End of the Season info!

Dear band and orchestra students and parents,

It was such a joy making music with you in these concerts and parades! Here are some end of the year details.

1. Please turn in all concert and marching uniforms and accessories (except marching shoes). There are racks and tables in the hall by the locker room. Please have them all turned in before the end of the day on Friday. There will be a late fee assessed to all who don't have uniforms by Friday. (We will take care of cleaning, you just need to turn it in.)

2. HCHS band members will be wearing maroon HC band t-shirts, jeans, and our white dinkles for the Memorial Day Parade. I have ordered new t-shirts and will provide the t-shirts to students.

3. The HCS bands will be marching as a combined 6th grade - 11th grade supergroup for Memorial Day (graduated seniors will not be participating). It is an important act of service we can do for our community to help make the Memorial Day parade a success and to remember those who lost their lives in the service of our country. Here is the information for the Memorial Day Parade.

4. In order to successfully march together on Memorial Day the HCHS and HCMS bands will meet together for a one time practice on Wednesday, May 21 at 7:45 a.m.

5. Check out the pictures from the orchestra concert!

6. Do you have a school owned instrument? Please check in with Mr. Vanden Berg about whether you would like to keep this at home to practice this summer or if you are planning to turn it in. Seniors, if you have anything that is owned by HC (mutes, music, instruments, uniform parts) please return them by Friday.

7. Sign up for summer lessons here! Summer is a great time to improve your musical skills! There are so many details and instrument specific things that we can cover in summer lessons that are tricky to get to in a full band or orchestra setting. We can also help you prepare for solo and ensemble festival or scholarship auditions or learn a new instrument!

8. Here is information on the Holland American Legion Band Concerts. This band is a community band that welcomes students to play in its summer concerts. You are invited (I direct this group)! This group will probably be a best fit for upperclassmen. Anyone is welcome to attend the concerts as an audience member in Kollen Park on Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. starting on June 10.

Thank you!

Mr. VB

P.S. Here is a quick reminder from a previous post.

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.

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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"