Congratulations PEHS Vocal Jazz Ensemble!

Congratulations to the PEHS Vocal Jazz Ensemble for taking 1st Runner-Up at Acappella Fest 2010. Way to go jazzers! You made us proud!

Chili's Night THURSDAY!

Come out and support PEHS Choirs this Thursday (October 7, 2010) at Chili's (Route 59 and 127th). Bring in your coupon and 10% of your bill will go to support the choral program. Also, choir students will be serving from 5:00-8:00PM...we have been know to spontaneously burst into song, so you might even get some dinner music! Thank you for your support!

Cookie Dough Orders DUE Tomorrow!

Hello choir students! Just a friendly reminder that all Cookie Dough orders and money are to be turned in tomorrow. Thank you for remembering!

Vocal Jazz Ensemble Submission for AcappellaFest

Hey Vocal Jazzers! Check out your youtube clip for the AcappellaFest submission!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bw9bapqHDTc

For your Listening Pleasure!

Hello students! Check out the links below to hear some performances of your concert pieces!
Mixed Choir:
What if I Never Speed http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKKe3LtOjc0&feature=related
Dies Irae http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oS5n5v9WyoM
AND because it's pretty cool (voices are hard to hear, but I think you will like it)...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vi-cTbi8lkI
Hush, Hush Somebody's Callin' My Name
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myjPqipn3hs&feature=related
Tres Cantos Nativos (Great sound...disregard the movements!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIhY0vNj2PY&feature=related
Another Tres Cantos (different voicing, but still a good example!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFa8rCg8d3w&feature=related

Treble Choir:
The Seal Lullaby http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaIWzI8Qrvg
Ah! Si Mon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4Cg5xCc51A&feature=related
The Poet Sings http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T37echFQxtc

Concert Choir:
Daemon Irrepit Callidus http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz2H1tMdnIA
AND Daemon...under a minute http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLWaNpojbxg
Ngana http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJM7W75STE8
Sure on this Shining Night http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icp4bNb7TDI

Enjoy!

Become a Follower of the Choir Updates BLOG!

On our quest for using less paper, the PEHS Choir Updates blog will be one of the main sources of choir related information. The best way to keep updated on everything happening in the wonderful world of Plainfield East High School Choir is to become a follower! The process is extremely easy! Simply click on the become a follower widget on the left, decide if you want to privately or publically follow the blog (I recommond publically! Show your choir updates following pride!), and congratulations you are now a follower of the PEHS Choir Updates page! Thank you for taking the time to become a follower!

Welcome Back!

Welcome back PEHS Choir students and families. I hope you had a restful summer and are geared up for an exciting school year. This is the first year in PEHS history we have all four classes. I wish the seniors best of luck in their final year here at East. For those students new to PEHS, incoming as freshman, and those of you joining choir for the first time, welcome to our choir program! I look forward to you carrying on the traditions and standard of musical excellence we strive for here at PEHS.
Over the summer I found out some exciting news for our concert choir and overall program. The Plainfield East High School Concert Choir has been accepted for performance at the 2011 IMEA All-State Conference. I am extremely proud of your hardwork and I look forward to preparing the music for this amazing experience. In only three short years our program has grown from 24 students to close to 100. Now our program in its infancy will be highlighted at a state music conference. Way to go everyone!
Students and parents, I urge you to regularly check the choir updates blog as well as your students Charms accounts. This year we are striving to keep students and families informed through electronic communication. Over the next week students will be updating e-mail addresses (both their own and their parents). In order for everyone to receive important information it is vital these addresses are up to date.
I am extremely excited about the great music growth I am confident will occur this year. Again, best of luck with your first day of classes and I will see you at rehearsal!

PEHS Music Tour - Update 3

The final two days in Disney were nothing less than extraordinary. We began Wednesday with a behind the scene tour of Cirque du Soleil La Nouba. This tour is exclusive to the Disney Youth in Education Series (YES). Our students saw a look at La Nouba that many people never will have a chance to see. We took a tour of all the technical aspects of the show, costumes, makeup, and we even learned a few circus tricks of our own! I think half of the students want to become professional Diabolo spinners (or at least I do now!).
The PEHS band performed a fantastic program at Downtown Disney's Waterside Stage. In addition to the trip participants and chaperones there were also a few other East faces in the crowd who came out to support the music program. I would like to give a big "thank you" to the band parents, Elaine Diveley, and Teri Murphy. Thanks again for coming out to support PEHS music!
The Magic Kingdom definitely lives up to its name. It sounds cheesy, but this truly could be the "Happiest Place on Earth!" The parade and fireworks show were definitely trip highlights.
The final day of the trip was spent at Disney's Hollywood Studios. This was my personal favorite part of the trip. There is a little something for everyone here including more thrill rides, stunt shows, and interactive rides. I was even a stunt person for the Indiana Jones show with a featured death scene. I strongly feel one of the overall trip highlights was the Fantasmic show. I was truly in awe and sitting in the audience with my jaw dropped at certain points. What a great ending to a phenominal time in Disney.
The bus ride home was long and contained a few trials (our bus did not want to accelerate faster than about 20 miles per hour going up hill...this is a problem in the mountains!). We had to switch to a different bus when we finally arrived in southern Illinois. I must say the kids were real troopers all things considered!
We rolled into PEHS close to 11:30PM. We were all exhausted, a little sunburned, but pleased with an amazing trip. Congratulations everyone you represented PEHS Music wonderfully. I am extremely proud of your accomplishments!

PEHS Music Tour 2010 - Update 2

Today was the first full day in Disney World! Many exciting events occured, including the PEHS Choir performance in Epcot, going to Cirque du Soleil (Amazing!), and running into a few familiar Plainfield faces (many parents, friends, and the PNHS band!).

The choir had a fantastic performance in Epcot. The directors were all extremly proud of how well the students represented our growing program and school. Way to go everyone!

Other park highlights include the rides Test Track, Mission: Space, and my personal favorite Soarin'. In addition to some really great rides everyone indulged in some really great food in the World Showcase portion of the park. The PEHS directors and the PNHS directors met in Morroco and indulged in some delicious Morrocan cuisine. It was really fun to dine with other 202 music staff in Disney (it truly is a Small World!).

Everyone is still in awe from the Cirque du Soleil show in Downtown Disney. It was really something spectacular. What a phenomenal ending to a fantastic day! Tomorrow Magic Kingdom here we come!

PEHS Music Tour 2010 - Update 1

Great Scott! The trip is well underway and everyone is ecstatic to finally be in Disney World! The bus ride was an epic adventure...and by epic I really just mean LONG! The bus ride (specifically Bus #2) can be summed up in the following few words; The DeLorean (yes, we named the bus AND watched the entire Back to the Future Trilogy in sequence to kick off the trip!), Disney Trivia on the hour every hour (unless Ms. Dunham is sleeping!), and strict adherance to Rule #1: No #2 (...yes...it is exactly what you are thinking!).

After 24 not-so-sleep filled hours we arrived at The University of Florida in Gainsville for our clinic. The choir had the amazing opportunity to work with Dr. Russell Robinson, Professor of Music and Chair of the Music Education Department. We were all really pleased with the clinic and the great learning experience shared at the University of Florida. Parents, I think we have created some Gator fans out of your children!

Two short hours later we arrived in (drum roll please...) DISNEY WORLD! Our first Disney related activity was a relaxing meal in Downtown Disney. Finally, we arrived at the hotel (The Residence Inn at Sea World). I personally have never been more excited about a shower in my life!). Currently, all students are snuggled in their beds dreaming of Mickey Mouse, Disney Princesses, and of course their performance tomorrow at Epcot! More exciting news to come over the next few days!

Look out, Here comes Audrey II!

Plainfield East High School will present the school’s second musical “Little Shop of Horrors,” at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, March 11, Friday, March 12 and Saturday, March 13, 2010; and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 14, 2010.

“Little Shop of Horrors” tells the story of a down-and-out skid row floral assistant who becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an exotic plant with a mysterious craving for fresh blood.

Soon the plant, "Audrey II," grows into an ill-tempered, foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore who offers him fame and fortune in exchange for feeding its growing appetite, finally revealing itself to be an alien creature poised for global domination.

Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for seniors/students/staff. Tickets can be purchased in advance by contacting Aubrey Dunham (ADunham1@psd202.org) or Michel Pawlak (MPawlak@psd202.org). Seating is open. Doors open at 7:00PM for the 7:30PM curtain and 2:00PM for the 2:30PM curtain.

To kick-off opening night for the second musical in PEHS history, the cast and crew invite PEHS students and staff to experience the “hilarious horror” at a discounted price of $4.00 for the Thursday night performance. Keep this special discount ticket to receive an additional $1.00 off admission to the remaining Friday-Sunday performances. The show will be “To Die For…”

District 202 Elimination Strategy

Please read the following important information effecting the PEHS Choral Program:

As you may already be aware, our district has created a Debt Elimination Strategy to address the large deficit that we are facing for next school year. In the proposal that was presented at the Board of Education meeting last night, Dr. Harper outlined the specific cuts that the district is considering. Among the positions that were proposed to be cut was the Assistant Choir Director.

As the leader of the Choral Program at PEHS, I wanted to inform you of this proposal and give you a chance to hear how this may affect the program and your child. I also want to give you a few points to think about regarding the decision.

1. First of all, this cut in no way reflects upon the quality of the work that our Assistant Choir Director has done. This is purely a money saving decision. Having the Assistant Choir Director this year at East has been an extremely beneficial to our rapidly growing program.

2. Although the rationale for the decision is largely numbers-based (student-to-teacher-ratio), many people fail to see the "behind the scenes" work or the impact that the Assistant Choir Director has when she is not specifically in the classroom. Obviously, the Assistant Choir Director in very important in the actual choir classroom (especially considering Mixed Choir has around 50 students this year). Additionally though, this position aids tremendously in the overall functionality of the Choir Program and completes numerous administrative tasks such as organizing events, running sectional rehearsals, meeting with students who need additional help outside of class, preparing students for contests/clinics, etc. etc. This is a big part of the job, and it definitely impacts our choirs.

3. If this change goes forward, we will most likely witness a reduction in the amount of co-curricular choirs we are able to offer here at East. Currently, we offer four after-school opportunities for the students (Madrigal Singers, Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Men's Ensemble, and Les Jolie Voix). Without assistance, no one person can effectively run all of these ensembles. The sheer amount of time for rehearsals just is not feasible for one individual. I am only human and the strain vocally, mentally, and physically this would put on me would diminish the standard of excellence so many have been working to establish at East.

4. In the grand scheme of things, this cut only saves the district 2 FTEs (or two teacher salaries). ALL of the district's high schools are affected, however, since the directors are already teaching at two schools each. If the schools board sees that the community values this position, there is definitely a chance that they may choose to keep the position considering 2 FTEs represent such a small piece of this big puzzle.

Overall, this letter is intended to inform you so that you can make a decision regarding what steps you personally would like to make at this point. The Board will meet again in special session to vote on the proposed deficit elimination plan at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, January 28, 2010 in the auditorium at Plainfield High School -- Central Campus. If you feel that you would like to voice your opinion regarding the elimination for the Assistant Choir Director position, the district has set up an online form for you to post your comments. They WILL be read, and they WILL be considered. To access this forum, go to the district web site under the District Deficit Elimination Strategy link and click on "Public Input/Questions/Comments: Click here" at the very bottom of that page. http://www.psd202.org/departments/budget_deficit.htm In addition, any school board member would be happy to listen to your comments via email. Although the decision will most likely be made by the time of Thursday's meeting, it is open to the community.

Thank you for your continued support of the PEHS Choir Program! Please feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions.

Aubrey Dunham
Director of Choirs
Plainfield East High School
ADunham1@psd202.org
(815) 577-0324