What's New at GTCYS
December 2005 NewsNotes
Holiday Concert Schedule
Each GTCYS orchestra presents two special concerts during the year—one in December and one in the spring. As part of GTCYS’ commitment to outreach, these concerts are traditionally presented in retirement homes, community centers, churches and other venues. Due to space limitations in some venues, parents may not be able to attend both concerts. However, we have designed the year’s concert schedule so that at least one of your orchestra’s two concerts is open to families; please remember that there are two other opportunities during the year to hear students perform at the Festival concerts. Because many nursing home residents and other audience members don’t have an opportunity to hear young musicians perform, we appreciate your understanding of GTCYS’ mission to serve the Twin Cities community.
Philharmonia
Tuesday, December 6
7:00pm (call time 6:30pm)
Minnesota Masonic Home
Bloomington, MN
Priority seating given to Home residents
Symphony
Friday, December 9
12noon (call time 11:15am)
IDS Crystal Court
Downtown Minneapolis
Open to the public
Philharmonic
Sunday, December 11
2:00pm (call time 1:15pm)
Boutwells Landing
Oak Park Heights, MN
Concert for Boutwells residents only
Sinfonia & Concertino
Monday, December 12
7:00pm (call time 6:15pm)
First Lutheran Church
Columbia Heights, MN
Open to the public
Concert Orchestra
Tuesday, December 13
7:30pm (6:45pm call time)
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church
North St. Paul, MN
Open to the public
Please refer to your orchestra’s concert memo for driving directions and details. Remember that your orchestra’s holiday concert is the last event of the semester—there are no December rehearsals after your concert.
Rehearsal Pick Ups
Parents, please remember to pick up your students in a timely manner at the end of rehearsals each week. We’ve had trouble with some students being picked up 45 minutes after rehearsals have ended. Please realize that this is difficult for our rehearsal venues and is also costly for GTCYS. If transportation is difficult, please pick up a carpool list from your RA.
Second Semester
Rehearsals resume on Monday and Tuesday, January 9 and 10, 2006. Rehearsals are at the regular times and locations. Please remember that your orchestra’s holiday concert is the last event of the semester and that there aren’t rehearsals after your concert.
Symphony Tour Reminder
Remember that the first deposit of $300 for the Salt Lake City Tour is due by Friday, December 2. Please mail your registration form and check (payable to Marshall Fields) to the GTCYS office. Payments will not be accepted at rehearsals.
Thank you, Volunteers!
We are grateful to all of the GTCYS parent volunteers who have helped us this fall. We hope to expand our volunteer network, so if you’re interested in helping, please contact Denise.
Parent Captains
Deborah Brister (Philharmonia), Andres Zeller and Carrie Beaner (Sinfonia), Bonnie Turpin (Concertino), Cynthia Roper and Dan Ofstedal (Concert), Nancy Bakke (Philharmonic), Lisa Atkinson and Jim Radomski (Symphony).
Office Volunteers
Lisa Atkinson, Nancy Bakke, Deborah Brister, Kris Callahan, Martha Lips, Mary Reed, Yea-huey Wu
Fall Festival Chaperones
Barbara and David Cooper, Micki Engeriser, Dawn Espindola, Mary Jo Gale, Shirley Hatfield, Bonnie Johnson, Sandi and Tom Mooney, Lisa Opem, Cynthia and David Roper, Susan Schultz, Maggi Sellars, Diane and Joel Stenoien, Glenna and Steve Thompson
Fall Festival Reception Volunteers
Tom Bachelder, Carrie Beaner, Liza Brazelton, Dave Colwell, Liz Colwell, Tim Guhl, Dan Ofstedal, Anurhadha Tummala, Gail Yost, Andres Zeller
Retreat Chaperones
Sherry Braun, David Brazelton, Kris Callahan, Tom Chorn, David Cooper, Ellen Devries, Becky Falk, Dick Fiala, Mary Jo Gale, Bob Hanson, Stefan Helgeson, Scott Hou, Julie Hoyme, Inese Krievans, Gail Manning, Robert Miller, Dan Ofstedal,
Vickie Perschbacher, Brian Peterman, Cynthia Roper, Don Schield, Gregg Simonson, Naomi Staricka, Bonnie and Mark Turpin, Diane Webster, Natasha Wegner, Gail Yost, Dijea Young
Halloween Concert Helpers
Tom Bachelder, Barbara Cooper, Amy Fulco, Lois Mixer, Sandra Muzzy, Mary Radomski
For Sale
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Inclement Weather
In the event of a cancelled rehearsal due to inclement weather, an announcement will be made on WCCO Radio 830AM; TV Channel 4; and Web www.wcco.com. We will also send an email to GTCYS families (for whom we have valid email addresses) and will post a notice on our web site. Decisions regarding cancellations will be made by 3:00pm. Cancellations are very rare, so please assume a rehearsal will continue unless you hear otherwise.
Email Updates
GTCYS sends NewsNotes and other important information via email on a regular basis and we need your current email address. If your address has changed or if you haven’t received emails from us this fall, please notify Denise at 612-870-7611 or send an email to denise@gtcys.org.
December Auditions
Do you know someone who wants to be in GTCYS? We have many openings for second semester and are especially in need of violas, basses, brass and percussionists. Auditions (for new students only) are on Saturday, December 10. Visit www.gtcys.org to download an application or apply online.
Congratulations
Congratulations to all of GTCYS’ students for a wonderful Fall Festival concert. Each orchestra was terrific and we’re proud of your performances. Way to go!
Competitions
Remember that the deadline to register for GTCYS Young Soloists Concerto Competition is Friday, December 9. The preliminary round is on January 7, and the finals are on January 22, both at the SPCO Center. The competition is open to all instruments and ages. Applications are in the GTCYS Student Handbook.
Minnesota Sinfonia’s Young Artist Competition is open to string players under the age of 21 and will be held Sunday, February 19, 2006. First place winner in the senior division wins the Claire Givens Violin Prize of $500.00 and a solo performance with the Sinfonia. Registration deadline is February 3, 2006. For more information, call the Sinfonia office at 612-871-1701 or go to www.mnsinfonia.org
Happy Holidays from the GTCYS staff!
NewsNotes are published at the beginning of every month during the school year for GTCYS parents and students. Look for important rehearsal and concert information here.