HELLO & welcome
THE NEWSLETTER IS FINALLY HERE!
The 2019-2020 school year is filled with promises of inspiring music and a multitude of events. Band, Choir and Orchestra at Summit High School are so much more than just classes, they are deeply involved programs dedicated to excellence and opportunity. Following all these ensembles on their travels, performances and accomplishments can be a lot to keep track of. For that reason, we are proud to present the inaugural publication of the Summit Friends of Music Newsletter. We know it isn’t always possible to join your musicians on their adventures, but we hope you enjoy following them on their musical journey through our monthly newsletter.
What to Expect
Our students and staff in all three departments work tirelessly and with great enthusiasm to produce quality musical experiences both in class and at the performance level. As our students grow and expand their craft, develop interests for music beyond classes at Summit, and enjoy performing for audiences at concerts and community events around town, we’ll be with them capturing the moments to share with you. Once a month, we will publish a recap of events and let you know what not to miss in the upcoming month.
Did you attend a SHS music event and take pictures? We’d love to share them! Want to see something specific covered in the newsletter? We’d love to hear from you! Let’s get in touch.
Now, on to the news!
Band
Go Storm!
Football season was full of music from our Pep Band! Before each football game, a student march from Thump coffee to the field was headed by our very own drumline! This year we are very excited to have a drumline over twice the size of past years. On October 4th, we welcomed local eighth grade students from Cascade and Pacific Crest middle schools. Before the game, eighth graders had the opportunity to meet current band members while enjoying pizza. The future students were able to learn some stands tunes and get a taste of the Summit Band experience. The football season is rapidly coming to an end with only one game left on Friday, November 1st! Basketball season is right around the corner and we are so excited to have more opportunities to show off the hard work of students.
Want more Pep Band photos? Check out our gallery pages!
Students start a Drum Club
The new Summit Drumline Club made its debut this football season. The club is open to all Summit students, not just those in the Percussion Techniques class or other students of the band. The club is mostly student directed and gives the opportunity for those who enjoy drumline and want to challenge themselves by pursuing it all year round. The club rehearses every Monday and Thursday after school in preparation for performances including basketball half-time, and other sporting and school events. Members of the club are currently working on longer “show” style music to perform in the upcoming months.
Jazz Night
Summit Stage Band and Summit Jazz Ensemble performed in their first concert of the year on October 24th. With less than two months of rehearsal, the students put on a fantastic show. Musical selections included works by Kris Berg, Sonny Rollins, and Michael Mossman, among others. A special congratulations to the talented Stage Band soloists: Tobias Holme, Ulises Cisneros-Campos, Matthias Santucci, Brady Stack, Andrew Brook, Axel Hovorka, and Cusijaime Flores. Another round of congratulations to the Summit Jazz soloists: Patrick Ruiz, Ethan Burton, Tanner Taylor, Logan Lasala, Sam Smith, Hentry Ivie-Gardner, Evan Urlacher, Evan Lilly, Thayer Hicks, Tyler Allen, Nicholas Strom, Elise Benton, Sam Smith, Nyall Trout, and Chris Bird.
Audience members may have noticed the new look for Summit Jazz. A special thank you to Pilot Butte Middle School for donating their extra stage fronts. With a fresh coat of paint and the new logo, the fronts look great and so do our jazz ensembles.
Stay tuned for the next opportunity to hear these great jazz bands.
Let the gourd times roll!
Summit Bands took full advantage of the no-school day on October 25th with some pumpkin fun. Band Council organized an outing to Smith Rock Ranch to find the perfect squash specimens for their carving contest. After the pumpkin patch, the band met at the school for a pizza party and carved up their prize pumpkins. With their ghoulish gourds on display and blood sugar running high on halloween candy, the musicians headed to the stadium to play at the second-to-last football game of the season.
Student Accomplishments
WIBC
Western International Band Clinic (WIBC) is an honor band conference held in Seattle, WA. Students who are accepted work with world-class conductors and guest artists. Congratulations to the following Summit Wind Ensemble students who qualified to travel to Seattle in November 2019. Elizabeth Benton, Thayer Hicks, Isabella Huerta, Logan Lasala, Emily Orman, Eleanor Oudeans, Samuel Smith, Hannah Song, Nicholas Strom, Tanner Taylor, Elizabeth Verheyden and Jacob Zhao.
All-State
All-State is an honor band and orchestra conference that is hosted by Oregon Music Educator’s Association (OMEA). Students are selected through a highly competitive audition process that is open to all students in the state of Oregon. This year OMEA All-State will be held in January 2020 in Eugene, OR. Congratulations to the following students accepted into one of the ensembles: Tyler Allen, Thayer Hicks, Logan Lasala, Jesse May, Sam Smith, Hannah Song, Nicolas Strom, Whitney Walden, and Tanner Taylor.
Upcoming Band Events
November is another busy month for the Summit Bands. Join the student body for the annual Veterans Day Assembly on the 8th. On November 11th, Summit Band will combine with Bend and Mountain View bands to march as a combined band in the Veterans Day Parade. Enjoy an evening of music at the Fall Band Concert on the 21st. For more details, check out the event pages below.
Upcoming Band Volunteer opportunities
We need all hands on deck for some upcoming band events! Click the links below to learn more and sign up.
Nov 4-8: Marching Uniform Fitting
NOV 11: Veterans Day Parade
Nov 21: Fall Band Concert Reception
choir
Choral Symposium
Summit Chorale traveled to Salem on Friday, October 25 to attend the Choral Symposium. At the symposium, they were able to work with Dr. Rodney Eichenburger, a master in choral conducting. They also worked with Dr. Steven Zielke from OSU on musicianship and sightreading. It was a great day filled with great music.
HOLIDAY MUSIC IS RIGHT around the corner!
Every year, Summit’s premier jazz choir, Skyliner Jazz, spreads holiday cheer with Christmas carols. The ensemble will start caroling right after Thanksgiving. If there are any businesses or private parties that would like to have them sing for your holiday party, they would love to come. We operate on a donation basis and your donation can count as a tax write-off. Please contact our Choir Director, Melissa Jacot, to schedule.
Skyliner Jazz caroling at a company Christmas party, December 2018
ORCHESTRA
Fall CONCERT
Summit Strings and Summit Chamber Orchestra performed their first concert of the year on October 29th. From classical to pops, the orchestras performed seasonally spooky music and enhanced the festive atmosphere with Halloween costumes. Musical selections included Vivaldi’s “Autumn” from The Four Seasons, Night on Bald Mountain by Moussorgsky, Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera, and Elfman’s This is Halloween, among others. After the performance, students and audience members celebrated the musical accomplishments with a reception. To the parents who donated treats, thank you! We look forward to another Orchestra concert in the spring.
STUDENTS PREPARE FOR A BUSY YEAR AHEAD
The Orchestra Council has been meeting and is working on planning fun gatherings for the orchestra. Stay tuned for more information coming soon on these future events. Symphony Club will begin soon! The first meeting is scheduled for the beginning of November, so keep an eye out for updates from this club next month.
Fundraising efforts
Orchestra students have been working hard since school started at raising funds to offset the costs for their upcoming California spring tour in April 2020. Students are collecting bottles and cans at all home sporting events and appreciate your support and continued help with this endeavor. There are bags and gloves in cello locker #4, for those interested in helping to collect. Bags with collected bottles and cans can be returned to that locker as well and someone will process them from there. This Orchestra tour is a wonderful opportunity for our students which includes an exciting performance at Disney’s California Adventure Park. Please support them in their fundraising efforts if you can, and thank you to those who have already helped get it going.