Fremd Music Association FMA Newsletter Volume 13, Issue 1 September 2017-18 FMA Board Notes from the President Hello Everyone!! I would like to extend a warm welcome to all freshmen music parents as well as returning music families. Hope you all had a wonderful summer relaxing and enjoying time with family and friends. I would like to introduce myself and our wonderful music booster organization Fremd Music Association( FMA). I am Hema Kaiwar and I am the FMA President for this school year. This is my 3 rd year at FMA and each year I grow prouder to be part of such a wonderful booster organization. Fremd Music Association or FMA as it is usually referred to, is a non-profit booster organization that supports the music department at Fremd High School. FMA is a wholly volunteer run organization. Over the last several years, FMA has given financial support to the Fremd Music Department to meet its various needs. Needs can range from scholarships to students, paying for new music equipment and fees for various competitions and events as well as providing hospitality after concerts. All money is raised through fundraisers as well as through FMA memberships and matching contributions or donations. To learn more about FMA, please visit www.fremdmusic.org Please take a moment to fill out the membership form at the end of this newsletter and be part of this wonderful organization. Your contributions will allow us to continue to provide support to the music programs at Fremd. All contributions are tax deductible. Volunteers are the cornerstone of the Fremd Music Association. It is only through our many volunteers are we able to achieve so much. They dedicate their time as well as their talent to run so many committees and fundraisers for the music booster program. So please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the various committees on our website. We are always in need of volunteers and are looking for new people to bring on board. Whether you are good with crafts or like to maintain detailed accounts, prefer to manage big events or just love to work with people there is always a place for you at FMA. Our first fundraiser for this year is the Floral Design Showcase on Wednesday Nov 1 st 2017. Please save the date and join us for an evening filled with laughter and flowers, literally. Each year we have several local florists display their floral arrangements as well as create beautiful decorations on stage for us. Attendees will have a chance to win one of their beautiful prizes! A wonderful reception is held for the attendees during intermission. Would you like to help out at this event? Please contact Sue Dewitt swoozy1@yahoo.com or Ramnath Cidambi ramnath@gmail.com for more information. As always, we appreciate all your help. Thank You!! Hema Kaiwar President Hema Kaiwar Fremdmusicpresident@gmail.com VP General Band Chris Svec nicklesvec@yahoo.com VP Viking Marching Band Mike Corrigan Patrizia DeChiara vpvikingmb@gmail.com VP Choir Mary Mayo mayom@willowcreek.org Sue Lech S.lech@comcast.net VP Orchestra Laura Nehf lnehf@yahoo.com Anu Rajagopalan anumail@gmail.com Secretary Archna Jagtiani archnakj@gmail.com Treasurer Carrie Van Horn cvh0118@gmail.com Music Faculty Department Chair & Band Director Matthew Moore mmoore@d211.org Assistant Band Directors John Teichert JTeichert@d211.org Jami Hockensmith jhockensmith@d211.org Choir Director Christina Collins ccollins@d211.org Orchestra Director Marla Caballero mcaballero@d211.org FremdMusicPresident@gmail.com
Band Notes Dear Fremd Band families, The 2017-2018 school year is off to a great start with our four symphonic bands at Fremd High School. A big welcome to our 66 new Freshmen (and their families) to the Fremd Bands and Music Department! This fall our band program consists of 215 students enrolled in four separate bands Concert Band, Symphonic Winds, Wind Ensemble, and Wind Symphony. This year also marks the twelfth consecutive year of having 210 or more students enrolled in the Fremd Band program! We have much planned for this year and are excited about our upcoming performances and events. Please visit our new Fremd Band website at: http://fremdbands.weebly.com/ The Viking Marching Band is off to a great start for their fall season! The VMB s fall production is entitled The Haunted Manor and features many familiar classical music favorites ( Night on Bald Mountain, Verdi s Requiem, and Berloiz The Witches Sabbath ) as well as music from the video game Kingdom Hearts and Danny Elfman s score for Edward Scissorhands. The 105 students of the VMB have been working very hard and we are impressed with the progress of the show. This fall the VMB will travel to perform at Stagg HS, Wheeling HS, Northern Illinois University, and Downers Grove South High School. Please come out and support the band at a home football game or one of our competitions. Thank you very much to all of the FMA parents that will assist with the VMB throughout the fall season! On Tuesday October 3 rd we will present our Fall Band Concert featuring all four symphonic bands performing a wide variety of band music and styles. The concert is free and will be held at 7:00 pm in the Fremd Cafeteria. We are very proud to be able to present a full symphonic concert this early in the school year. We hope to see you there! Private Lesson Teachers - In our Band program we are very fortunate to have nine professional musicians teaching private lessons at FHS ($22.00 per 25 minute lesson). If you son or daughter is not currently taking private lessons please consider our staff of talented instructors. Contact information and biographies for all instructors can be found at the bottom of the FHS Band website homepage: http://fremdbands.weebly.com/ Fremd Jazz Bands - Audition packets for the Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Lab Band will be available the first week of October. Auditions are planned for the last week in October. For more info on the Jazz Bands please see their website: http://fremdbands.weebly.com/jazz-ensemble--jazz-lab-band.html We look forward to another great year of music making and performances. Thank you for your support and please continue to be active in your student s musical endeavors and the Fremd Music Association! Sincerely, Mr. Moore, Mr. Teichert, and Ms. Hockensmith Band Directors
Choir Notes Hello Choir Families, I hope you enjoyed the summer! We are off to a great start in Fremd Choir! Collage Concert: The first concert is quickly approaching with the dress rehearsal on Wednesday, September 6 in the cafeteria. Each choir will rehearse individually in time slots. Students only need to come for their choir s time: 6:45-7:05 PM- Treble Choir 7-7:30 PM- Men's Chorale 7:25-7:55 PM- Viking Chorale 7:50-8:20 PM- AWC 8:15-9 PM- Chamber Singers The concert is on Thursday, September 7 at 7 PM in the Fremd cafeteria and will feature all choirs and orchestras. Students should arrive at 6:25 PM in uniform to Room 17. Choir Uniforms: Thank you to Lina King for coordinating the uniform fittings! Treble Choir- Long Black Skirt (provided), Green Blouse (provided), black closed-toe dress shoes Men s Chorale- Green suspenders and bow tie (provided), black collared button-up shirt, black dress pants, black dress shoes and black socks Viking Chorale- Choir Robe (provided), black pants/skirt, black collarless shirt that will not show above the stole (collar) of the robe, black closed-toe dress shoes Advanced Women s Choir and Chamber Singers Girls- Black Gown (provided), black closed-toe dress shoes, pearls (student purchase) Chamber Singers Boys- Black Tuxedo (provided), black dress shoes and black socks, Tuxedo Shirt (student purchase) Nashville Trip- register by September 15: We are traveling over spring break (March 26-29) and all choir students are eligible to go on the trip. We will prepare all music in class and have only one outside of school rehearsal in March. Parents/families are welcome to join us as chaperones or on your own if you want to follow our schedule. All fundraising money through FMA can be used toward this trip or showchoir fees. The itinerary and payment information are online: http://fremdchoirs.weebly.com/choir-trips.html
Choir Notes continued Voice Lessons at Fremd: If your child is not currently taking lessons, you can contact the teachers directly by email. Their information and biographies are on the choir website. http://fremdchoirs.weebly.com/voicelessons.html ILMEA Auditions: Chamber Singers students will be auditioning for the Illinois Music Educators Association District and All-State Choirs on Monday, October 2. Students will take a bus from Fremd right after school to Crystal Lake South for these auditions. More information will be sent out soon through the weekly email newsletters. A Cappella: The a cappella groups completed their auditions and have regular rehearsals on Wednesday evenings throughout the year. Perfect Harmony and Audial Sunshine will rehearse from 7-8:30 PM and Men s A Cappella will rehearse from 7:30-9 PM. Please see the complete calendar on the choir website if your student is involved in a cappella. Competitive Showchoir: All music students are eligible to audition for showchoir! Come join the fun! They will learn a set of five songs for their competition show, work with professional choreographers, wear costumes, and participate in the Variety Show and 4 competitions in February/March. The audition consists of 3 days: a dance learning session (9/12), an individual vocal audition (9/13), and a group dance audition (9/14). The dance learning session will be on Tuesday, September 12 from 8-9 PM in Room 17. We audition in September, but the first rehearsal/meeting is after school at the end of October, after most fall activities end. Please check out the website for the audition packet and complete rehearsal/ performance calendar: http://fremdchoirs.weebly.com/activities.html I will also be looking for instrumentalists for the showchoir combo (piano, drumset, bass guitar, lead/rhythm guitar, trumpets, trombones, saxophones). This is a fun way to play contemporary music in a small group, similar to a rock band atmosphere. Musical: We are currently rehearsing for the musical production of Sister Act. Performances will be on October 19, 21, 27 and 28. It is going to be a great show involving many music students onstage, backstage, and in the pit. I am looking forward to another year of memorable musical experiences! For the most updated calendar of rehearsals and performances, be sure to check out the choir website: http://fremdchoirs.weebly.com/ and read the weekly email newsletters. Thank you for your support of Fremd Choir and the Fremd Music Association! Christina Collins Choir Director ccollins@d211.org
Orchestra News Welcome to the Fremd Orchestras! It s been a wonderful start to the school year getting to know and work with all of the orchestra students! Our first concert is next week! I'm very pleased with the progress the students are making as we have been rehearsing in preparation for the concert on Thursday! Here's what you need to know for the dress rehearsal: 1. Students do not need to dress up. 2. Rehearsal will be in the cafeteria. 3. Please be on time! Dress Rehearsal Schedule (rehearsal in student cafeteria): 4:30 - Set-up crew 5-5:30 Concert Orchestra 5:30-5:55 Philharmonic Orchestra 5:55-6:20 Chamber Strings 6:20-6:45 Symphony Orchestra Collage Concert - Thursday, 9/7 6:15 All Orchestras meet in Band room 7:00 pm Concert Begins (in the student cafeteria) Concert Dress for the collage concert - Concert dress for the Collage concert (Sept. 7) is as follows: Men Purchase on your own: White wing-tip tuxedo shirt, black bow tie, black cummerbund (like the one found here), black socks, black dress shoes. School owned - tuxedo jacket (fittings to take place on 9/1) Sophomores - Seniors - concert uniform, black nylons, black-closed toe shoes Women Freshmen - Black top, black dress pants or knee length skirt (if you have these items, great! If you don t have these items, please let me know by Tuesday, 9/5 and we will see if we can find something from our uniform loaning supply) In addition, you will need black nylons, black-closed toe shoes. Private lesson contracts - We have violin and viola private teachers coming to Fremd this year to teach private lessons. Please turn in the private lesson contract to Mrs. Caballero by 9/1 so we can get the schedule set. For those who qualify, the Fremd Music Association (FMA) offers an scholarship to students - for more information, click on the link below. Private lesson contract link - due by 9/1 FMA In-Need scholarship form link - due September 30 Parent volunteer - URGENT NEED - we are still in need of a parent to coordinate our girl s uniform fittings and distribution. This need is immediate. Please email Mrs. Caballero if you are interested in filling this role. ILMEA auditions are Tuesday, Oct. 3rd. Audition music is available in the orchestra room for those interested. I will be sending home emails with our weekly orchestra announcements but they can also be found at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/fhsorchestraannouncements17-18 The orchestra calendar can be found at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/fhsorchcal17-18 I m looking forward to a great year of music making!
We Need You... How Do Our Musicians Look so Nice? Did you know, the music department has a 'uniform' closet across from the band room? And in that looong narrow closet are marching band uniforms, tuxedos, and accessories? It is the coolest of closets, 3 tiers high! We want to make sure our students look their finest for performances! Want to work with some awesome parents and see this amazing closet yourself? You're in luck! We need YOU too! We are looking for some peeps to fit our boys in our tuxedos for band this year. The last 8 years have been a blast in the closet, but it is time to pass on the duties. One person could do this, but two (or more!) makes it much easier. Parents of Freshman through Juniors would be ideal. If you are not already involved in other uniforms, really we need you, and NOW! Past years have involved myself working with Excel and Word (a workbook with 6+ pages and cross-references). I was grateful to have two good friends agree to help me with getting volunteers and other prep work done. It takes about 15-30 volunteers over the better part of a week to get the fittings done. So if you cannot chair, watch for the volunteer sign-up and please consider helping out during this time! This has been one of my favorite committees as I enjoy the time with the band students and listening to the beginning of the year music. It does get crazy, but it isn't difficult. Much of the prep-work has been done. We just need YOU! The band must be fit before the last week of September to give parents the time to hem pants if needed. I would be happy to be one of the co-chairs to make sure you hit the ground running. You do not have to sew, but it is helpful for buttons and tacking up a sleeve. Pants can be sent home with a note that says to hem pants. Any more detailed alteration should be given to a professional (of which I have 2 contacts...one is amazing!) There is a learning curve, but it does get easier. The benefits are you get into the school, hear all the bands, meet so many of the boys, get to know the directors a bit better, and hopefully make friends with other wonderful parents! I am happy to discuss with anyone. I will be available anytime to mentor or help. Nancy Groch 847-397-9347 847-902-2678 cell How about the Orchestra Girls Uniform? Orchestra and Band usually work together for fitting as well as ordering outfits for the female students. If you are good organizer and have management capabilities and like working with students, then do consider volunteering your skills for the position. Time Commitment You would spend about 4 hrs. spread over 2 days fitting the girls for their outfits. Once you have all the orders, you will coordinate with the Band Girls Uniform Chair and spend 1-2 hrs. finalizing orders and placing them. Responsibilities First find out schedule for uniform fittings from Mrs. Caballero. It s usually mid-september. She will also advise which periods the girls will be free to come down for their fittings. Send request out to parents (through Mrs. Caballero) to help out with the fittings. You can use VolunteerSignUp.org for that. We only need 2-3 parents to help. With the help of parent volunteers, help the students find their best outfit In the beginning of October, collect all order details and coordinate with Girls Band Outfit Chair and send out the orders. It takes one month to receive ordered uniforms.
We Need You (continued) We order uniforms from Formal Fashions: http://www.formalfashionsinc.com We will receive orders from Formal Fashions in the beginning of November. Working together with band uniform chair and sort out all orders. Students should receive uniforms before Thanksgiving. The outfits need to be hemmed. Students need hemming time before winter concert. What does fitting involve Usually the girls come during assigned periods for their classroom and try on sample outfits. The sample outfits are available in Room 13. You will give the girl the outfit that best fits the size she currently wears. The girls will try out the outfit and decide if it works for them. The process will continue until best size is agreed upon. Do the Uniform Chair have to be present for each and every period every day of the fitting? ABSOLUTELY NOT!! Ideally, it is nice for you to be there during the actual fitting but if you work and cannot be available the whole school day, you can always ask one of the volunteers to take over for a few hours from you. Most would be happy to help out and assist you. FMA Meeting Dates 2017 *Wednesday September 20 Tuesday October 24 *Wednesday November 15 **No December meeting Meet in the band room **Wednesday meetings held in faculty lounge
What is FMA? What is the Fremd Music Association? Learn more about this amazing group of parents and what they do to support ALL of our music students: http://wp.fremdmusic.org/ Why is FMA Always Asking Me for Money? It s back-to-school time, and you have probably noticed several FMA Fundraiser emails and notices. We re not trying to drain your checking account each fundraiser has a specific purpose and is targeted at a different audience. There is the cookie dough sales that directly goes into student accounts. Others such as Floral Design Showcase, Band Benefit and Trivia Night goes into the general budget. Your membership contribution goes toward FMA s general budget. This is how we pay for the many things we provide for all of the music students: special instructors, guest clinicians, contest entry fees, hospitality after concerts, new instruments, music, scholarships to provide lessons for students with financial need, etc. Whether you are Band, Choir, Orchestra or any combination of those, FMA is supporting your student. Standing Committee Chairs Membership Suriya Ramachandra Fundraising Ramnath Cidambi Floral Design Showcase Sue DeWitt Band Benefit Dinner Jean Swenson Choir Gala Teri Freer & Michelle Gonzales Trivia Night Michelle Gonzales Cookie Dough Scott Swenson Poinsettia Paul Dean Newsletter Janet Sieben Booster Board Liaison Kristi Svec Student Accounts Nora Gile Publicity/Communications Laura Ranieri Technology (Website, Audio & Video) Shinji Umeki Scholarships Alex Jimenez Attire Committees Kristi Svec / Lina King / Amanda Mueller / Rajnesh Singh / Gurdeep Singh Hospitality Orchestra Linda Regan Hospitality Choir Teri Freer/Lynn Hilleshiem Hospitality Band Chris Svec OPEN COMMITTEE POSITIONS Attire Band Male Attire Orchestra Female
The 39th annual Floral Design Showcase is set for Wednesday November 1 at 7pm. This evening combines the performances of our own students from concert band, orchestra and choir with the artistry of local florists in one of FMA s largest fundraiser. We are looking for: Team members to join in planning for this event Florist s to showcase their talents If you would like to help us or know of any local florist who would be interested, please contact Sue DeWitt at 847-934-9511. And please don t forget to save the date of November 1st. Be sure to purchase your $15 event ticket as well as $5 raffle tickets to be entered to win one of the lovely arrangements.
FMA is a non-profit volunteer organization that directly supports the musical activities and music education of all Fremd High School music students. FMA provides financial assistance (beyond D211 funding) for guest conductors, instrument and equipment purchases, festival/competition registration, sheet music, recording fees and student scholarships. FMA volunteers provide services such as tux/uniform fitting, hospitality after concerts and events, recordings of concerts (see Media on FMA website wp.fremdmusic.org), coordination of fundraisers for student music trips, as well as trip planning and chaperoning. Your contribution and/or help is warmly welcomed and enhances the experience of all music students, whether they are in a band, orchestra or choir.
2017-2018 FREMD MUSIC ASSOCATION Membership Form Your FMA contribution is used to directly fund programs at FHS! If your employer offers a matching gift program, please include matching gift forms when making your donation. STEP 1 MEMBER INFORMATION Name E-mail address Please print your name(s) as you wish it to appear in our concert programs. Preferred for sending newsletters / tax letters and for contacting volunteers Mailing Address Phone Student or Alumnus Name Grade Level / Graduation Year (please circle or write in year) Music Affiliation (circle all that apply) Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior Band Choir Orchestra Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior Band Choir Orchestra Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior Band Choir Orchestra Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior Band Choir Orchestra STEP 2 CONTRIBUTION LEVEL Contributors will be recognized in all music department concert programs. $ Diamond ($500 and up) $ Platinum ($100 - $499) $ Gold ($50 - $99) $ Green ($25 - $49) $ Supporter ($10 - $24) $ Alumnus ($10) $ Additional donation to (please circle) Band Choir Orchestra STEP 3 VOLUNTEER INFORMATION Volunteering is a great way to learn more about FMA and meet people. Please indicate area of interest. Band Choir Orchestra Special skills (e.g. accounting, audio / video editing, sewing, trip coordination, fund raising, hospitality) STEP 4 PLEASE MAIL THIS FORM AND INCLUDE 1. Checks payable to Fremd Music Association 2. Matching gift form from your employer if applicable. FMA is a 501(c)(3) educational and charitable organization. 3. Mail to: Fremd Music Association c/o Suriya Ramachandra 917 Boardwalk Court Palatine, IL 60067 847-991-5029 suriya@ldsindustries.com