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What a great experience we all had in San Francisco! You all were the best in all areas. Your discipline (minus the Ninja's in the hallway) was exemplary, your performances were stellar and your attitude was positive and supportive of one another. The tour can easily go down in history as one of the best I have proctored since coming to Woodbridge High School. Here's some highlights that come to mind:
1. Entertainers singing "O Magnum Mysterium" in the grand hall at the hotel. Awesome
2. Encore singing "Rain" at the classical protion of the festival and the kind comment that Dr. Brenniger voiced about your performance.
3. All of you being "on time" to every meeting that was requested. This, to me, is a true sign of maturity.
4. Watching all of you intently desiring to make your ensemble singing the best by getting rid of distractions (wrong notes, wrong expression, poorly maintained outfits, facial expressions, etc)
5. See you so excited about he "GOLD" awards that you received from Heritage. Congratulations to Encore for recieving their first GOLD AWARD in the history of WHS!!!!!
So, What's ahead? I guess, from a major standpoint, our final concerts are at the top of the list. Of course for all of you seniors (and me) it's our last time to grace the WHS Theatre stage but, for the rest of you it is the "start of something big" (as the song goes). When I return to hear your Holiday Concert next December, I fully expect to see a production like nothing that has been or ever will be. You are ready for it and the stage is waiting!
Remember, on May 17 (Monday) from 3:30 - 6:00 PM we will host auditions for next year's Entertainers and Encore singers. So what does this mean for you:
1. Select a song that you LOVE to sing and learn it from memory
2. Purchase the sheet music (for Mrs. Lecce to play from) or buy the background trax (or kareoke) and give those items to Mrs. Lecce or Me.
3. Secure an auditon packet (available May 1st) and complete all the forms in the packet. The audition packets willb e available from the choir room office, the WHS administration office, the ASB office and the library.
4. Watch the double door to the choir room for the sign-up sheet for auditions (everyone will have 3 minutes total so it is quick and easy for the musical portion)
5. Arrive at the choir room at least 10 minutes before your scheduled audition time with your completed audition packet and give the packet to the parent at the information table. You will be assigned a number which is a very important part of the auditon.
6. You will be led into the auditon area and you may not talk at all once in the room. Mrs. Lecce will already have your music or tape/CD.
a. Sing your song
b. Mr. Soderwall will have to sing some vocal exercises to identify your range, voice quality, and listening ability (can you hear somthing once and sing it).
7. Following the vocal audition you, and 45 other singers, will go to the teacher's lunch room and engage in a choreography auditon with our choreographer (I'll explain more about this later)
8. Following the choreography audition you are done.
The results of the auditons (which choir you will be in for next year - Entertainers or Encore) will be posted on this website on Sunday, June 6! Your names will have already been sent to you counsellor so they can make the class alterations in your 2010-2011 schedule.
Choir singers, I have been holding the choir directors position in this department at WHS for the past 13 years. It has been an eventful run with so many great students and parents along the way. You all have made my teaching days wonderful as we moved in and through the myriad of choir songs available to us. Each year has had its special events and personalities who have built into my life innumerable positives all couched in supportive love and affection (my cabinets in the office reflect all those past and present who have affected my life and directorship)
Thank you, everyone! Now let's go full-steam-ahead to June!!!!!!!!
Ron (Sodie) Soderwall (grandpa to some) |