Have a Safe and Happy Summer!
How Children, Adults, and Communities Benefit from Choruses: The 2009 Chorus Impact Study
Educators Say that Singing in a Choir Can Enhance Academic Success and Social Development in Students
According to a new study by Chorus America, children who sing in choruses have greater academic success and more advanced social skills than children who don’t sing, as reported by large majorities of both parents and educators surveyed for the study. Additionally, both parents and educators (from every discipline) attribute a significant part of a child’s academic success to singing in a choir.
Click here to visit the Chorus America website for more information and the study results.
Why Music Matters
I’m not an entertainer; I’m a lot closer to a paramedic, a firefighter, a rescue worker . . . someone who works with our insides to see if they get things to line up, to see if we can come into harmony with ourselves and be healthy and happy and well.
Dr. Karl Paulnack said these words in a welcome speech to incoming freshman in 2004 at Boston Conservatory, where he is director of the music division. In this inspirational speech, Paulnack explores what music means to us and why it is important in our lives. Click here to read the transcript.
Paulnack, also a world-renowned pianist and performer, was a professor on the faculty of Ithaca College when Dana and Jim Van Slyke attended.
A Thank You . . .I can’t express enough how appreciative I am for all of the support that the HHS Choral Boosters have given to our program this year. Kathy Morgan is an invaluable leader of our organization. Through her leadership we have welcomed so many new parents into our group and developed so many creative ways to support the kids in their music. I need to say a few extra thank yous that I did not get to include at our awards banquet. Thank you Lori Peterson for your hours of work on our website and anything computer generated! Thank you Nina Falci and Mary Glenn Mancini for your clerical assistance and time with volunteers. Thank you Kristy Freeman and Julie Frederickson for anything having to do with food. Thank you Melanie Miller-Cvilikas for all of the photo organization and for the time planning our VMEA trip. Thank you to Michelle Tierney for the wonderful Banquet and to Chelle Youmans for the amazing VA Beach trip! Thank you to Barb Ramey and her committee for the new scholarship opportunities! Thank you to Kara Rider for tracking the finances, to Janice Jewell for organizing ushers and running the VHS camcorder at each concert, to Peggy Merryman for arranging for class T-shirts and spirit stickers, to Bonnie Hagstrom for managing the flower sales, and to all of the VA and VMEA Trip chaperones. Thank you to the alum parents, Sue Gattoni, Kathy Dunlap, and Anne Vandenberg for our costume assistance and Jerry Vandenberg for all his time doing stage and sound set ups for our department and at times band, orchestra, guitar, and theatre. A big thank you to my husband Jim and to Patrick Elliott for all of their time working with our students this year. And special thanks to my Fine Arts Colleagues, especially Zoe Dillard and our Administrator Jim Hannon for all of their support of the choir students this year. Thank you to all of the families for your generous gift of the video camera. I will now be able to give instant feedback to my students and will enjoy documenting things at school and home. Thank you so much for your sincere support. I am truly overwhelmed by your generosity. I feel very lucky to have the job that I have, and to have the help of so many is truly special. Sincerely, |
College Plans for Future Choir Alumni
Many of Herndon Choir's graduating seniors will be attending college in the fall. Some will be pursuing music or vocal studies as a major or as a minor. A few seniors have shared their plans with the website (see below), and hopefully a few more will respond before the end of the year.
Congratulations, Seniors! We wish you all much success and encourage you to stay in touch (please post on the Alumni page). We'll miss you!
- Sarah Bentley: University of Virginia ▪ Major: Chemistry; Possible Minor: Education
- Molly Bouffard: Longwood University ▪ Vocal Performance
- Erika Giorgis: Clemson University – Honors College ▪ Elementary Education
- Sarah Goughnour: Old Dominion University ▪ English
- Lauren Hickman: University of Virginia ▪ Systems Engineering
- Kate Merryman: Ithaca College ▪ Voice–Music Education/Performance
- Kat Miller-Cvilikas: Christopher Newport University ▪ Musical Theatre
- Hannah O’Rourke: George Mason University ▪ Nursing
- Maggie Osburn: Tulane University – Honors College ▪ Major: French; Possible Minor: Jazz Studies ▪ If selected, I would love to perform in an a cappella group, or just a school choir.
- Chanel Parks: University of Virginia ▪ Major: English; Minor: Media Studies/Spanish ▪ I will be continuing with music in wind ensembles and maybe the women's a cappella group!
- Sarah Price: Christopher Newport University ▪ Communications
Banquet Celebrates Choral Accomplishments, Class of 2009
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS
(Provided by Adrian Morgan)
Scholarship Recipients Announced
Congratulations to the Class of 2009 Herndon High School Choral Boosters Scholarship Award winners:
• Sonya Frostad
• Josh Hagstrom
• Lauren Hickman
• Kate Merryman
• Maggie Osburn
The scholarship awards were presented at the 2009 Choral Awards Banquet on June 4. This is the first year the Choral Boosters have awarded scholarships to senior choir students. The scholarships are funded by student fundraising and parent donations to the Choral Boosters organization.
Many thanks to Barbara Ramey and the HHS Choral Boosters Scholarship Committee for administering the scholarship application and selection process.
2009 Senior Awards Presented
Ms. Van Slyke presented six Senior Awards at the Choral Awards Banquet on June 4. These annual awards acknowledge exceptional musical study, performance, ensemble participation, and leadership in the Herndon Choir program.
Outstanding Seniors: Loren Collado, Kat Miller-Cvilikas
Maggie Osburn
Rising Star Award: Molly Bouffard, Kate Merryman
Director's Award: Josh Hagstrom
Thank You, Banquet Organizers, Gift Contributors
A big thank you goes to Michelle Tierney for organizing the Choral Awards Banquet. Thanks also to all of the Booster parents who helped to prepare, serve, and clean up at this wonderful event.
Thank you to the senior parents and all other Choral Booster families and students who contributed to Ms. Van Slyke's group gift. Because of their support, we were able to purchase a digital video recorder, a wide-angle lens, an extra battery, a tripod, a storage bag, an extra memory card, and a $100 iTunes card. Thanks to all who made this wonderful gift possible. Ms. Van Slyke can use it in the classroom, as well as on the soccer field or football field with her boys!
"For Men Only" Retires Name, Improves Appropriateness
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Standing Ovation for Pops Concert Performers
Photos by Melanie Miller-Cvilikas |
Before a packed audience of parents, friends, family, and alumni, Herndon Choir students shared their artistic interpretation of this year's theme, "Love Is All You Need." The program included 39 musical numbers performed by all six choirs, as well as "spotlight" solos and ensembles by graduating seniors.
The Pops Concert, the final concert of the year, features musical favorites selected and choreographed by the choir students themselves. Last night, singers, dancers, and guest musicians from Herndon Guitar and Herndon Band took to the stage to perform popular music from across the decades. Colorful costumes, energetic dance routines, and contemporary musical arrangements showed off the talents and love for music that the students share.
A highlight of the concert was a solo performance by Jim Van Slyke of "Solitaire," a selection from his one-man Broadway event, "The Sedaka Show" (learn more). The Pops Concert finale number was "Love Is All You Need," a medley of Beatles favorites. The concert concluded with "I Will Remember You," the traditional end-of-year song that welcomes back choir alumni, offers good-bye wishes to graduating seniors, and honors choral director Dana Van Slyke.
PROGRAM | CD ORDER FORM | DVD ORDER FORM
Chorale Welcomes HMS Choir Singers
Welcome to the following Herndon Middle School Select Women's Choir students who have been accepted into the Women's Chorale for the 2009-10 school year:
Sydney Chervenic, Amy Freeman, Cynthia Kim, and Megan Overton
The following HMS students also will be joining Women's Chorale:
Kelsey Anies, Amanda Harvey, and Jessica Homet
Congratulations, and we look forward to singing with you next year!
Looking for a Performance Venue?
Calling all student performers! Vocal, instrumental, musical theatre, dance — ArtSpace in Herndon has space available for you to perform. If you're interested in an open mic night or want to play your own music for your friends, please call M.C. Williams to plan and schedule an event.
Home phone: 703-904-0211 • Cell phone: 540-454-5816 • E-mail: mcw592001@yahoo.com
Herndon Choir Rocked at All-State!
Congratulations to our All-Virginia Choir singers! Following months of individual preparation and two intensive days of rehearsals with university conductors, five Herndon Choir students performed in the 2009 All-Virginia High School Choirs concert on Saturday, April 25, at Massaponax High School in Fredericksburg.
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. More than 380 students in two choirs participated in the 2009 All-Virginia Choir event. Herndon Choir took five of these spots.
The following students participated:
WOMEN'S CHOIR: Kat Miller-Cvilikas ('09)MIXED CHOIR: Josh Hagstrom ('09), Nathan Williams ('09), Mary Peterson ('10), and Trevor Morgan ('10) [alternate - Joey Truncale ('10)]
The All-Virginia Mixed Choir was conducted by Dr. Charles Robinson, Professor of Choral/Music Education at the University of Missouri Kansas City, Conservatory of Music and Dance; the choir was accompanied by Melvin Goodwin of Woodbridge, Va. The All-Virginia Women's Choir was conducted by Dr. David Brunner, Professor of Music, Director of Choral Activities at the University of Central Florida Department of Music, Orlando; the choir was accompanied by Laura Edelbrock of Alexandria, Va. Choral directors from high schools throughout the state accompanied their students to Fredericksburg. The Virginia Choral Directors Association of the Virginia Music Educators Association sponsors District and All-State Choir events.
The repertoire (click here) for both choirs featured classical, contemporary, and traditional music from around the world. The Women's Choir was priviledged to perform three original compositions by their conductor, David Brunner. A highlight of the concert was a solo by our own Josh Hagstrom during the final song, "If You Believe in Music." Josh rocked the house with his soulful vocals, and brought the audience to their feet at the end of the piece!
Herndon Choirs Earn High Marks at Fiesta-Val
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Photo by Melanie
Miller-Cvilikas Lots more on Flickr CLICK HERE |
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Congratulations go out to the choir students who attended our choir trip in Virginia Beach last weekend, April 16-18.
We had six choirs participate in the Fiesta-Val music festival. The Herndon Chorale, Madrigals, Show Choir, Concert Choir, and Vocal Jazz all received ratings of Superior, and our Men's Choir received a rating of Excellent! The Concert Choir also won the Best Overall Concert Choir of the festival.
Along with the ensemble achievements, we also had awards given to various soloists. Josh Hagstrom won two solo trophies for Madrigals and Men's Choir. Sarah Price was recognized for her Vocal Jazz solo. Joey Truncale was recognized for his Men's Choir solo. Chanel Parks was given a trophy for her outstanding French horn solo in our women's choir piece.
The students were complimented for their demeanor on and off the stage everyplace that we went. They truly represented Herndon with pride!
Be sure to visit the Guitar website for the Guitar 3 ensemble's Fiesta-Val results.
CLICK HERE to view all the photos on Flickr!
2009-10 Ensemble Audition Results
Click the ensemble name below to view the roster for next year's ensemble. Congratulations to all who auditioned!
Herndon Chorale | Madrigals | Show Choir | Vocal Jazz
District XII Choral Festival Results
On March 21, the Herndon Madrigal Singers and the Herndon Chorale sang for District XII adjudication at Chantilly High School. Both groups were honored by earning straight superior ratings from all judges!
Congratulations to those students for their hard work and dedication to their music!
Go Stinger Singers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
