Show Choir mini-tour tomorrow and Choreography Video

Reminder: tomorrow is the Show Choir mini-tour.  Bring your green outfits and put them in the dressing rooms.  We will leave class at 1:45pm to change and then load the bus beside the Activity Center.
All Show Choir Competition choreography video is posted on in the dropbox public folder.  Here is the link:       https://www.dropbox.com/sh/k85s38as5zbwhui/XTCUrK9uPZ

Harrison Show Choir

Thank you Bella Vita Photography for this great composite picture of our Harrison Show Choir! Everyone worked really hard during our rehearsal today and we got a lot accomplished. Don't forget our show choir mini-tour on Tuesday and our Exam rehearsals (regular time) this week.

Show Choir choreo session and IWAA opportunity this weekend

The Harrison Community Choir has a concert this Sunday at 2:30pm in the Activity Center.  Remember: bringing me a program from a concert you attended is an easy way to get some IWAA points (even more points if you tell me what you thought of the performance is a note attached to your program).
Show Choir has a choreography session with Eric this Sunday, December 15th from 5pm-8pm.  Bring your competition music.

Holiday Concert

Tomorrow, Wednesday, December 11th, is our Holiday Concert. Students who are performing in small groups (i.e. duets, Earbuds, Madrigal) will have a chance to practice on stage with the sound system from 4-5pm. Then pictures begin after 5pm (refer to your schedule so you know when to report in uniform for your group's picture).  

Mrs. Vidal sent me a text today to tell me the Treble Cats corrected shirts have arrived.  Treble Cats should change into their outfits tomorrow at the beginning of 4th bell so that they will have at least one run-through in their uniform before the show.
The Show Choir tour has been rescheduled (with abbreviated stops) from 1:50pm- 4:30pm next Tuesday, December 17th.

Great Job Tonight!!

All choirs did a great job this evening.  Outdoor venues are difficult and you all afforded yourselves very well.  My son said on the drive home: "That was fun, but next year I'm wearing two layers of gloves and socks."  Special thanks to Mrs. Quinlivan who played with frozen fingers for most of the evening.
Our next performance for Show Choir is Tuesday, December 10th in community outreach concerts at several local senior centers.  Then on Wednesday, December 11th ALL CHOIRS have a Holiday Concert at the Activity Center.

Performance Today

Music selections for Tree Lighting Performance:
Junior School singers- report at 6pm, sing @ 6:20: We Need a Little Christmas; Peppermint Winter & Mistletoe
Show Choir- report at 6:20, sing @6:30: Where Are You Christmas; Winter Wonderland; I'll Be Home for Christmas (& maybe Sleigh Ride if we have time)
Treble Cats- report at 6:20, sing after Show Choir: Oh, Santa; Last Christmas
High School Concert Choir- report at 6:30, sing after Treble Cats: Counting Down to Christmas; Ding-a Ding-a Ding
ALL CHOIRS- after Concert Choir: carol with the crowd signing Deck the Halls, 12 Days of Christmas & Silent Night
Dress warmly.  See everyone there!

Enjoy Our Snow Day, See You All Tomorrow

Tomorrow is the Harrison Tree Lighting Event.  The High School Choir has won the canned food drive and will be performing last at the event.  The High School Choir has also chosen all of the Holiday Carols we will sing together.  This is a graded event for all choirs.

All singers will report to downtown Harrison (just past Harrison Bakery) on Harrison Ave.
You may want to warm-up on the way to town (especially the concert choirs who have some high notes to sing)  Remember: When your group leaves the stage, do not leave the area because we are singing together at the end.

Junior School Choir Singers will sign in with Mrs. Purdy at 6pm.  We will sing starting @ 6:20pm.  The Show Choir and Treble Cats will report at 6:20pm and sing @ 6:30pm- 6:45pm.
High School Concert Choir will report at 6:35pm and sing from @ 6:50- until the tree lighting (@7:00pm).

Then, after the tree is lit, ALL CHOIR MEMBERS will sing Deck the Halls, The Twelve Days of Christmas and Silent Night with the crowd in attendance (whether you are on the stage or in the crowd at the time).  Mrs. Purdy will have the green/red carol books.  If you need one, please grab it as you leave the stage and join the crowd.  You are not dismissed until after Silent Night.  Return the carol book to me on Monday at school.

Our wonderful Music Boosters will be in attendance selling hot chocolate, funnel cakes and fired Oreos.  I also hear that Harrison Bakery will be open.  This has always been a very fun event for our choirs and the community.  Remember to dress warmly, especially if you are watching the parade before the singing starts and staying for the entire event.  See you there!

Update for the Tree Lighting

Lots of cans just came in for our Canned Food Drive…...I'm exited to see which choir wins the contest!  Remember, the winning choir gets to perform last and choose all of the holiday carols that we will sing with the crowd this Saturday at the Harrison Tree Lighting Event.
We perform after the Harrison V.O.C.E. community choir.  More details have been shared during class.  Let me know if you have any questions.

Introducing our holiday canned food drive contest: Choirs vs Cheerleaders

To hopefully increase the overall number of canned goods collected for the Mayor's Fund:  Harrison Voices is having a collection contest against all of the cheerleaders to bring in the most canned goods.  The contest starts next Monday (December 2nd) and finishes next Friday (December 6th).  So we have one week to bring in the most canned goods that we can.  Ladies who are in both activities should bring canned goods to both groups.

To encourage you to really get involved in this project, I am holding a secondary contest between Junior School choir students and High School choir students:

The choir that has brought in the most canned goods to our choir room by Friday, December 6th will get to sing last at the Christmas Tree lighting performance on Saturday, December 7th in downtown Harrison.  That means you have the latest report time and get to close the show when the most people will be in attendance for the tree lighting.

The winning choir also gets to pick which Holiday Carols EACH GROUP gets to sing with the crowd.   So, if the High School wins, they get to go last and decide which three holiday carols they will sing with the crowd and which three carols the Junior School has to sing.   If the Junior School Choir wins, they get to go last and decide what Holiday Carols everyone gets to sing.

Use the holiday break to go shopping!!!  Clip coupons, raid home pantries, call grandmas (mine always has some stock piled).  Bring in canned goods and only canned goods.

Good Luck everyone!!!

Busy Week

Last week was a busy week.  All choirs did a great job on Tuesday with the Veteran's Day Ceremony Performance.  I am very proud of the respect our students have shown to those who serve our country.

We will continue to audition solos for the Holiday Concert next week.  Pictures from my training trip to Rome are posted on the Harrison Voices Facebook page.

Practice guide video can be found at:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/k85s38as5zbwhui/XTCUrK9uPZ

Show Choir practice session for section 1 is:
VID_20131113_084758_628.mp4

Treble Cats choreography for the next section of Last Christmas can be found at:
VID_20131115_112621_237.mp4

Raffle Tickets due before Friday & some pictures

Pictures of some of our students after singing at the Mercy West Hospital community open house.

Show Choir Choreo Clinic

Just a reminder:  Show Choir has their choreography clinic tomorrow (Sunday, October 13th).  We will meet on the Activity Center stage at 1pm and dance until 5pm.  He is going to teach choreography and blocking so we need every singer/dancer to attend.  You may want to bring a water- Eric is going to make you break a sweat.  See you there.

NYC is coming next year!! Get ready!!

High School Choir students are working Halloween Nights at Parky's Farm to raise money for next year's NYC trip.  Another opportunity to join the fun is Saturday, October 26th.  See me Monday if you want to sign up.

Fall Concert Tonight

Some of our choir students preparing our smiles for tonight's performance- our music and dancing is ready and we can't wait to show off our skills at the concert.

Fall Concert Tomorrow

We will hold our first concert of the 2013-2014 school year tomorrow, Wednesday, October 9th.  All choirs (Show Choir, Wildcat Concert Choir, Treble Cats and the Junior School Singers) will perform.  Call time is 6:30 for show choir, 6:40 for Treble Cats and 6:45pm for Concert Choir and Junior School Singers.  Please check in for attendance and vocally warm-up.  Remember to wear your Harrison Voices t-shirt!!  We will see you at the show.  Curtain at 7pm for parents, friends and guests.  Have fun! Sing your heart out!

Thanks

I want to thank all of the wonderful musicians at Harrison for working hard this week as well as being patient with me while I have had laryngitis and been unable to sing.  We only have 2 1/2 weeks until our first concert and all of our singers & dancers will need to keep up the good work expanding our musical growth in order to be ready.

Handbook forms are due

All choir members had paperwork due today.  The Emergency Medical Authorization form, Handbook signature form and T-shirt order (new design this year- everyone needs a shirt except Show Choir) need to be turned in ASAP.  Submitting these forms are your first graded event.  Feel free to contact me through e-mail if you are unsure if you have already turned in our forms.

Show Choir Car Wash

We had a great Show Choir car wash today.  Here are some pictures of members drumming up business and washing cars.  We made $340 and I have a clean car for the first day of school on Wednesday!

Great Day at Show Choir lock-in, car wash tomorrow

Great day at Show Choir lock-in yesterday.  We accomplished a lot in 12 hours.  Our members progressed from body positioning/choreography basics and beginning vocal technique in the morning all the way to full out choreography for our closer before we left for the day.

Eric (our choreographer in the red) keeps us moving with choreo that is so fast (check out the motion shot) that the only way to grab a picture of our hard working singer/dancers is when they're standing still.

I am posting the video of the final run-through of "Home" on Saturday to our Dropbox account.  A couple of members said that they want to practice with a video on their own and asked me to post it.  Please send me an email or text (with your email address written in the text somewhere) if you want me to share the Dropbox file with you.

Car Wash tomorrow.  We will set up @4pm and start washing cars at 4:45 or 5:00 (whenever we are ready) in the Activity Center driveway.  We still need two more water hoses and another bottle of liquid car soap.  - text me if you are in show choir and can bring something we need.

Great Conference

Great Conference with Dr. Tim today in Indy.  Looking forward to using our new wisdom at the Show Choir lock-in on Saturday.  Ready to Sing, Dance and Make a Joyful Noise!

This week in Harrison Voices

Junior School Open House is Wednesday starting at 7pm.

Thursday is the leadership conference with Dr. Tim Lautzenheizer in Indianapolis for five of our Harrison Voices students.  If you are going, please wear a choir t-shirt and bring funds for a fast food dinner break after the seminar.  If you have questions about times or locations, please email or text me.

Saturday is our Show Choir lock-in starting (for returning members- remember to bring your old costumes for approval) at 8am and for new members at 9am.  Bring your packed lunch, be prepared to meet with out costume parents for measurements and settle up fee balances.  We will be singing, dancing, getting to know each other, discussing this year's dates, class expectations, show t-shirt design and as much as we can fit in during the day.  Students will be fed dinner at 5pm by our music boosters and will be dismissed at 9pm.  See you there.

Show Choir Lock-in Details

Show Choir students and parents: watch the mail this week for your Welcome Back letter and lock-in information. If you are in Show Choir and haven't received anything by next Wednesday, please let me know.

Soon we will begin

I have been filing new music into our high school and junior school music libraries this week.  I can't wait to get started!  If you are in Show Choir, watch your mail for information about our August lock-in and car wash.  Everyone else enjoy the rest of your summer and I will see you in class on the first day of school.- Mrs. Purdy

Car Wash today

Don't forget the music booster car wash Saturday between 1pm and 5pm. If you are not participating in the fundraiser, tell all your friends, neighbors and family about how they can support our students by having their car washed.  It is at PNC bank by Home Depot in Harrison.  Tell everyone about it- it will be a great sunshiny day to get your car washed for a good cause.

Music Booster Car Wash

Event: Music Booster Car Wash
Date: July 27th
Time: 1pm to 4pm
Location: FCN Bank (by Home Depot)

This fundraiser is open to all music students.   100% of the money we make will be shared equally between the students that work and will go into their individual accounts.   Please bring buckets, sponges and towels with you.   We can also use a few students to bring instruments so we can have a small pep band periodically to try and attract attention.  We also need a couple of posters made.  Please arrive at 12:45 to setup.

SCA video: opening song

The video files of Kevin and Jenny's performance at Showchoir Camps of America are so big- we have to post them one song at a time.  Here is song 1: "We Are Family".....more to follow.

Our wonderful music boosters have two events coming up that we really need your help with.  Both of these events are new this year.  If you are able to work either / both of these events, click on the link and sign up.

The first event is at the Harrison July 4th event.  We are grilling and frying and selling drinks.  We serve from 6pm until dark.  

Click to signup: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040448ACAD2EA64-harrison

The second event is at the John Hunt Morgan Heritage Trail Dedication at Village Park on July 13th, 2013.   We will be grilling and frying and selling drinks.  We serve from 10am until 6pm. 

 Click to signup: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040448ACAD2EA64-john

SCA Rehearsal Pictures

Here are some pictures from Kevin and Jenny's final rehearsal before the SCA show.  Video of the final show will be posted soon.

SCA

We are having a great time at Showchoir Camps of America.  Our students are learning from top-notch choreographers and vocal coaches while preparing a rockin' show.  Thank you Music Boosters for raising the funds to send our dance captains to camp.

TAG day today

Cabaret last night was a great show and fundraiser for our musicians.  Today is TAG day for the bands and choirs.  Students are going door to door asking for donations to our organization.  Students may also still send letters in relation to TAG day.  Remember, this fundraiser helps defer YOUR costume costs for next year.

Busy Week of Performance Opportunities

As the school year starts to wind down- Harrison Junior School and High School Choirs are heating up.  On Tuesday, May 14th our Spring Awards Concert will feature the junior school singers followed by the Treble Cats and "The Remnants" (an a cappella group from Miami University).  After the junior school special awards are distributed the Show Choir and Concert Choir will perform, followed by our high school choir awards (both service awards and special awards).
On Thursday, May 16th the high school Show Choir will tour the elementary school buildings to encourage music recruitment, advertise our May Cabaret and talk about our kids summer camp (Aug 12th- 15th)
Finally, we wrap up the week with Show Choir's big night of LaRosa's spaghetti dinner and over eighteen exciting tunes performed by members of the Harrison Harmonics.  Our first annual May Cabaret is $8 for students or seniors and $10 for adults.  You can print an order form from the link to the right and send it to Mrs. Purdy at the high school, order from any show choir member or call the high school and place an order with Mrs. Ungru.  Dinner start at 6 pm, show starts at 7:30pm with a dessert and coffee at intermission.  See you there!

Great Opportunities to Support our School Musicians

Before the school year draws to a close we have several opportunities to support Harrison musicians.  We have a two day raffle (Wednesday 4/24 and Thursday 4/25) for two tickets to Saturday evening's PENTATONIX concert at Bogarts.  Tickets are $1 each or 5 for $6.00- GOOD LUCK!
This Saturday's Celebrate Southwest (with performances by all of our district bands and some of our elementary dance teams) will be great fun for all.  Check out the district website for a schedule of events.
Show Choir auditions for singers/dancers and instrumentalists will be held after school next week.  If you are interested in joining this high powered, visible group: sign up for an audition today.
Tickets for May Cabaret go on sale starting Friday.  You may buy your ticket from any show choir member, Mrs. Purdy or Mrs. Ungru in the office.  An order form can be obtained on the right side of this blog.
The high school and junior school choirs will be offering a Spring Concert on Tuesday, May 14th in the Martin Marietta Theater at 7pm.  All choir achievement awards will be distributed during that concert- don't miss our senior song and our vocal farewell to our senior class.
Show Choir will hold a dinner theater event on Friday, May 17th.  May Cabaret will feature a LaRosa's spaghetti dinner followed by a performance by our own Harrison Harmonics!

Show Choir Auditions

More details posted in page on right.  Good luck!

Support the Music Boosters by registering your Kroger Plus Card

As of April 1, 2013 everyone must re-register their Kroger Plus Card, designating an organization to receive the Kroger Charity Benefit.  Registering the Harrison Music Boosters does not affect your collection of Kroger points or cost you anything.  Every time you scan your Kroger Plus Card after registering, the Harrison Music Boosters will earn a donation from Kroger.

1. Visit www.kroger.com and click on Plus Card
2. If you already have an account, click Sign In or Create an Account
3. Once logged in, look to top right corner and choose My Account
4. Under My Account select Account Settings, the bottom choice is Community Rewards
5. Click on Edit Community Rewards Program Information
6. In the Find Your Organization, type HARRI
7. Choose the last option- Harrison Music Boosters
8. At bottom of page, click on save changes
And that's it!  Thanks for your support!

If you need assistance with any part of the registration, please contact Cathy Hacker at 513-470-5257.  Remember: signing up for the community rewards program does not affect your Kroger points that you earn, it simply earns funds for your favorite music boosters!

This Saturday the Harrison Harmonics performs in our last competition of the season.  Students should report to the the Activity Center parking lot by 8:30 am on Saturday, March 16th (by the school bus garage).  We will leave shortly thereafter.  Our three soloists perform in the 11 o'clock hour and the full choir competes at 2:45 pm.  Awards will be presented at 9:45 pm, after all of the choirs have performed and we will pack up and return home soon after (remember, it is @ 1 hour drive)  Students should bring their first costume and have already placed their second costume in the show choir cabinets (they will be loaded on the trailer at 1 pm Friday morning and inaccessible until we hit the stage).  Remember:  food is NOT allowed in the homeroom and we are not permitted to hang out their either, but the good news is that we have some GREAT large group choirs on the schedule after us to watch.  Tickets are $12 for general admission and $10 for children ages 3-6.  

See you there!

Fundraising Opportunity

Our fabulous music boosters are providing concessions for the Harrison Dance team competition on Saturday, March 9th.  There are over 50 teams attending this event and it is a great opportunity for our boosters to raise funds for our bands and choirs, but they need able bodied help to pull such a big job together.  Several of our choir students have volunteered to help during the day and we need adults as well.  Please contact Mr. Downey at badowney@gmail.com if you would like to sign-up for a shift.

Double H Showcase

The Double H Showcase was held last Saturday in our Martin Marietta Theater.  Eleven show choir competed and our Harrison Harmonics performed in exhibition along with our sister choir Rhapsody in Blue from Hamilton.  The efforts of both schools: their students, parents, staff was outstanding.  Not only did we get to catch some great shows, but we also raised much needed funds for next year's music, sets and possibly costumes.  Join us next year for the second annual Double H Showcase on Friday and Saturday, February 21st and 22nd.

Valentines & NYC information

Tomorrow some choir members will be delivering Singing Valentines as a fundraiser.  We are looking forward to this fun event as well as the opportunity to perform in the community and raise money for our fall trip to New York City.  Students who are registered for any high school choir during next school year (Show Choir, Treble Cats or Wildcat Concert Choir) are eligible to go to NYC with us next November.  Please contact Mrs. Purdy for an information packet.

WHHHS Singing Valentines

Send a Song to your Sweetie!

Get an order form from Mrs. Purdy, Mrs. Ungru (in the office), any choir student or the page link on the right side of this blog.  Choose a song from our list, give us the best time and place to deliver your Valentine and we will take care of the rest.  Valentines can be delivered with a personalized message, candy and a flower or anonymously.

The cost of a Singing Valentine is just $15 for a flower/candy/Valentine combo 

or $10 for a singing Valentine only.  All proceeds go to our school choir.

Email us at HarrisonVoices@gmail.com for more information.

Songs you can choose are: L.O.V.E., I Wanna Hold your Hand, 1,000 Years, With You, Love Story, Fallin’ for you/Amazing (mashup), How Sweet it is....

Completed order forms can be submitted to Mrs. Purdy or Mrs. Ungru in the office.  We have both on-campus and off-campus singing groups, so don't be afraid to order one!  The order deadline is Monday, February 11th

Superior Ratings winners make WHHHS website

Our Show Choir, WHHHS Madrigal, three vocal soloists and four band students made the WHHHS website.  The school recognized their outstanding achievement at Solo & Ensemble Competition with a great "shout out".

Piqua and Solo & Ensemble Results

On January 19th we got our "feet wet" in the competitive show choir world at Piqua's Show Choir Invitational.  We learned a lot and are excited to improve our show before we perform at The Double H Showcase on February, 23rd.  Kevin Quinlivan brought home a Best Performer trophy - Congratulations Kevin!

We had a busy day at Elder with OMEA High School Solo & Ensemble competition on Saturday, January 26th.  This competition allows students to prepare challenging chamber music, traditional art songs, classical solos and even operatic arias.  The music is selected from a required list of pieces that has been accepted by the OMEA adjudication committee for appropriate level of difficulty.  Much of the literature may double as audition material for Conservatory Music schools.

The WHHS Show Choir scored I (Superior) performing a Classical Chamber Ensemble.  Our WHHS Madrigal group also scored I (Superior) with their extremely difficult mixed ensemble madrigal.  Students performing in these ensembles include: Brooke Cordray, David Corman, Lee Davis, Natasha Davis, Andrew Farringer (Show Choir & Madrigal), Andrea Harding, Karley Jones, Ryan Keith, Sara Keith, Julie Kleiner (Show Choir & Madrigal), Amanda Pack, Kevin Quinlivan (Show Choir & Madrigal), Katie Raleigh, Danielle Ross, Sarah Smith, Jennifer Spencer (Show Choir & Madrigal),  Johnny Vidal, Jake Mueller (Madrigal only) & Katie Lofton (Madrigal only).

Three vocal soloists earned superior ratings: Jennifer Spencer, Andrew Farringer & Danielle Ross.   See the High School website for a picture of all band and choir Superior Rating recipients.

We also had several students who earned an excellent rating for a solo and/or ensemble performance: 

Anna Roell, Danielle Lieber,  Starr Wymer, Jessica Hammons & Bethany Waller and the WHHS Freshman/Sophomore Women's Ensemble (Debra Rueter, Marissa York, Nicole Roark, Cora Bolen, Allie Bronnert, Kylie Huesman, Brianna Wiesmann & Abigail Woodworth) 

Show Choir's first Competition

Our first competition is Saturday, January 19th at Piqua.  The bus loads at 10 am at the activity center.  Make sure you have everything you need for both costume sets, a full day away, money to buy lunch and (if we make finals) dinner and your entertainment while we wait for scores.  Although the homeroom will be locked while we are on stage, I do not recommend bringing expensive items with you, because we cannot guarantee their safety.  We perform at 3:00 pm in Piqua, have a clinic directly after our performance and awards are at 5 pm.  If we are not invited back to finals, we will leave after we gather our things and be home between 8 and 8:30 pm.  If we make finals, we will perform again and stay through evening awards at 10:30 pm.  Good luck!  Have fun!