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Congratulations to 
Council for the Arts of Herndon Recognizes HHS Fine Arts Students
VIDEOS
LOTS OF PHOTOS AVAILABLE!
Congratulations to the Cast and Crew of
Footloose!
The 2010 Grand Summer Musical Theatre Experience
Click here for photos of opening night!
2010-11 Calendar, and Summer Events
The 2010-2011 Choir Calendar is now available. Dates will be confirmed at the beginning of the school year. Get the calendar here >
The following events have been scheduled to kick off the 2010-2011 school year. Please monitor the website this summer for details.
Vocal Jazz Camp
August 31, September 1 and 2
Costume Pickup
September 2, 3
Ice Cream Social
September 3
A great way to get to know your fellow singers.
View the rosters for auditioned ensembles here:
CHORALE | MADRIGALS | SHOW CHOIR | VOCAL JAZZ
The website is getting a facelift ... and a new webmaster! Check back this summer.
A Letter of Thanks from the Town of Herndon
Dear Dana & The Herndon High School Choir:
On behalf of the citizens of the Town of Herndon and the 2010-2012 Herndon Town Council, I express our collective appreciation to you and the Herndon High School Choir for making time in the midst of summer vacations to sing the National Anthem at the swearing-in ceremony of the Council-Elect this past Tuesday (June 29).
Our citizens have a strong sense of community not found in many places in the Northern Virginia area. Your personal involvement in our ceremony was sincerely appreciated and we were honored you were able to attend.
Again, thank you for sharing in this memorable occasion.
Sincerely, Steve DeBenedittis, Mayor |
Dear HHS Choral Booster Parents,
I would like to personally extend my sincere thanks to the many volunteers that gave their time, energy and means to support the Herndon High School Choir Department. I am grateful for your support at choir concerts, fundraising, chaperoning and serving in all Herndon Choral Booster volunteer positions. Because of your efforts, Mrs. VanSlyke has more time to spend with students pursuing excellence in music education and performance. She is also able to offer a variety of expanded learning opportunities for the choirs.
When you volunteer, our children have the opportunity to see community service in action and to observe role models like you who continue to contribute to their community throughout a lifetime. I sincerely appreciate your individual contribution, and I would like to thank each one of you for your service. Working together has made my tenure as president a most rewarding experience.
Thank you!
Kathy Morgan President, HHS Choral Boosters 2007–2010 |
PHOTOS NOW AVAILABLE ... CLICK HERE! | More here >
Photos by Adrian Morgan
Congratulations to everyone for their musical success in 2010! Musicianship and the ideals of the performing arts were celebrated at the 2010 Herndon Choral Awards Ceremony on June 7. Participation awards were presented to all of the Choir students. Students selected for District XII Chorus, VMEA Senior Honors Choir, and the All-Virginia Choir were individually recognized for their accomplishments.
Ms. Van Slyke's Senior Awards were presented to the following eight students:
Director's Awards: Sara Talebian and Joey Truncale
Rising Stars: Trevor Morgan and Mary Peterson
Outstanding Seniors: Shamelle Robinson and Clair Vogel
Service to the Arts: Callie Harman and Capri Lofaro
Scholarship Committee Chair Barbara Ramey presented the 2010 Herndon Choral Boosters Scholarships in the amount of $500 to the following four students: Trevor Morgan, Mary Peterson, Sara Talebian, and Joey Truncale.
Members of the Voce Chamber Singers presented Mary Peterson with their first annual $500 scholarship, based on adjudication at the Pre-Festival Concert in March.
Ms. Van Slyke and Booster President Kathy Morgan expressed appreciation for and recognized the accomplishments of the Boosters Board of Directors, Executive Board, and Alumni parents. They thanked all of the Booster parents who volunteered their time and support of the Choir program. This
will be Kathy Morgan's last year as president of the Boosters, and she welcomed incoming president Julie Frederickson.
The seniors presented Ms. Van Slyke with
"the gift of their words and their love." Each
senior picked a word that he or she felt best described Ms. Van Slyke, and the words were embroidered into a beautiful hand-made quilt.
The students also explained the special significance of their word choice in a personal letter to Ms. Van Slyke. All of the letters
were collected into a scrapbook that will
be a treasured memento of the Class of 2010 for years to come.
The Choral Boosters parents presented
Ms. Van Slyke with a Marantz professional
CD recorder. This portable recorder will allow her to record audio directly onto CDs, a great tool
and time-saver for recording audition music, classroom lessons, and concert rehearsals.
Ms. Van Slyke's gift to the 2010 seniors was a t-shirt with the words "We Will Rock You" emblazoned on the front. The seniors thanked her with a group hug. The students in each ensemble presented one another with the coveted Paper Plate Awards, a unique form of peer recognition. The seniors also willed important – and unusual – items and mementos to underclassmen in their ensembles.
Pops Concert Rocks the House!
Tons of photos! Click here >
Top: A Tribute to Queen (photo by Adrian Morgan). Bottom, left: I Will Remember You; right: What is Love (photos by Melanie Miller-Cvilikas). VIEW THE PROGRAM >
Madrigals and Mads Alums:
Is Your Costume Crowding
Your Closet?
As you know, costumes are expensive and it takes a lot of time and work to create them. Please consider donating your unused Madrigals costume to the Choir program so that it can be used by future singers. Your donation would be tax deductible! Please contact Ms. Van Slyke if you would like to donate your costume.
FACE Advocacy Successful!
The FCPS Band and Strings programs have been preserved for the 2010-11 school year!
A final message from Denny Stokes, FACE Advocacy Chair
A final call to action: Join FACE President Mary Wagner at the FCPS School Board public hearing on Tuesday, May 11, at Luther Jackson Middle School at 7 p.m., to express thanks for the board's continued support of music education.
www.faceadvocacy.org | Facebook page | May 24 Edition of "The Bottom Line"
All-Virginia Choir Includes Herndon's Voices!
Congratulations to our All-Virginia Choir singers! Following months of individual preparation and two intensive days of rehearsals with university conductors, four Herndon Choir students performed in the 2010 All-Virginia High School Choirs concert on Saturday, May 1, at the Sheraton Premiere at Tyson's Corner. The following Herndon Choir students participated:
WOMEN'S CHOIR: Hannah Glass ('11)
MIXED CHOIR: Trevor Morgan ('10), Ian Gildea ('11), and Andy Raoufi ('11)
The All-Virginia Mixed Choir was conducted by Dr. Z. Randall Stroope, Director of Vocal and Choral Studies at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The All-Virginia Women's Choir was conducted by Charlotte Adams, founder and Principal Conductor of the Colorado Women's Chorale in Denver, Colorado.
Throughout the country, all-state choirs are considered one of the most prestigious and highest levels of achievement for high school choir students. In Virginia, just 24 students from each of the state's 16 districts are selected following a rigorous audition process. The Virginia Choral Directors Association of the Virginia Music Educators Association sponsors District and All-State Choir events.
Pyramid Choirs Take to the Stage!
On Tuesday, April 27, choirs from the HHS Pyramid schools — Armstrong, Clearview, Dranesville, and Hutchison elementary schools, and Herndon Middle School — joined the HHS Madrigals, Heatwave Show Choir, and Bennett Street Boys to participate in the 2010 Pyramid Concert.
Above, top: Hutchison's 5th and 6th grade choir; bottom: HHS Heatwave Show Choir.
Photos by Melanie Miller-Cvilikas.
MORE PHOTOS HERE | VIEW THE PROGRAM
Congratulations, Governor's School Invitees!
Herndon Choir's Ian Gildea has been selected to participate in the Vocal Music program of the 2010 Governor's School for the Visual and Performing Arts. This is an awesome accomplish-ment, as hundreds of students throughout the state apply and audition, but only about 50 students are selected.
Ian, a baritone, sings in the Vocal Jazz, Madrigals, and Bennett Street Boys ensembles. He also has been selected for District XII Chorus for the past three years, and was selected this year for the 2010 All-Virginia Choir. Ian has performed in numerous musicals and drama productions at Herndon.
Aaron Bentley also has been selected to participate in the Life Sciences & Medicine program. Aaron, a tenor, sings in the Madrigals and Bennett Street Boys ensembles, and he was selected for District XII Chorus for the past two years.
Be sure to congratulate Ian and Aaron when you see them!
District XII Choir Festival Results
Congratulations to the Herndon Vocal Jazz, Herndon Chorale, and Madrigals. These three choirs received straight superior ratings at our district festival this past weekend at South Lakes High School. This state level adjudication is considered to be our SOL. We have been preparing this music since December and the results will be published in our state journal. I am very proud of their preparation and follow through. We were given wonderful comments by the collegiate adjudicators and Herndon High was noticed once again as having a very accomplished music department. I am very proud of these dedicated musicians. – Ms. Van Slyke
A Musical Experience with Ithaca College Choir
On March 16, the Ithaca College Choir, now on its spring break tour and under the direction of Lawrence Doebler (above, far left), led Herndon Choir students in an afternoon workshop focusing on performance technique. Following a dinner hosted by the Choral Boosters (who also housed the choir members), the choir performed an evening concert entitled "Dreams" at Herndon United Methodist Church; the Madrigals also performed. As a highlight of the evening, Ithaca College Choir alumni, including Jim and Dana Van Slyke, performed with the choir. Herndon Choir alum Nate Tao (above, far right) currently is a member of the Ithaca Choir. Photos by Melanie Miller-Cvilikas.
MORE PHOTOS | ITHACA COLLEGE CHOIR INFO
Pre-Festival Choir Concert Wows the Audience!
The Pre-Festival Choir Concert, held Tuesday, March 9, 2010, included performances by all Herndon High School choirs, as well as the Herndon Middle School Women's Chorale, Advanced Women's Choir, and Men's Choir. The concert included a performance by Voce Scholarship Award finalist
Mary Peterson.
< PHOTOS HERE > | < AND HERE > | < PROGRAM >
Photo by Adrian Morgan.
Herndon Choir and Drama Spring Trip to New York City
The Herndon Choir and Drama Spring Trip to New York City (March 4 through 6, 2010) featured three Broadway shows: Billy Elliott, The Glass Menagerie, and Mary Poppins; a musical performance at St. John the Divine gothic cathedral; a Camp Broadway Workshop; and shopping and sightseeing.
Photo by Melanie Miller-Cvilikas.
ALL-STATE AUDITION RESULTS
Congratulations to the seven Herndon singers who were acknowledged at the All-Virginia Choir auditions on Feb. 25. We had four singers selected to All-State and three alternates. This is the second highest amount in our district! All-State Choir will be held April 29 - May 1 at Tysons Corner.
Herndon's All-State Choir delegates: • Hannah Glass - Alto - Junior • Trevor Morgan - Tenor - Senior • Andy Raoufi - Tenor - Junior • Ian Gildea - Bass - Junior |
Alternates: • Mary Peterson - Soprano - Senior • Capri Lofaro - Alto - Senior • Dimitri Gann - Baritone - Senior |
District XII Chorus Audition Results
On Saturday, November 7, singers from high schools throughout VMEA's District XII auditioned for the District XII Chorus. From among the 14 high schools in the district, 50 Herndon Choir singers were selected, as well as 5 alternates. COMPLETE LIST OF AUDITION RESULTS >
Listed below are some cool honors earned by our singers!
- Mary Peterson (Soprano 2) ranked #2 in the district
- Hannah Glass (Alto 1) ranked #1 in the district
- Sara Talebian (Alto 1) ranked #2 in the district
- Joey Truncale (Tenor 1) ranked #1 in the district
- Andy Raoufi (Tenor 2) ranked #1 in the district
District XII Chorus will be held February 11–13, 2010, at Oakton High School. All-State Choir auditions will be held for juniors and seniors during the event, on February 11. MORE INFO >
Congratulations to everyone who auditioned. I am very proud of you! —Ms. Van Slyke
Ms. Van Slyke Shares Success with Special Ed in
Choral Program
"I ask myself at the start of school year how I will make this experience legitimate for all and have high expectations for everyone." –Dana Van Slyke
Ms. Van Slyke was interviewed recently for a series of articles published on the National Association for Music Education (MENC) website. The three-part series, "Success with Special Learners," addresses the inclusion of special education students in the choral music classroom:
Part 1: One Member's Tale
Part 2: Going with the Flow
Part 3: The Bigger Picture and Purpose
All articles: http://www.menc.org/v/chorus/success-with-special-learners-going-with-the-flow
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The articles were written by Sue Rarus and published on the MENC website on October 7, 14, and 21, 2009.State Honors Choir Audition Results
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Congratulations to seniors Sara Talebian,
Senior singers from around the state gathered at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia, on Saturday, October 3, to audition. Singers auditioned individually by voice part for collegiate judges.
Also to be congratulated are Trevor Morgan and
The Virginia Music Educators' Association (VMEA) Conference will be held at The Homestead in Hot Springs, Va., in November. As part of the VMEA conference, the selected students will participate in the Honors Choir event and perform in a concert. The conductor will be Dr. Craig Jessop of Utah State Univ. (formerly of Mormon Tabernacle Choir); Mr. Melvin Goodwyn of Woodbridge, Va., will accompany. —————————— Ms. Van Slyke (aka "Mama V") celebrated her birthday during the audition weekend. |
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