Orchestra Parents Social Event - December 12th

HRHS Orchestra Families,

Parents and Guardians of Orchestra students are invited to join the HRHS Boosters at a social event on Monday, December 12th, at the Fox & Hound Sports Tavern in Lone Tree, located at 9239 Park Meadows Drive.

We will gather in the Burgundy Room starting at 6 PM.  Please join us if you can!

Fox & Hound Website

Last Scrip Order for 2016 - Due Wed Nov 30th

The last Scrip order of 2016 for physical gift cards is due on Wednesday, November 30th.  Please get your order to Mr. Woodworth by the end of the school day if you are interested. 

Cards usually arrive on Tuesday or Wednesday the following week.

See the Fundraising tab on the website for more information about Scrip.

Winter Showcase Tickets Go On-Sale Monday 11/28/16

HRHS Orchestra Families,

A festive highlight of the Highlands Ranch High School Performing Arts Department is the Winter Showcase. This enchanting event features Holiday Classics performed by a variety of Band, Choir, Orchestra, and Theater ensembles.  There will be three performances in the HRHS Auditorium on the following dates and times:

December 9, 2016 at 7:00pm
December 10, 2016 at 2:00pm
December 10, 2016 at 7:00pm 

Reserved seats may be purchased for $5 each at ShowTix4U.com beginning Monday, November 28, 2016 and will continue to be sold through 12 noon on Thursday, December 8, 2016.

Any remaining seats will be available on a first come, first served, basis beginning 30 minutes before each performance begins.

ShowTix4U Website

November 17th Boosters General Meeting

Orchestra Families,

Or next Booster Club General Meeting is this Thursday, November 17th, from 6:45-7:45 PM in the HRHS Orchestra Room.  The main topics for this meeting will be:

• The Winter Showcase coming up on December 9th and 10th (3 performances total)
• Upcoming Volunteer Work Day (date TBD)

Parents and students are welcome to attend the General Meetings. Volunteers for the Winter Showcase are encouraged to attend to receive additional information about these upcoming events.  The persons who have signed up to volunteer at Winter Showcase will be sent an additional reminder e-mail.  You can always check the volunteer sign-ups by finding the corresponding event's tab on the bottom of the spreadsheet at this link.  You can also add your name and contact information to any open slot.

WE STILL NEED THREE ADDITIONAL VOLUNTEERS FOR THE WINTER SHOWCASE for the Evening Performance on Saturday, 12/10.

Please come to the General Meeting if you are interested in volunteering for any of these time slots.

Volunteer Sign-Ups 2016-2017

We hope to see you there!

Orchestra Photos for 2016-2017 School Year

HRHS Orchestra Families,

Next Monday, November 14th, is picture day for the Orchestra.  The link below will take you to an order form.  Please bring the completed form and payment on picture day.

Contact Ryan Woodworth if you have any questions.

Orchestra Picture Day Form

HRHS Orchestra Restaurant Night Fundraiser at Cuba Cuba

HRHS Orchestra Families,

Please join us this Thursday, November 10th, for a fundraiser Restaurant Night at the Cuba Cuba Sandwicheria restaurant located next to Rocketfizz in the King Soopers shopping center area at University Blvd and Highlands Ranch Parkway (9567 S. University Blvd).

15% of all sales will benefit the HRHS Orchestra!

And be sure to tell your friends, family members, neighbors, co-workers, friendly strangers, and anyone else you can think of to stop by or order over the phone this Thursday.  Cuba Cuba will be open for business from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM.  MAKE SURE THEY BRING A COPY OF THE FLYER (THESE WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE FEEDER FESTIVAL AND ARE ALSO LINKED BELOW) OR MENTION HRHS ORCHESTRA IF ORDERING OVER THE PHONE!

You can checkout the Cuba Cuba website, including the menu, at this link:
Cuba Cuba Sandwicheria Website

The restaurant night flyer can be found at this link:
Cuba Cuba Restaurant Night Flyer

Feeder Festival Reminder

Feeder Festival is coming up this Wednesday, November 9th, at 6:30 PM in the HRHS Gymnasium.

More detailed information about Feeder Fest can be found at this link:

2016 Feeder Festival Information

• HRHS students and families will be bringing treats and snacks for sale and donation after the concert. We need families to bring treats, please help!
• HRHS Orchestra has some cool orchestra merchandise including HRHS Orchestra Shirts, custom tumblers and mugs. We would love to get you some cool high school orchestra gear!
• King Soopers Cards will be available and are $5 to start and can be reloaded for all gas and food purchases.

High School students should plan to stay after school to help set-up and then help with the Middle School and Elementary Orchestra students.

Parent volunteers helping out with the Feeder Festival will be contacted with more specific information about their participation.

Admission is free, so bring the whole family!  See you at the show!

"I'm the guy who writes these blog posts, and I approved this message"

Coffee Fundraiser for Student Accounts

HRHS Orchestra Families,

Students will be provided order forms in class for a Coffee sale that is designed to complement our Butter Braid sales (Who doesn't like coffee with their Butter Braids?)  Like the Butter Braids, the coffee order forms need to be turned in with payment by November 9th.  The coffee should arrive no later than the Butter Braids so that the students can deliver them together to anyone who orders both.  Each bag of coffee is sold for $12, with $5 going into the student's fundraising account for each bag sold.  If you need to print out additional Coffee order forms, they can be accessed at this link.

Coffee Order Form (scroll to bottom of document)

If you have any questions, please contact Ryan Woodworth.

Butter Braid Fundraiser for Student Accounts

HRHS Orchestra Families,

Students have been provided order forms in class for our Butter Braid fundraiser.  These forms need to be turned in by November 9th along with payment.  Each Butter Braid is sold for $13.  Students receive $5.20 in their fundraising account for each Butter Braid sold.  You can retrieve and print out extra forms using the link below.  The Butter Braids will arrive in time for students to be able to deliver them before the Thanksgiving holiday.

Butter Braid Order Form

If you have any questions, please contact Ryan Woodworth.

Tumbler Fundraiser for Student Accounts

HRHS Orchestra Families,

Students have been provided order forms that can be used for ordering both the Sports Team/College tumblers and the HRHS Orchestra custom tumblers.  All local sales are to be made using these order forms and students will be responsible for collecting funds and delivering the product.  Family members, Friends, etc, who are located out of the area may place their purchases for the Sports Team/College tumblers on-line.  Refer to the on-line ordering instructions below.  Your student's name will need to be supplied with the order to get credit for these sales.

NOTE: The HRHS Orchestra custom tumblers cannot be purchased on-line.

Whether ordered via the paper form or on-line, tumblers are purchased for $20 each.  Of that amount, $8 per tumbler goes into your student's fundraising account.

The on-line orders are made through the following website (gaschoolstore.com):  Tumbler Order Website

• Once on the site click on the large Shop Now button near the upper right hand corner
• This will take you to the Let's Get Started screen
• Enter the following code as the Organization Online ID:  469270
• Click "Next"
• Enter the First and Last name of the student you wish to support
• Click "Next"
• At the top of the next screen it should display your selected student's name along with HIGHLANDS RANCH HIGH SCHOOL ORCH as the benefitting organization
• Under the EASY ACCESS column select Tumblers - Team & More
• Find the product you want and complete your online purchase

  If you have any questions, please contact Ryan Woodworth.

October 20th Boosters General Meeting

Orchestra Families,

Or next Booster Club General Meeting is this Thursday, October 20th, from 7:15-8:15 PM in the HRHS Orchestra Room.  The main topics for this meeting will be:

• Preparing for the Feeder Festival on November 9th
• The Winter Showcase coming up in December

Parents and students are welcome to attend the General Meetings. Volunteers for the Feeder Fest and Winter Showcase are encouraged to attend to receive additional information about these upcoming events.  The persons who have signed up to volunteer will be sent an additional reminder e-mail.  You can always check the volunteer sign-ups by finding the corresponding event's tab on the bottom of the spreadsheet at this link.  WE STILL NEED FIVE ADDITIONAL VOLUNTEERS FOR THE WINTER SHOWCASE for Evening Performances on 12/9 (2 volunteers needed) and 12/10 (3 volunteers needed).  Please come to the General Meeting if you are interested in volunteering for either of these time slots.

Volunteer Sign-Ups 2016-2017

We hope to see you there!

Life is Like a Box of Chocolates ...

HRHS Orchestra Families,

The Booster Club has purchased boxes of chocolate bars for one of this year's fundraising opportunities.  This fundraiser will work as follows:

• Purchase a box of 60 chocolate bars for $60 (cash or check made out to HRHS Orchestra), $30 will be immediately added to your student's fundraising account
• Sell the chocolate bars for $1 each and re-coup your $60 investment
• Purchase another box for $60 and repeat as many times as you like while supplies last, $30 out of each $60 purchase goes into your student's account

If you sell each chocolate bar for $1, you will break even and your student will earn $30 in fundraising money for each box.

You will have an opportunity to buy a chocolate bar to sample for yourself at Wednesday's concert, at which time you can also purchase one or more boxes to join this fundraiser and immediately put money into your student's account.  If you are interested in taking advantage of this fundraiser, please bring $60 cash or a check for $60 made out to HRHS Orchestra to Wednesday's concert, we will have boxes available to purchase on the spot and take home with you.

See you there!

Fall Concert Reminder

Our Fall Concert is coming up this Wednesday, October 5th, at 7:00 PM at the HRHS auditorium.

Anyone wishing to donate treats or bottled water to sell before/after the concert and at intermission please bring them to the Orchestra table set up outside the auditorium entrance on the day of the performance.  The Booster Club will be selling these items for $1 each to go towards the Booster's General fund.  Thanks in advance for anything you can provide.

If you are interested in purchasing a recording of the performance, please contact Ryan Woodworth about pre-order opportunities prior to the concert.

Volunteers helping out with the Fall Concert will be contacted with more specific information about their participation.

See you at the show!

Fundraising Update

Orchestra Families,

Thanks to everyone who participated in our SNAP Fundraiser!  We've met a significant amount of our goal, but are still a few thousand dollars short.  This fundraiser is still open for the next 6 days so there is still time for you to let potential donors know about it and provide them with this link to the site.  Checkout the site to see who has donated!

HRHS Orchestra 2016 Snap! Fundraising Site

A note to those who have recently acquired or are considering acquiring a King Soopers refillable gift card, this is one of the easiest ways to collect funds directly into your student's account that can be used for your $100 fee and other orchestra expenses.  You can fill your card prior to purchasing groceries or gas either at the customer service counter or at the checkout stand just prior to making your purchase.  For additional information on direct fundraising for your student please visit the Fundraising tab on the HRHS Orchestras website.

HRHS Orchestra Fundraising Tab

2016 HRHS Orchestra Play-A-Thon Reminder

It's almost time for the 10th Annual HRHS Orchestra Play-A-Thon. The 2016 Play-A-Thon will be held on Saturday, October 1st, from 11:00am - 4:30pm at the HRHS Orchestra rooms and auditorium. Students from both the Chamber and Symphony Orchestras will be playing for 5 hours to improve technique, music performance, pitch, rhythm and receive rehearsal time for their upcoming concert and upcoming honor orchestra auditions. Stage etiquette and concert expectations will also be addressed.

This year’s Play-A-Thon is structured a little differently. The aim of the Play-A-Thon this year is to raise funds to benefit the HRHS Orchestra program. We have partnered with the SNAP fundraising program to raise money for specific needs in the orchestra program. SNAP is an easy email donation platform we are using this year. We ask all student to participate either through SNAP or through donation page found on the website. We look to purchase items from the Director’s Wish List and enable a scholarship fund to benefit students that may need help in participating in specific activities throughout the year.

You will see the Orchestra Director’s Wish List linked on the orchestra website. Items include new technology, class sets of music books and other items that will benefit all of the Orchestra students. Please make donations and fee checks payable to: HRHS Orchestra Boosters Donation money is due by October 7th. Remember, anyone can support the HRHS Orchestra Play-A-Thon (Family, friends, neighbors, teachers, businesses, coaches, private teachers, DYAO, CYSO, Youth Orchestras, South Suburban Symphony, or local orchestras or organizations).

A Play-A-Thon fee of $5 for each student will cover lunch and snacks as well as teambuilding activity costs. Students will pay at check-in and will need to be checked in by 11:00am on Saturday, October 1st. Names of all who participate will be added to a Door Prize Jar and there will hourly door prize drawings.

Volunteers helping out with Play-A-Thon will be contacted with more specific information about their participation. The schedule for Saturday is as follows.

Orchestra Play a thon

Saturday, October 1, 2016 (11:00 AM – 4:30 PM)

10:30 AM Council Report

11:00-11:15 Warmup- (all on stage)

11:15– 12:15 PM Symphony runthrough, then Chamber

12:15 – 12:50 Lunch

12:50 – 1:50 Symphony Rehearsal – Stage

12:50 – 1:50 Chamber Sectionals

Violin I – orchestra Room

Violin II – ensemble Room

Viola – Choir Room

Cellos – Tech Lab

Bass – Practice Room

1:50-2:00 Break

2:00-3:00 Chamber Rehearsal – Stage

2:00-3:00 Symphony Sectionals

Violin I – orchestra Room

Violin II – ensemble Room

Viola – Choir Room

Cellos – Tech Lab

Bass – Practice Room

3:00-3:30 PM Activity

3:30 – 4:30 PM Symphony and Chamber Mock Concert on stage

~Invite friends and family to watch!

Orchestra Scholarship Donations

HRHS Orchestra Families,

Each year the Orchestra Boosters provides supplementary scholarship funding to help students who are in need of some extra assistance to help pay for fees, private lessons or to participate in other Orchestra activities.

Anyone wishing to donate to this scholarship fund may do so by going to the Friends of the Orchestra tab on the HRHS Orchestra website. The DONATE button is located towards the bottom of the page. Checks made out to HRHS Booster Club may also be given to Mr. Woodworth or sent to the Boosters' treasurer, Kim Smith-Gross, indicating that it is for the scholarship fund.

Any amount you can chip in makes a difference. Thanks for giving this your consideration.

SNAP Fundraising

Orchestra Parents,

Please take a moment to read about one of this year's most significant fundraising efforts.

We will be kicking off our Snap! Raise campaign this week. Snap is an online donation campaign that allows our program to receive donations from our networks and supporters. Snap uses the power of email, text, and social media with a safe, fun, and interactive approach. All we ask is that each parent/guardian help their student gather 20 or more email addresses of their biggest fans. Please review the info below to see just how much of an impact this campaign can have for our students.

*Your contacts are strictly private and protected, and never sold or shared.*

Snap Fact Overview: 

1. Safe and Protected - Snap! Raise is the safest online donation campaign available. All data is private and never redistributed. Your student’s information on the Snap page is less detailed than what would be on a team website roster.

2. Online donation platform - Reach potential donors via email, social media, and text to ask them to support our program and visit the page, where they can seamlessly donate.

3. Email Strategy - All supporters will receive a receipt for their gift that is tax deductible, included with a personalized thank you from the student. There are three reminder emails sent to donors, with an option to unsubscribe. 

4. Network - Snap’s platform and process is what makes their campaigns so successful. It allows an extensive reach across communities by providing options to connect with multiple donors and their social networks, maximizing our raising efforts.  

Check out the following Local Example of a successful fundraising campaign:

Mountain Vista High School Band & Orchestra: https://app.snap-raise.com/fundraisers/5232

Attachments area

September 1st Boosters Meeting

Orchestra Families,

Please note that the new start time for this Thursday's (9/1/16) Boosters Meeting at the HRHS Orchestra Room is 6:15 PM (This supersedes what appears in the Orchestra Calendar).

Anyone who has signed up to volunteer at the Play-A-Thon (10/1/16) and/or Fall Concert (10/5/16) should be in attendance. See link below for who has signed up.

Volunteer Sign-Ups 2016-2017

Golden Music Recruitment Fundraising Opportunity - HRHS Training Session 8/16/2016 at 7 PM

Our first fundraising opportunity is right around the corner and we are soliciting volunteers to participate. Golden Music (website: goldenmusic.co) is offering an opportunity to raise funds if we can coordinate groups of volunteers to work several events with them.

Any parents and students interested in signing up will need to attend a short training session in the HRHS Orchestra room on Tuesday, August 16th, at 7 PM. The training will last approximately 90 minutes. Approximately 10 volunteering events for this fundraiser will occur beginning the week of August 15th and extending through Labor Day week. Golden Music has requested up to 20 volunteers per event. Each event will last approximately 4 hours. We understand that your time available to dedicate to volunteering can be limited, but we would like to supply as many volunteers to as many events as we can to make the most of this fundraising opportunity. Students and families can receive volunteer hours and Orchestra lettering points for participating in the training and working the events.

More information about the events to be worked, locations, dates, and times will be provided at the training session on Tuesday, August 16th, at 7 PM in the HRHS Orchestra room. The HRHS Orchestra Boosters are asking for your help to make this important first fundraising opportunity a success. We hope to see you on Tuesday. Please contact Ryan Woodworth with any questions you may have prior to Tuesday's training session at rswoodworth@dcsdk12.org.

Reminder to RSVP for Orchestra Banquet

Tomorrow, April 27, is the last day to RSVP for our Year End Orchestra Banquet. Please RSVP ASAP.

The banquet is scheduled for May 2 @ 5:30pm.

The Orchestra Boosters will provide a main dish (pulled pork sandwiches), and we are asking families to:

1. RSVP to help us get an accurate estimate on how much food to order
2. Sign up to bring either a side dish or a dessert to help round out the meal

Please go to our Sign Up Genius, where you can RSVP for the number of people who will be attending and sign up to bring either a side dish or a dessert.

The evening will include the meal, select performances, and an awards and slideshow presentation.

PLEASE RSVP for Year End Orchestra Banquet

Our Year End Orchestra Banquet is scheduled for May 2 @ 5:30pm. 

The Orchestra Boosters will provide a main dish (pulled pork sandwiches), and we are asking families to:

1.  RSVP to help us get an accurate estimate on how much food to order
2.  Sign up to bring either a side dish or a dessert to help round out the meal

Please go to our Sign Up Genius, where you can RSVP for the number of people who will be attending and sign up to bring either a side dish or a dessert.

PLEASE RSVP BY APRIL 27

The evening will include the meal, select performances, and an awards and slideshow presentation.

Superior Ratings at State-Wide CHSAA Competition

CONGRATULATIONS to all of the HRHS Orchestra and Wind Ensemble Members for their unheard of performance and honors at the state-wide CHSAA competition this week!

We had three ensembles perform -- Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, and Full Orchestra. All three ensembles received a straight sweep of Superior ratings. It is very rare for even one top ensemble to receive a straight superior rating. I have not heard of another school in the state accomplish this feat with three ensembles.

Huge shout out to Kevin Larsen and the Wind Ensemble for their awesome support and performance at contest, we couldn't have done it with out you. Again, congratulations to all our Symphony and Chamber students on their outstanding performance! Bravo!!!

Transitioning Treasurer

Thanks to all who participated in the online voting process to help us select a new Orchestra Boosters Treasurer for 2016-2017. By unanimous vote, we will move forward with transitioning Kim Gross into the role of Treasurer.

THANK YOU to MELANIE HALL,  who has served as our Treasurer for the past two years. We appreciate your service to the Orchestra! Melanie's help has been invaluable, and she has made a positive impact on our entire program through her service. We look forward to the contributions she will continue to make to the Orchestra Boosters as a veteran parent and Booster member.

April in Orchestra

April 1 -- World's Finest Chocolate Bars Sale Begins. Buy a box for $60, $30 goes back to your family account. Students/families can buy as many boxes as they like to sell. Great way to pay the orchestra fee or future expenses.
Information here

April 12 -- Orchestra CHSSA Contest @ Cherokee Trail High School
Students will be excused all day.  Bus leaves HRHS at 7am and returns by 2:30. We invite any families or parents to be in the audience if possible.

• Symphony Performs at 8:30 am
• Chamber Performs at 10:46 am
• Chamber/ Wind Ensemble Full Orchestra at 1pm

April 13 @ 6pm, HRHS Auditorium -- Spring Break 2017 New York Trip Kickoff Meeting
Find out information for the trip and fundraising opportunities to help pay for the trip.

April 20 @ 7pm Arts Alive, HRHS Commons, Symphony Performs, Chamber Attends

April 28 @ 7pm -- Great Works Concert, St. Andrew's United Methodist Church
Chamber Performs, Symphony attends

Banquet DATE CHANGE Monday May 2 @ 5:30pm dinner, awards to follow

More info TBA

Orchestra Fee 
You should have recently received an account balance or remaining fee due statement from the treasurer. (Melanie Hall) please let us know if you have any questions. Thank You!

Upcoming Orchestra Events

Please mark your calendars and plan to be part of these HRHS Orchestra events coming up in February and March:

• February 18 @ 7pm Booster Meeting 
• March 10 @ 7pm Booster Meeting
• March 12 -- Orchestra Family Work Day (more details coming)
• March 16 @ 7pm Spring Orchestra Concert, HRHS Auditorium

All parents and students are invited to attend Booster Meetings, and students receive points toward lettering for both their own attendance and the attendance of their parents. We hope to see you there!

Thanks for Supporting Pizza Night!

Thanks to all those who turned out and supported our Nicolo's Pizza Night in January!

Nicolo's donated 15% of the evening to HRHS Orchestras and has sent us a check for $220. Great Job Orchestra Families, thanks for getting the word out!!

Pizza Night Tomorrow at Nicolo's

Make it pizza for dinner on Tuesday, January 26, and Nicolo's in Highlands Ranch will donate 15% of all receipts for eat-in, carry-out or delivery orders from 4:30-8:30 p.m. to HRHS Orchestras.

Tell everyone you know to come and mention HRHS Orchestras!

Nicolo's Pizza
9346 S University Blvd, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126
Phone:(303) 791-9800

Orchestra boosters will be around starting at 7pm at Nocolo's to meet any families with questions about the program. We are also starting our search for parents interested in leading with the boosters this next school year.

Private Lesson Registration Due January 22

HRHS Orchestra is excited to launch a pilot program offering private lessons during our ensemble classes (Symphony and Chamber) during February, March and April. Participation in these private lessons is entirely voluntary, but we believe it will be a tremendous benefit to our students! Through the gifts of some generous donors, we also have funds available for students in financial need so that everyone has an opportunity to participate. Contact Mr. Woodworth for details on financial aid.

Private lessons can help students:

• Have more fun on their instruments
• Perform with greater confidence
• Learn new techniques and skills on the instrument
• Play more advanced music
• Prepare for any auditions
• Learn how to practice independently
• Learn new solo music

Lesson Details:

• Each Lesson is 1 on 1 instruction between an area professional musician/ teacher and your student. 
• There will be two options for receiving lessons: Weekly (4 per month) or every other week (2 per month). 
• Each lesson will be 30 minutes in length. 
• Each student and parent will commit via contract to the entire pilot program of three month 
• Each lesson will cost $25 paid to the private instructor by cash or check at the beginning of each month for the entire month's worth of lessons. 
• Student accounts may be used as reimbursement for lesson payments as long as the student account has a positive balance and all fees have been paid in full.

Click here for full details, and contact Mr. Woodworth if you still have questions.

__________________________

Mark your calendar and join us for a pizza night fundraiser Tuesday, January 26. Nicolo's will donate 15% of all receipts for eat-in, carry-out or delivery orders from 4:30-8:30 pm to HRHS Orchestras. Tell everyone you know to come and mention HRHS Orchestras! 

Nicolo's Pizza
9346 S University Blvd, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126
Phone:(303) 791-9800

Orchestra boosters will be around starting at 7pm at Nocolo's to meet any families with questions about the program. We are also starting our search for parents interested in leading with the boosters this next school year.

January Orchestra News

Welcome to the second semester! Here's what you need to know about Orchestra happenings for January:

Nicolo's Pizza Night January 26th
Mark your calendar and plan a pizza night for Tuesday, January 26. Nicolo's will donate 15% of all receipts for eat-in, carry-out or delivery orders from 4:30-8:30 p.m. to HRHS Orchestras.

Scholarship Applications
Before the break, seniors received scholarship applications. Each year the Orchestra Boosters award one or more scholarships to deserving graduates. These are for students attending any post-secondary institution, regardless of declared major (you don't have to be a music major), and all seniors in either Symphony or Chamber are encouraged to apply. Click here for the application and guidelines. Applications are due March 2.