Good-bye, Seniors

Graduation night is always bitter-sweet for me. I finally feel relieved about the end of the school year, but it's always hard to say good-bye to the Seniors. This year was especially hard, maybe because this group of Seniors was the first class I had at Lincoln when I also started teaching there.

Varsity Women's Choir, your performance of "You Raise Me Up" was amazing. We know it wasn't perfect, like we all would like for it to be, but it was very inspiring and very beautiful. I've heard lots and lots of comments from teachers, parents, administrators, and former students and their parents about how well you sang and how much they enjoyed it.

Rest up this summer. August will be here before we know it!

Graduation rehearsal

The seniors will have their commencement practice Saturday morning at 10:30. We will rehearse for our graduation song immediately after that, probably around 11:30. We're almost there!

Important end-of-year dates

Wednesday, May 28th, 7:50-9:50, 2nd period final exam. This will be our final rehearsal for graduation until Saturday morning.

Thursday, May 29th, 7:50-9:50, 1st period exam.

Saturday, May 31st, 11:30, Final rehearsal before graduation @ the Coliseum.

Don't forget to pay all your fees and fines ASAP, especially if you are a Senior.

Banquet

We had a great time at the choir banquet last night. I think we set a record for attendance! Thanks for your work in getting it ready, choir officers. Thanks to everyone who spoke for your very nice comments. Also congrats to the following students:

Outstanding Freshman: Brooklyn Dendle
Outstanding Sophomore: Christina Moses
Oustanding Junior: Rachael Dumas
Oustanding Senior: Marissa Huerta
Overall Outstanding Choir Member: Jonathan Shouse

Summer choir camps

June 18 – 21, University of Texas Longhorn All-State Choir Camp, www.longhornmusiccamp.org ($350)

June 22 – 25, Texas Tech All-State Choir Camp, www.ttu.cdu/MusicCamps 806/742-2225 ($350 by June 1)

June 29-July 2, University of Texas at San Antonio All-State Choir Camp, http://music.utsa.edu/choircamp $250 ($275 after June 2)

July 14 – 17 , Hill Country Choral Camp: Texas State University, San Marcos http://www.finearts.txstate.edu/music/index.html ($255 -- $75 deposit due by June 15)

July 13 – 16, Tarleton State University Choir Camp (Stephenville)
Contact holley@tarleton.edu or call 254-968-9133 ($206)

July 13 - 16, Texas Christian University “Purple” All-State Choir Camp
July 16 - 19, Texas Christian University “White” All-State Choir Camp, www.music.tcu.edu/summer_events.asp ($280)

July 16 – 19, University of North Texas All-State Choir Camp; Dr. Z. Randall Stroope, Clinician: www.untchoircamp.com ($295)

August 11 - 12, CHS Region Choir Camp: Choir Room; 5:30-9:00 p.m.
(August 12 only) Convocation rehearsal at 8:00 p.m.

August 18, Convocation rehearsal: 11:30 a.m.

August 19, Convocation: Junell Center, 9:00 a.m. (arrive at 8:30)

Other camps available include Baylor University (already full for girls), Del Mar College, Mary Hardin Baylor in Belton, Sam Houston State in Huntsville, Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, Texas A & M in Commerce, and the University of Texas at Arlington.

Spring Trip

Our spring trip to Houston is right around the corner. We leave in two weeks, so we're right in the middle of preparing for our performance. That's why it's very important that you don't miss any of our after-school rehearsals which are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:45-4:45.

More information about the spring trip will be posted soon.

UIL Contest 08

Recorded at the Region 6 UIL Contest in Andrews on April 10, 2008

UIL Week

It's UIL week. We go to UIL contest on Thursday, April 10th, so it's important that everyone stay focused and work hard toward the same goal. We have two after-school rehearsals left: Monday, 4-7, from 5:30 to 7:30; and Tuesday, 4-8, from 3:45 to 5:00.

On Thursday morning, we leave for Andrews at 5:45. That means you have to be at school at 5:30! That's early, so get to bed at a decent hour the night before.

UIL Concert, JV Choir

Listen to the JV Choir at Tuesday night's concert.

UIL Concert, Varsity Women's Choir

This is the Varsity Women's Choir at last night's concert.

Pre-Contest Concert

We're having our Pre-Contest Concert Tuesday night at 7:30. The Lincoln Concert Choir and the JV Choir will also perform at this concert. I think all of you know how important this concert is for us because it allows us to sing our contest music in public before we actually have to sing in for the judges at UIL contest. The concert should last less than 45 minutes.

The Cactus Cuties sing The National Anthem

You'll be amazed at this performance by a group of girls ranging in age from 8 to 13. They sang the national anthem in Lubbock (their home town) before a Texas Tech women's basketball game on January 20, 2008.

Dinner Theater this Saturday!

Our annual Dinner Theater will be held this Saturday at 6:30 in the Lincoln Cafetorium. Tickets are $11.00, and can be purchased from choir students or at the door. The Dinner Theater is a presentation of popular music by individual choir students and an ensemble or two. This year's theme is Black and White Love Affair, so you'll hear a lot of songs about love.

The food will be catered by Carino's, and will include Pasta Mia Bowtie with tomato sauce, garden salad, and tea. You'll notice that dessert is not included. That's because we'd like for you to take part in our dessert auction. We'll have lots of pretty and tasty choices!

All the proceeds will go toward the choir trip to Houston in May. So plan an evening of good food and good music.

Domine Fili Unigenite (Palestrina)

Does anyone in the Varsity Women's Choir recognize this piece?

Rehearsal schedule

It's 7:41 Monday evening, and I'm getting ready to finally go home after our evening rehearsal. Don't forget that we are rehearsing on Tuesday and Thursday of this week after school, from 3:45 to 5:00. Rearrange your schedule if you have to, but don't miss these rehearsals, unless it is truly an emergency.