Fall Fun!

Dear band and orchestra students and parents,

I am looking forward to October!

1. Friday (Oct. 1) all concert band and symphonic band students will play at the game as a part of the pep band.

6:00 p.m. - pizza in band room

6:30 p.m. - play at football game, done at end of half time, pep band gets in free

This will be our last football pep band for this year.

2. Thursday, join me for a question and answer session in a Florida trip zoom meeting at 7:00 p.m.

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/79575404912?pwd=YUkrbXAydzllZXVpNk03SE5GZzJFUT09
Meeting ID: 795 7540 4912 Passcode: 4cPqEZ

3. Florida Commitment letters are due on Monday, Oct. 4. Here is a digital copy of the letter in case the hard copy did not make it home. As always, if you would like to participate, but have concerns about payment deadlines or amounts, please let me know so that we can help.

4. As part of an effort to keep this trip affordable for all students we will be sending out letters requesting donations in class on Friday, Oct. 8. This is a group fundraiser and the donations will go to help offset the cost of the trip for all students. In order to facilitate this process, please complete this address letter form by Wednesday, Oct. 6. Each student will need 4 names and addresses. Students who sent letters out in 2020 may send letters this time, but won't be required.

5. We are excited to invite students our rescheduled retreat Saturday, Oct. 16 from 4:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and are thankful for generous donations that make this possible for your children at no cost. We will be looking for a few additional food donations in a Sign Up Genius form soon. Come enjoy fun, fellowship, and good food!

The retreat will happen just east of Macatawa Legends.  There is not a house on the land, so just look for a tulip flag, someone directing traffic, and two tire tracks in the grass just east of the mailbox at 13811 New Holland Street, Holland, MI 49424. It is actually on the opposite side of the road of the house with that address, but the same side as the address's mailbox (south side of the road).

Street view shot
https://goo.gl/maps/b8fXDnAT8jhaBU7t9

A pinned location in google maps.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/42%C2%B051'20.6%22N+86%C2%B007'28.3%22W/@42.8557257,-86.1266247,498m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x0!7e2!8m2!3d42.8557217!4d-86.1245371

6. We could use parent assistance for the retreat on Oct. 16 and also more chaperons for our Florida trip. Would you consider joining us? Email Mr. Vanden Berg if you are interested. svandenberg@hollandchristian.org

Thank you!

Mr. VB

--

Scott Vanden Berg | Director of Instrumental Music Holland Christian High Schools  950 Ottawa Ave, Holland, MI 49423  school: 616.820.2805 cell: 616.212.8867 blog: http://vandenbergnotes.blogspot.com facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musichchs/ Equipping Minds and Nurturing Hearts to Transform the World for Jesus Christ

Homecoming pep band and lots of opportunities for you!

 Dear band and orchestra students and parents,

I hope you are doing well! Here are a few important announcements.

1. Friday all concert band and symphonic band students will play at the game as a part of the pep band.

6:00 p.m. - pizza in band room

6:30 p.m. - play at football game, done at end of half time, pep band gets in free

2. Are you interested in playing in the pit orchestra for the Musical? Check out this form which has more information: Sign up here! Instruments needed this year are strings, flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto sax, trumpet, horn, drumset, percussion, bass guitar, keyboard/piano

3. Sign up here to audition for All State! https://forms.gle/eGA4tXPHN29m7pq97

4. Here are some important Florida dates:

Thursday, Sept. 23 Florida information and commitment letter is sent home

Thursday, Sept. 30 Florida informational zoom session with Mr. Vanden Berg - find out info about this trip and ask questions

Join Zoom Meeting at 7:00 p.m.
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/79575404912?pwd=YUkrbXAydzllZXVpNk03SE5GZzJFUT09
Meeting ID: 795 7540 4912 Passcode: 4cPqEZ
Monday, Oct. 4 Commitment letters are due.

5. The retreat which was scheduled for Sept. 25 will be postponed due unexpected circumstances. We will pass a new date along as soon as we know.

Thank you!

Mr. VB

--

Scott Vanden Berg | Director of Instrumental Music Holland Christian High Schools  950 Ottawa Ave, Holland, MI 49423  school: 616.820.2805 cell: 616.212.8867 blog: http://vandenbergnotes.blogspot.com facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musichchs/ Equipping Minds and Nurturing Hearts to Transform the World for Jesus Christ

Kicking off a wonderful year!

 Dear band and orchestra students and parents,

I hope you are doing well and looking forward to your long weekend. It has been great making music together this week!

Here is a lot of important information. My apologies for the length of this blog entry. Grab a cup of coffee, tea or whatever your favorite beverage is....here we go.  :)

Save a link to this blog as a resource for information on what is coming for the bands and orchestras this year.

http://vandenbergnotes.blogspot.com/

1. All concert band and symphonic band members please plan to join together to play pep band music on September 17 for the football game. We will play before the game and at halftime. We will also have pregame pizza and pop for you. We will meet for pizza at 6:00 p.m.

 

2. Here are links to concert dates and other important event dates:

Our Christmas concert venue won't be able to confirm availability for a few weeks so we listed the two potential dates and will pass along info when it is confirmed.

Concert Band

Symphonic Band

Orchestra

All Groups

3. Please save this link to the band and orchestra page and calendar on the HCS website. It contains the most up-to-date information about upcoming events. Subscribe to the calendar on this page and all of the dates will automatically appear in your google calendar. When you get to the page, scroll down to see the calendar.

4. Parents and students, please be sure that the dates from the calendar/schedules above are added to your family calendars. Please fill out the form linked below 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. Completion of this form is required.

This form is due by Monday, September 13:

https://forms.gle/4ojj68pc9uhpxwnV8

5. This document is a description of the many opportunities for instrumental musicians at HCHS. It includes descriptions of pep band, marching band, symphonic orchestra, solo and ensemble festival, jazz band, pit orchestra and more. There are so many opportunities for our music students to encounter through the year. Take a minute to check them out.

6. Next week we begin early morning group rehearsals. If your child is in one of these groups they will know and you will also receive and email. They are voluntary groups. See the schedule for morning rehearsals below.

Monday: Jazz Band 7:15 a.m. this group will start at a later date

Tuesday: Jazz Orchestra - 7:10 a.m. Yes, starting right after Labor Day

Wednesday: Chamber Orchestra - 7:15 a.m. 

Thursday: Jazz Orchestra - 7:10 a.m.

Friday: Symphonic Orchestra - 7:00 a.m.

7. I wanted to highlight information for our concert band, symphonic band, and orchestra to Florida with performances at Disney World. We are planning on departing Holland on Wednesday, March 30, and wrapping up our trip with a worship service on Sunday, April 5, and a return trip arriving back in Holland on Monday, April 4. Some families travel to Florida and have their children stay with them at the end of the trip rather than ride the charter bus back to Holland. We have lots more info to come, and the trip is not required, but you won't want to miss it. Here is a bare bones version of our trip itinerary. Parents, we want you to join us as a chaperon and/or as a Florida Trip Committee member. Send me an email if you are interested in helping out.

8. We just started our first Florida trip fundraiser, ask your child about it. This is optional and can help students offset their own cost of the trip. Purchases can be made through your student (via paper copy handed out in class) or online with this link. https://store.myfundraisingplace.com/ac68360e-3b6f-4b1f-b639-9dd68308dfad

Thank you!

Mr. Vanden Berg

--

Scott Vanden Berg | Director of Instrumental Music Holland Christian High Schools  950 Ottawa Ave, Holland, MI 49423  school: 616.820.2805 cell: 616.212.8867 blog: http://vandenbergnotes.blogspot.com facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musichchs/ Equipping Minds and Nurturing Hearts to Transform the World for Jesus Christ