Dear families,
Last year in the spring, we submitted recordings of the MHS Chamber Wind Ensemble to a series of selective music festivals and performance opportunities. These tapes are adjudicated by college faculty, professional conductors, and state and national music governing boards.
We recently received results from some of our submissions and are proud to announce that the Chamber Wind Ensemble has been selected for two prestigious performances that will highlight the achievement of the ensemble.
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WASB Convention: The Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB) selects a single musical ensemble (band, orchestra, or choir) each year to perform at their annual conference. This convention is attended by principals, superintendents, and school board members from throughout the state.
We have the honor this year of being the performing group for the convention. This performance will be on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. at the Baird Center (formerly the Wisconsin Center) in Milwaukee. As this is during Wrap-Up Week (finals week), we have received special school permission to perform and represent Middleton High School at this event. Students will not miss any exams as we will depart after the last “wrap-up” (during the make-up period). This event is free for students and is open to families who wish to attend.
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The Percy Grainger Music Festival selects four bands nationally to perform at Chicago’s famed Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra(!) From the website:
The annual Percy Grainger Wind Band Festival will feature four outstanding wind ensembles conducting standalone performances of Percy Grainger literature in an afternoon matinée performance in Chicago’s Historic Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center on April 13, 2024. In addition to the performance, each ensemble will have a private clinic with Dr. James Patrick Miller and Douglas Nimmo, Endowed Professor and Conductor of the Gustavus Wind Orchestra at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN.
This festival will take place April 12 – 13, 2024. The opportunity will require students to miss a day of school and overnight in Chicago. We are working to navigate fundraising for this event to help mitigate costs to students. We expect this opportunity will cost approximately $350 to cover the cost of busing, hotel, food, and registration. Scholarships will be available for any families in need.
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We hope that all students in Chamber Winds are available for both of these events, as each student brings a needed and important voice to our ensemble. We also understand that calendars are often planned far in advance, and as we are only a few months away, conflicts are a possibility. We request that each family please fill out this Google Form to inform us of your availability and need. Please keep family events, athletics, ACT/SAT dates, and any other major conflicts in mind. It is imperative that we know of anyone who will miss these events so that we can plan accordingly for the success of the group.