APA Orchestra September 22nd, Notes and updates!
- Peter Bement
- Sep 22
- 5 min read
Hello, orchestra students and families!
We continue through September, and we’re just about in the regular routine of things now! The students have been making excellent strides on their repertoire and preparation for their first performances of the year in October, and we’re looking forward to taking the stage soon!
In this week's update:
Rehearsal Schedules
Volunteer reminders
APA Pit Orchestra Reminders
APA Walk for the Arts
Fall Concert Information
Upcoming dates
Concert attire reminders
Rehearsal Schedules
Tuesday, September 23re
Wind Orchestra:
(all winds and percussion)
2:00 p.m.-3:45 p.m.
String Orchestra:
(all strings)
4:00 p.m.-5:45 p.m.
Pianos
Wednesday, September 24th
(Piano students in Marching Band should complete band rehearsal before attending pianos)
Piano Studio
4:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
MPR Classroom
Thursday, September 25th
Wind Orchestra:
(all winds and percussion)
2:00 p.m.-3:45 p.m.
String Orchestra:
(all strings)
4:00 p.m.-5:45 p.m.
Pit Orchestra:
6:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
PIANOS
Friday, September 26th
(Piano students in Marching Band should complete band rehearsal before attending pianos)
Piano Studio
4:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
MPR Classroom
Volunteer Reminders
With events, fundraisers, and performances rapidly approaching, parents are encouraged to check out options for completing your volunteer requirements! Volunteer opportunities to support OMG and the APA Orchestra specifically can be found at our guild sign-up link: https://signup.com/group/1113305906047
Coming up, we will need support volunteers for our off-campus performance at the Rose Center Theater on October 30th. We will have roles and opportunities posted in the coming weeks!
Additionally, APA has performances coming up for Musical Theater, which are awesome opportunities to help the production and see a bit of the show while completing your hours.
Pit Orchestra
Pit has had two fantastic rehearsals, and we've completed the reading of the show in possibly the fastest turn-around yet! There is a lot of practice and improvement to be had in the month ahead, and students need to make sure they are putting in the practice time outside of rehearsal.
Please double-check the rehearsal schedule, and make sure that you (or your student) can be present at every rehearsal! With such a limited amount of time, every minute in rehearsal is vital to prepare for tech week.
The Pit Orchestra future rehearsal dates are as follows:
September 25th: 6-8:30 p.m.
October 2nd: 6-8:30 p.m.
October 4th (Sitzprobe rehearsal): Time TBD
TECH WEEK
October 6th: 5:30-9:30 p.m.
October 7th: 5:30-9:30 p.m.
October 8th: 5:30-10:00 p.m.
October 9th: 5:30-10:00 p.m.
SHOWS:
October 10th: 7:00 p.m.
October 11th: 7:00 p.m.
October 12th: 2:00 p.m.
October 17th: 7:00 p.m.
October 18th: 7:00 p.m.
October 19th: 2:00 p.m.
NOTE: All dates for musical rehearsals and performances are mandatory. Any possible conflicts must be communicated with Mr. Bement and Mr. Myers as soon as possible for discussion about options, as the rehearsal schedule is very impacted.
Volunteer commitment:
As the students put in long hours for the preparation and rehearsal for the show, we traditionally feed the students for each day of tech rehearsal and at each show. This involves a small meal that gives them sustenance and nutrition to get through the rehearsal, and helps provide a much needed boost for the students.
This year, we ask that each family with a student involved in the show contributes to one portion of a meal for the students across the two week run of the production. Dates are available for sign-up here: https://signup.com/go/QXcjJnj
APA Walk for the Arts
Students should have brought home (or will bring home this week) their fundraising packets for APA’s biggest fundraiser of the year, Walk for the Arts. All of the APA departments are in a competition to see who can raise the most donated funds, and students will win a donut party if we’re in first place! After students submit their packets to the APA office, students will receive their green “Walk for the Arts” t-shirt, which should be worn on Friday, October 3rd.
That day, students will meet for the fundraiser celebration at the auditorium, and then walk down to Lake Park, where they will be treated to a picnic lunch and have opportunities to compete in a Limbo tournament and the annual APA Tug-of-War competition. We’re forming our Orchestra team now (and are the current runner-ups from last year, so we’re going for the win!), and any students interested should let Mr. Myers know.
Fall Concert: October 30th
Our opening concert of the season is coming up soon! We will be performing at the Rose Center Theater in Westminster, CA (14140 All American Way, Westminster, CA 92683) on October 30th from 7:00-8:30 p.m., and will feature our String and Wind Orchestra ensembles.
Students will meet at HBHS to load percussion and large instruments in a rental truck, and will carpool in groups (Volunteers will be needed primarily for the transportation!) over to the theater. We’ll have a sound check and performance, and then return equipment that evening to the high school before wrapping up!
This concert is our first addition to our performance calendar this year, and we’re incredibly excited for you to hear what the students have been working on!
Upcoming Dates!
October 3rd: APA Walk for the Arts
October 4th: Shrek the Musical Sitzprobe
October 6th-9th: Tech week: Shrek the Musical
October 10th-12th, 17th-19th: Shrek the Musical
October 30th: APA Orchestra Fall Concert
November 4th: APA Orchestra Photo Day
November 6th: APA Strings Disneyland Recording Workshop
Concert Attire!
As a reminder, all students will need one of the following attire combinations for our opening concert on October 30th:
Option A: Suit or Tux
Black tuxedo or suit (pants and jacket, no jeans)
Pressed black dress shirt
Black bow tie or necktie
Black dress socks (no ankle socks)
Black dress shoes (no Vans, Converse, or sneakers. Black marching shoes are okay!)
Solid Black Belt (if required)
Option B: Dress
Plain black, floor to mid-calf length gown with long or 3/4 sleeves
Black dress shoes (two-inch heels or less, please)
Solid black belt (if required)
Option C: Slacks or Skirt and Top
Long or mid-calf black skirt or black dress slack, with a black top having 3/4 or full-length sleeves.
Black socks or leggings and close-toed black dress shoes (two-inch heels or less, please)
Solid Black belt
Black tie or bowtie (if desired)
In ALL cases:
No excessive jewlery, sequins, sparkles, or distracting accessories
Pants, skirts, and dresses should be well-fit, and not skin-tight (both for presentation and for playing technique!)
No jeans
Shoes must be all black, and cannot be sneakers.
If there is any portion of the concert attire you need to update or fit your student for for pants, dress shirts, and jackets, Friar Tux--Huntington Beach has an excellent relationship with the school. They can get you outfitted at a discounted rate for HBHS.
Thank you for your involvement and support of the APA Orchestra programs!
Mr. Myers
Mr. Bement
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