Uniform Info, School Owned Instruments, and Retreat Info

Dear band and orchestra students and parents,

Below are a list of fees for uniforms, for those who rent instruments, and for the fall retreat. Please note what the check is for on the memo line. Cash is not preferred, but if you do bring cash it should be in a clearly labeled and sealed envelope.

1. Each fall band and orchestra students are assessed a uniform fee which covers uniform alterations, repairs, marching shoes and gloves, and dry cleaning. The shoes and gloves are for band marching uniforms only. This fee will be due by Thursday, September 28. It is $15 for orchestra and $25 for band. Please communicate with me if you are in need of financial assistance. Please designate uniform fee in the memo line of the check. This fee can be mailed to HCHS or dropped in the designated envelope in the band/orchestra room. 

-Band and Orchestra guys will need black dress shoes and black socks for their tuxedo and girls will need appropriate footwear for their black dresses. These items are not provided. 

-Brass, woodwind, and percussion members of the symphonic orchestra only need to pay the band uniform fee, not both.

2. Each fall students who are using a school instrument are assessed a rental fee of $60. This fee covers a portion of the cost of repairs and maintenance. Students who switch instruments to help with the balance of the band or orchestra are given a waiver on this fee for the first year. Those checks are due on Thursday, September 28. Please communicate with me if you are in need of financial assistance. Please designate instrument rental in the memo line of the check. This fee can be mailed to HCHS or dropped in the designated envelope in the band/orchestra room.

3. Here is an important note about the fall retreat and a consent form to print off and fill out and return to school with a check for $65 by Monday, September 12. The fee will cover the cost of food and facilities at Camp Roger and can be mailed to HCHS or dropped in the designated envelope in the band/orchestra room. We are looking forward to this time together. 

Thank you!

Mr. VB

-- 

Scott Vanden Berg
svandenberg@hollandchristian.org
Director of Instrumental Music
Holland Christian High School
Director of the Holland American Legion Band

616-212-8867

The End of Week One!

Dear band and orchestra students and parents,

It has been wonderful to make music together and to meet you all this week. What a great beginning to the year!
To help the year go smoother, please take a minute to check out this information to help us plan for a great year.

1. Here is the pep band, extra rehearsal, and special groups schedules:

Pep Band

Extra Rehearsal Schedule

Chamber and Honor Groups Schedule

Check out the blog from Aug. 16 to find out more about who is in pep band and how many games to go to.

2. Parents and students, please be sure to add these dates and the dates from the Aug. 16 post to your family calendars. Please fill out this form to verify that you have signed off on the dates and also use this form to communicate any calendar conflicts for this year. Thank you for taking the time to do this.

This form is due by Friday, September 8: https://goo.gl/forms/sS2jpYKUoFInyzFO2

3. Band members, please be sure to have the appropriate lyre for your instrument before the first pep band which is next week Thursday. 

4. I will send out more retreat information soon.

Thank you!

Mr. VB

--

Scott Vanden Berg
svandenberg@hollandchristian.org
Director of Instrumental Music
Holland Christian High School
Director of the Holland American Legion Band

616-212-8867

Calendars and Events

Dear Band and Orchestra students and parents,

I am looking forward to making great music with students soon! This email contains quite a bit of information regarding events for this year. Feel free to email any questions to me. We will also be going over the dates and events in class in the first week.

1. We are still in need of some student volunteers tomorrow anytime between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. So far we have 4 volunteers, two more would be great!

2. We are looking for parent volunteers to chaperon for our Camp Roger retreat on Sept. 15, 16, and 17. Please send me an email if you are interested in finding out more.

3. Here are some important links/dates for this year. Please take a minute to put these dates in your family calendar.

The links below have a listing of events and concerts. I did list Swingin' the Night Away on each group's calendar even though this is an event in which only jazz ensembles perform. This an important fundraiser for the music program at HCS and you are encouraged to enjoy desserts, jazz music, a relaxed atmosphere and support music in our school. There are quite a few students who decide to do solo and ensemble festival so that is also included. See the opportunities doc below for answers to the question you might have.

Concert Band major events and concerts

Symphonic Band major events and concerts

Orchestra major events and concerts

I know some of you are involved in many of these groups and this listing might helpful. 

Combination of all instrumental events and concerts

Finally, it would be good for everyone please save a link to this calendar. It is the instrumental music calendar from the HCS website and it is the place that you can get the most up to date information through out the year on concert start times, student call times, and concert locations. (You do have to scroll down a little.)

This document is an attempt to answer questions about the many opportunities for instrumental musicians at HCHS including pep band, marching band, solo and ensemble festival, jazz band, pit orchestra and more.

Thank you!

--

Scott Vanden Berg
svandenberg@hollandchristian.org
Director of Instrumental Music
Holland Christian High School
Director of the Holland American Legion Band

616-212-8867

Welcome to a New Year

Welcome, HCHS band and orchestra students and parents!

I hope you are enjoying your summer. I am looking forward to seeing familiar faces, getting to know new students, and making great music together this year.

Here are a few dates for you to put on your calendar:

1. The HCHS bands and orchestra are looking forward to a retreat at Camp Roger this year! We'll have a weekend of eating good food, playing games, getting to know each other, making music together, and, for brave souls, taking the early morning polar plunge in Little Bostwick Lake. Please mark your calendars now for this special weekend event, from Friday evening, September 15, through noon on Sunday, September 17. Families are invited to join us for a worship service on Sunday the 17th at Camp Roger. Logistical and other details to come soon. Thank you! 

Due to the retreat early in the year, we will not be having our summer kick off party this year. The retreat will be our kick off party.

2. All concert band and symphonic band members please plan to attend a combined pep band practice on Monday, August 21 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. in the band/orchestra room. We will have a few new pep band tunes and ice cream. We play for the Thursday, Aug. 31, home football game.

3. Thursday, August 17 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (or any portion of this time) we are in need of some student volunteers to help fill folders with music and prepare the band room for the new year. Let me know if you are interested and available. Lunch and ice cream are on Mr. Vanden Berg.

4. We are so looking forward to the Florida trip this year from April 2 to April 7! This trip is for all juniors and seniors in band and orchestra, as well as freshmen and sophomores who are in symphonic band or chamber orchestra. 

I will have a new blog entry soon with this year's concert dates.

Thank you!

--

Scott Vanden Berg
svandenberg@hollandchristian.org
Director of Instrumental Music
Holland Christian High School
616-820-2905 (2982)