Exciting March Events!

Dear band and orchestra students and parents,

We are looking forward to festival for symphonic band/orchestra, Swingin' the Night Away, and Band Extravaganza!

1. Here is the schedule for symphonic band on Wednesday, March 5

7:40 a.m. students arrive to school in uniform 

7:45 a.m. bus leaves HCHS 

8:30 a.m. in warm up room

9:00 a.m. performance at West Ottawa Performing Arts Center, 3685 Butternut Dr, Holland, MI 49424 (parents invited)

9:30 a.m. sight reading 

10:00 a.m. pack up and pick up ratings/sheets 

10:15 a.m. depart and stop at McDonalds on return 

11:15 a.m. back at HCHS to unload

2. Here is the schedule for symphonic orchestra on Thursday, March 6

8:30 a.m. students dismissed from class (change into uniform)

9:00 a.m. bus leaves HCHS  

9:40 a.m. in warm up room  

10:15 a.m. performance at West Ottawa Performing Arts Center, 3685 Butternut Dr, Holland, MI 49424 (parents invited)

10:45 a.m. sight reading  

11:15 a.m. pack up and get ratings  

11:40 a.m. depart and return to HC, cafeteria provides late lunch

3. We are looking forward to Swinging the Night Away on Friday, March 7! Sign up here to help out with Swingin' the Night Away on March 7 by donating desserts, helping serve or clean up! 

5. The HCHS Symphonic Band is playing for chapel at Rose Park on Monday, March 17 during HS flex/chapel time. We will take a bus to Rose Park. We will stop at McDonalds on our way back. Either take a sack lunch or money for lunch.

6. We are looking forward to Band Extravaganza on Wednesday, March 19 at 7:00 p.m. at the Jack H. Miller Center for the Musical Arts. Sign up here to help with offering and/or to hand out programs/welcome people. Due to capacity we recommend that we limit attendance to 4 guests per student participating in the concert.

7. The HCHS symphonic and concert bands will need to do its combined rehearsal for March 19 after the PSAT. Since this is a half day, we will have a pizza lunch in the band/orchestra room at 11:30 a.m. and then take a bus to the Jack H. Miller Center for the Musical Arts. If students drive themselves to school they can also drive to rehearsal that day. Students should be picked up at the Jack H. Miller after rehearsal at 1:15 p.m.

8. Are students looking for opportunities to attend a local and free college/professional level musical performances? Check out Hope College musical events, or the Calvin Community Symphony (World Premiere of a work by Mr. Nester, a violin concerto and Beethoven's 5th), or the Holland Bach Society.

You can also get tickets to events with the Holland Symphony, the Holland American Legion Band.

Thank you!

Mr. VB

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Scott Vanden Berg | Director of Instrumental Music Holland Christian High School  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"

Band Extravaganza change? and Florida 2026 needs your input!

Hello band and orchestra students and parents,

I hope you are doing well! I am so proud of our solo and ensemble students from Saturday!

1. We are looking at changing the Band Extravaganza date and location. Lately we have not been able to fit in the Jack H. Miller Center for the Musical Arts on stage or in the audience. We have an opportunity to host this concert on Wednesday, March 26 at 7:00 p.m. (instead of the previously planned Wednesday, March 19) at West Ottawa's new performing arts center. We recognize that this is a change and request prompt notification from band families if this change would cause a problem for your family. Please email me by Friday, Feb. 14 if this change would be a conflict for you. I will let you know the official decision a.s.a.p. after the Friday, Feb. 14 deadline.

2. I wanted to pass along some advanced scheduling information for 2026. We are planning a Florida trip for our concert band, concert orchestra symphonic band, and symphonic orchestra. We will hang out in the parks, perform on the theme park concert stage, and take part in a fun workshop.

We are planning on departing Holland on Wednesday, April 1, 2026 and wrapping up our trip with a worship service on Sunday, April 5, 2026. Our return trip will arrive back in Holland on Monday, April 6, 2026. 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, MI. We have lots more info to come and the trip is fun. It isn't required, but thought it might be nice to pencil in the date on your calendars.

Two additional notes for the 2026 Florida trip:
-Holland Christian's official spring break begins on Friday, April 3. Students will be excused for the 1st and 2nd of April.
-Since this is also Holy Week we will be observing Good Friday with a time of worship Friday evening as a band and orchestra and also celebrating Easter with an Orlando congregation. Families are welcome to join us. If parents would like to pick up their children before church on Sunday and attend another church that is also a possibility.

3. We are considering doing a trip to Universal Studios for 2026 instead of Disney. We would like your input. The change in park would be a significant savings for kids and some positive perks. Do a little research and after you have done this, please take this survey to indicate your preference.

4. Sign up here to help out with Swingin' the Night Away on March 7 by donating desserts, helping serve or clean up! Students can also sign up to help with decorating or just let me know if you are willing to help out.

Thank you!

Mr. VB

--

Scott Vanden Berg | Director of Instrumental Music Holland Christian High School  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"

Solo and Ensemble Festival and Worship Symposium!

Dear band and orchestra students and parents,

I hope you have a great weekend. 

We are looking forward to a busy week for many HCHS instrumental music students. 

1. You are all invited to enjoy the fabulous solos, duets, trios, quartets, and quintets of the Holland Christian recital night in the Holland Christian High School band/orchestra and choir rooms on Monday night, February 3. Here is the schedule.

2. Invite friends and family to come join the symphonic orchestra! The worship service is free, no registration at the symposium required. If you can't make it in person, here is the live stream of the Calvin Worship Symposium worship service on  YouTube and Facebook. 

The orchestra will take part in the Symposium worship service on Wednesday, February 5, at 1:00 p.m. at the Calvin University Fine Arts Center and you are invited to attend!

Here is the schedule:

8:30 a.m. meet in orchestra room

10:30 a.m. rehearse in CFAC

11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. lunch provided for students and change into concert attire

12:58 p.m. - prelude begins

2:15 p.m. - some head back to HC some stay (until 3:15) for session with Tony Alonso

3. Parents, friends, and family are also invited to attend the MSBOA Solo and Ensemble Festival on Saturday, February 8 and hear students perform. Here is the most up to date schedule for the day. I will send you an email with more details and info.

4. I will repost these two reminders here.

We have one remaining pep band performance for basketball this year. These pep band performances will include free admission to the game, free snacks/drinks provided by the HCHS band and fun playing pep band tunes. We will require all band members to participate. Thanks to all who communicated promptly about absences.

Friday, Feb. 21 at 6:15 p.m. at the Civic Center

Symphonic Band and Symphonic Orchestra will be performing at the MSBOA band and orchestra festival this year. Parents, friends and family are invited to attend. Here are our days/times. We will provide bussing for students to and from these events.

Symphonic Band - Wednesday, March 5 at 9:00 a.m. at West Ottawa High School
Symphonic Orchestra - Thursday, March 6 at 10:15 a.m. at West Ottawa High School

Thank you!

Mr. VB

--

Scott Vanden Berg | Director of Instrumental Music Holland Christian High School  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"