Update for Semester 2

NEWS!

Firstly, we welcomed last week the arrival of 20 brand new iMac computers. Thanks to the incredible support of Ms. Plonka and the Administration team, we are now equipped with some of the best tools for making music using computer technology that can be available to our students. We are in process of getting the lab up and running and finding the additional resources we need for software and equipment, but we are thrilled that we will be able to offer the AMM (Music and Computers) courses this new semester using these fantastic machines!

This week sees us continuing our successful initiatives connecting with our feeder school students. After our successful holiday concerts at Northlea and Bessborough, we are, on Thursday, January 29th, over 100 band students from Northlea will be traveling to LHS for a day-long workshop. LHS Band students will join us from 12-3, and the students will have the chance to work with formidable educators Les Dobbin and Sharon Fitzsimmins. We are looking forward to welcoming the grade 7 and 8s here and to share in a day of musical adventure with them.

We are also very much looking forward to the participation of LHS students in two exciting events this year. On Thursday, February 12, the Concert Band will travel by bus to Le Parc Banquet Hall to participate in the Ontario Band Festival. Details about the festival can be found at: http://www.onband.ca/cbf/ - our performance will be at 1:05 PM, and we invite any parents who might be free to come and see this exciting day of music-making. As part of the festival the students will also be receiving a private adjudication and a half-hour workshop with a renowned adjudicator, and we are anticipating the great musical impact this day will have on our students.

Our next upcoming event takes place Thursday April 2nd, when 10 students from LHS Band and all members of the LHS choir have the chance to sing and play onstage at Massey Hall as part of the TDSB's annual celebration of secondary music programs, "Sounds of Toronto". The rehearsals will take place March 10 and 26 for band and March 3 for choir, with an all-day dress rehearsal on April 1. We hope you will join us on the evening of April 2 to celebrate achievement in music across our city!

Unfortunately we were not able to have enough student interest to run our proposed trip to New York. We hope to begin our campaign soon for a trip for next year, and are sure the students will be even more excited about these new opportunities. We are anticipating growth in all our classes and the creation of an AMV vocal class for next year, and with our continued endeavours with the feeder schools, we look forward to building as time progresses.
Thank you all for your continued support and please contact me should you have questions about music at Leaside!

Rehearsal Times (for now):

Band- Tuesday at lunch

Choir - Wednesday at lunch

Music Council - alternating Fridays at lunch

Songwriters' Circle - alternating Fridays at lunch

Stop by the Music Office anytime if you have any questions! See you at rehearsal!

Find out more about Music at Leaside this year! Join us for the following events....

MUSIC INFO DAY -
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 10th
at noon in Room 220
Come hear about all our extra-curricular groups, festivals plans, tour ideas and more!

FUNDRAISING KICK-OFF -
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 19th
at 11:45 in Room 220
Come find out about the amazing Entertainment Books, how you can help make a difference to Music at Leaside and fund our exciting tour plans!

MUSIC PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT -
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 22nd
at 6:30pm in Room 220
Join us for light refreshments and to hear about our plans for the upcoming year, particularly our music retreat camp.

Hope to see you all at these events, and thanks for your support!

Hi Everyone,
Welcome to Music at Leaside High School. In the upcoming weeks, you'll find details here about our ensembles, trips, outreach, iniatives and more! We are looking forward to an exciting year and we want you to be a part of it, so stop by Room 221 to say hi anytime!
Enjoy the last weekend of the summer and see you soon!