School” Social Wrap-Up

Our first annual “Bach to School” social during the first week of school was a success!  The students had a great time getting to know each other and free pizza and dessert isn’t a bad thing either!

Special thanks to Jason Juang and Kieren Holmquist for taking photos of the event.  You can see the photos here.

Uniforms

All students must wear the proper uniform.

  • Girls: Orchestra dress, black socks or hose, black dress shoes.
  • Boys: Black Tuxedo, white shirt, black bow tie and cummerbund, black socks, black dress shoes.

Boys Uniform

If you are new to the program, you were measured by Tuxedo Wearhouse and need to register  for your tuxedo on their website. The cost is $117.17 and the uniform will be delivered to school.

If you are a returning student and your tuxedo is too small, the company offers a very generous trade-in credit to help offset the cost of a new tuxedo.  Please see the attached flyer for details.

Please be sure to try on your tuxedo to make sure it fits NOW so you have plenty of time to prepare for the concert in case it is too small.

Girls Uniform

The girls dresses are ordered from Southeastern Apparel by the AHSOA.  We have ordered a size run from 0-20 and girls will be able to try on their dresses to ensure a perfect fit.  Dresses usually need to be hemmed for appropriate length.  Be sure to take your shoes when visiting a tailor and plan ahead so you are not in a pinch for the first concert.

The cost of the dress is $65 and should be paid ASAP or by August 31.  Checks should be made payable to AHSOA.

Student Participation Fee (SPF)

Each family is expected to pay the student participation fee of $120.  As was explained at the potluck dinner, the SPF allows the orchestra to function and we could not provide the experiences we do without everyone contributing their fair share. The AHSOA would like the SPF paid by September 1. Please let Dr. Laux know if need to make special payment arrangements or if you have any questions or concerns.

Payments can be brought in to school and should be labeled in one of the provided envelopes and placed into the drop box in the back of the orchestra room.

Domino’s Pizza Card Fundraiser

Our Domino’s BOGO pizza card fundraiser is in full swing.  Our goal is 12 cards sold per student.  The cards sell for $10 and includes unlimited use of BOGO pizzas (any kind, any amount) until the end of June 2018.  After one use, the card has paid for itself!

We are taking orders (pre-paid) and the money (cash or checks to AHSOA) is due on Thursday, August 31!

The flyer and information can be downloaded here. (PDF)

GMEA All-State Orchestra Auditions

Students wishing to audition for the All-State Orchestras should use this online form to let Dr. Laux they want to audition. The completed online form, along with $25 audition fee, payable to AHSOA, should be turned in by August 31.

First Playing Assessment

At this time, all students should have played their first playing assessment for Dr. Laux.  All classes performed scales for the first assessment.

Anchor Time – “Jam Session”

Anchor Time is an enrichment period offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  The Orchestra will be offering a “Jam Session” anchor time that students can use for solo practice or collaboration in small groups.  Students will sign up this week and will start in early September.

Beethoven Chamber Orchestra

Today we welcomed Thomas Ludwig, conductor of the Beethoven Chamber Orchestra today in 4th period to talk about his enesemble.  He wanted to share a video of one of this students playing with the orchestra. Here is the link for Beethoven Chamber Orchestra of Sophia Ho playing the Paganini Violin Concerto.

In the next newsletter….

  •  Trip to Ecuador – Interest Survey
  •  Program Book

  • Orchestra Spirit Wear

Potluck Dinner Reminder

Dear Parents and Students,

Don’t forget about our annual Orchestra Potluck Dinner this Wednesday, August 16 at 6:30 PM in the AHS Cafeteria!

For each orchestra student attending, we ask that at least one parent/guardian attend, if possible, but families are welcome! It will be a grand night of food, so bring your appetites!

The food assignments will be determined by the student’s primary instrument and are as follows:

  • Violin & Cello – Favorite Main Dish
  • Viola –  Salad/Vegetables/Fruits
  • String Bass & Harp –  Desserts

Items of Note:

  • Please include an ingredients side card beside the dish for those who have allergies. We have many students with food related allergies to things such as nuts, eggs, milk, etc…
  • Please bring a serving utensil for your dish!
  • Please bring your checkbook to pay for uniforms, student performance fees, etc.

We will take an informal RSVP from students in class so that we may get an approximate count of who will attend.  Looking forward to seeing you all there!

Welcome to the 2017-2018 School Year!

Welcome to the AHS Orchestra! I am looking forward to an exciting year and am very excited to be starting my “sophomore year” as director.  I will send newsletters every few weeks. Here are a few important things to know for the beginning of the year…

“Bach to School” Orchestra Social

The first orchestra social of the year will be this Friday, August 11 from 6-9 in the AHS Orchestra room and auditorium. The AHSOA will provide pizza, drinks, and ice cream.  The AHS Orchestra Student Leadership team will provide activites and games so that students can better get to know each other.  Each new students will be assigned a big brother or sister (upperclassmen) to aid with the transition to the new building.  It will be a lot of fun.

Students were asked yesterday to RSVP, and we would live every student to do so by today, Wednesday, August 9 at NOON.

Please use this RSVP link.

AHS Orchestra Potluck Dinner and Informational Meeting

The annual Orchestra Potluck Dinner and Meeting will be Wednesday, August 16th at 6:30 PM in the AHS Cafeteria. This event is a fun, social gathering for students and parents that will help bring together our orchestra community. In addition, the dinner will serve as a membership meeting for the Alpharetta High School Orchestra Association. The AHSOA board members will present some important information for the upcoming year. Items of discussion will be the orchestra budget, fundraisers, supplies, uniforms, volunteering, and more. For each orchestra student attending, we ask that at least one parent/guardian attend, if possible, but families are welcome! It will be a grand night of food, so bring your appetites!

The food assignments will be determined by the student’s primary instrument and are as follows:

  • Violin & Cello – Favorite Main Dish
  • Viola –  Salad/Vegetables/Fruits
  • String Bass & Harp – Appetizers or Desserts

Items of Note:

  • Please include an ingredients side card beside the dish for those who have allergies. We have many students with food related allergies to things such as nuts, eggs, milk, etc…
  • Please bring a serving utensil for your dish!
  • Please bring your checkbook to pay for uniforms, student performance fees, etc.

Student Participation Fees

The Orchestra Student Participation Fee (SPF) is $120 for the 2017-2018 school year. This payment is due at the Potluck Dinner on August 16th, 2017, so please bring checkbooks to the potluck.

The Alpharetta High School Orchestra Association (AHSOA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose main purpose is to provide services and financial support to the AHS Orchestra program.

The Student Participation Fee (SPF) is the primary source of funds for the AHSOA. Without the participation fee, our program could not be as robust as it is. Fulton County provides only $1,500 annually for our orchestra program –  about $10 per student, which is significantly less than the cost to provide the high quality program that AHS is known for. Sheet music alone will likely cost $3,000 this year!

The SPF for 2017/18 remains the same as the last two years, at $120 per student. Items covered by the SPF include:

  • sectional coaches and guest clinicians
  • sheet music
  • registration and transportation for LGPE and KSU Invitational
  • awards at our annual banquet
  • dinner at the Bach to School social
  • pre-concert dinners for the Winter and Spring Concerts
  • movie nights including snacks and drinks
  • student music books
  • student t-shirts
  • equipment repairs and maintenance
  • needed capital improvements, including technology items
  • instrument lockers

Expenses not covered by the SPF:

  • required uniforms (tuxedo for gentlemen and concert dress for ladies)
  • optional travel trips
  • audition, travel and participation fees for All State, GMEA Solo and Ensemble, Fulton County Honor Orchestra etc.
  • end-of-year banquet

Families experiencing difficulty in meeting orchestra financial obligations should contact Dr. Laux or one of the AHSOA Board. Cases will be treated with strict confidence.

Orchestra Calendar

The calendar for the year has been set and can be found on our website at http://www.alpharettaorchestra.org/calendar

Please be sure to subscribe to the calendar (Google) or simply mark all of the days on your own calendar.

Our first concert is Thursday, September 28, so save the date!

This is going to be a fantastic year and I look forward to making music with each of you. Please contact me any time if you have questions or concerns. Go Raiders!

Dr. Laux
[email protected]

Alpharetta High School Orchestra