Group Photos

The photos that were taken of each music group in December are online and ready to order! Click here to see the photos!

The 64th Annual Spaghetti Dinner - Sat. Feb 11

What is so special about the Spaghetti Dinner?

Did you know that the Ballard High School community has been gathering for this annual tradition since 1959? So few traditions have lasted this long! Also, this is the only event during the entire school year when you can enjoy a performance by every performing arts group at Ballard! You won’t want to miss it!

What is your favorite One Hit Wonder?

Join us for the 64th Annual Spaghetti Dinner, on Saturday, February 11 from 5:30-8:30 pm to see if your favorite One Hit Wonder will be performed by one of our exceptional groups. Admission is free, but why not purchase dinner to make it a special night!

Get Your Spaghetti Dinner Tickets to Avoid the Lines!

Dinner includes spaghetti (gluten free available), sauce (veggie or meat), bread, salad, a beverage (lemonade, water or coffee), and a small dessert.   

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Thank you to our food donors (to date):

Ground beef provided by Better Meats

Sausage provided by Cascioppo Brothers

Pasta provided by Ken’s Market Greenwood

Assorted food items provided by Trader Joe’s Ballard

Bread provided by Macrina and Sea Wolf Bakeries

Ice cream provided by Full Tilt

Ticket prices

Adult: $16

Senior/Student: $11

All You Can Eat (any age): $24 

Small dessert included.

Tickets aren't required to enjoy the amazing performances, only if you would like dinner. 

Here is an updated performance schedule:

5:40       Jazz Lab Ensemble

5:50     Treble Choir

6:00       Symphonic Orchestra

6:10       Big Band

6:20       Fiddlers

6:30       *Advanced Chorale

6:40       Concert Band

6:55       Tenor/Bass Ensemble

7:05       Brass Band

7:15       Chamber Choir

7:25       Symphonic Band

7:40       Vocal Jazz

7:50     Chamber Orchestra

8:00       Wind Ensemble/Chamber Orchestra (with guest vocalists)

8:10     *Concert Choir

8:20     Secret Garden Cast

8:30       Start clean-up 

*Note that Advanced Chorale and Concert Choir have switched times.

Students should arrive 20 minutes before their performance time. Students need to buy a ticket to enjoy the Spaghetti Dinner and are encouraged to sign up for a volunteer shift after their performances. 

This is truly a community event. We need LOTS of volunteers (before, during, and after) to make it a successful night. Students, family members, alums…all are encouraged to help out! Sign up here!

Solo and Ensemble Competition Update for all Choir, Band, and Orchestra

The solo and ensemble competition will take place February 4 at Roosevelt High School.  The schedule will come out approximately one week prior. The deadline for application and payment was January 11, so if you have an outstanding balance, please submit your payment asap ($22/entry, check made to BPAB).  

For choir students: Accompanists will need to be paid separately at a rate of $75. Please work with your accompanist to determine the best form of payment (check, Venmo, Paypal, etc.).

All payments can be turned into the BPAB mailbox in the black box. Please make sure to clearly label your payment.

Band

Jan 25 is Pizza and Pep Night

Pizza and Pep Night is required for all band students. Call time is 5 pm. 

This event showcases the pep band to current 8th graders considering attending Ballard High School and is a great way to promote the band program with rising freshmen. Students will meet at 5 pm and teach a few of the pep band standards to 8th grade students. They will then have a break for a pizza supper before performing at Wednesday’s Girls Varsity Basketball Game and celebration of Title IX. If you know of 8th grade band students who are considering Ballard, please encourage them to join in on the fun.

Schedule:

5 pm - Call time

5:30 pm - Rehearsal

6:30 pm - PIZZA

7:30 pm - Game Time

Solo and Ensemble Festival - Feb 4 @Roosevelt High School

Solo and Ensemble Festival will take place on Saturday, Feb 4 at Roosevelt High School. All students in Wind Ensemble have registered with an ensemble (a few students may also be doing solo competition). The performance schedule should be out before the end of this week (Jan 20). Students are responsible for their own transportation. If you have not yet submitted a check for fees, please do so at your earliest convenience ($22 for a solo, $32 per ensemble payable to Ballard Performing Arts). 

Jazz Updates

Jazz Band had a special guest, Ernesto Pedianco. Ernesto is a culture bearer in the Latin music scene here in Seattle. A percussionist who has been playing professionally in the area since the 70's, Ernesto also owns the Sheridan Market, an all ages music venue and restaurant in Bothell. Having Ernesto was incredible. He is a wonderful teacher and player, and truly brought the knowledge and know how to the Afro-Cuban charts we're learning that only someone like him can bring.

BHS Jazz (both Big Band and Jazz Lab Ensemble) will be performing at Clark College!

This will be an overnight trip, departing on Friday Jan 27 and coming back late on the 28th. Hotels have been confirmed and the cost of the trip is $150.00 per person. Students will receive permission forms and they are due back on Tuesday Jan 17, along with the check to cover costs.

Proposed Itinerary: 

• Leave from Ballard High at 8:00 am on Friday Jan 27th.
• Participate in various clinics at the college the afternoon of the 27th.
• Stay the night at the Springfield Suites by Marriott in Vancouver.
• Perform the afternoon of the 28th between 12-5 pm.
• Return time on the 28th will depend on whether Ballard will be playing in the showcase. 

March 3 Central WA University event with Wind Ensemble

Mark your calendars for this new adventure to Central Washington University’s Wind Festival. Wind Ensemble and selected percussionists will be traveling for the day, with an early morning departure, to perform at Wind Fest in Ellensburg. Parent chaperones will be needed. Please contact the band rep if you are available to assist. 

Choir

We are so excited to welcome Ms. Rowley back! A huge thank you to Hunter Troyer, Serena Chin, and many others for filling in while she was out!

Upcoming events

• Saturday, Jan. 28th: The Third NY trip payment is due! Visit the Harmony Tours payment portal. 
• Saturday, Feb. 4: EBMEA Solo and Ensemble Contest at Roosevelt HS, schedule TBA (25 soloists, 4 small ensembles, and 3 large ensembles plan to participate).
• Saturday, Feb. 11: Spaghetti Dinner, 5:30-8:30 in the Ballard Commons.

Visiting vocal coaches



We're excited to have several excellent Seattle choir conductors and vocal coaches come to work on vocal technique with the choirs. 

Taylor Iverson, who did her student teaching at Ballard in the fall of 2016, came to work with all the choirs this past Wednesday and will continue to work with choirs on Wednesdays.

Miriam Anderson (conductor at Seattle Girls Choir, Puget Soundworks, and Seattle Labor Chorus) and Justin Birchell (doctoral choral conducting student at UW and accomplished singer) will be working with Chamber Choir, Tenor Bass Ensemble, and Concert Choir in the following weeks.

We will have a special guest work with Chamber Choir on Wednesday, Feb. 1: Jessica French, a Seattle-based composer, singer, and educator, will come to coach Chamber Choir on her piece "O Star of Strength," which the choir will sing at the Solo/Ensemble contest.

Orchestra

Symphonic Orchestra Wintergrass Performance February 25th

The Symphonic Orchestra will be performing at the Wintergrass Festival in Bellevue on Sunday, February 26th! Important date/times:

Saturday, 2/25 - Arrive/check in at Lake Washington Room at Bellevue Westin by 9:45 am, End of day at 4:00 pm (bring a lunch).

Sunday, 2/26 – Arrive at Grand Ballroom by 8:00 am, concert at 10:45am, end of concert ~12:15 pm.

Students/families will need to provide their own travel. Mr. Valdez can help facilitate carpools if necessary.

Chamber Orchestra Trip to Central Washington University Orchestra Festival March 11th

Chamber Orchestra has been accepted to the Central Washington University Orchestra Festival! The orchestra will perform, work with a clinician, listen to other high school orchestras, and listen to the CWU Orchestra perform.

When: Saturday, March 11 – time TBD

Where: Central Washington University (Ellensburg, WA)

More details coming soon!

Theatre

Have a question about Theatre/Language Arts classes that meet during the school day? Email Mr. Riley’s substitute, Ms. Charlotte Alexander at caalexander1@seattleschools.org.

The Secret Garden Musical Production Update

Students and the crew are staying in touch via GroupMe and the cast calendar. 

For questions contact director Eia Waltzer at eiaradio@yahoo.com.

How Theatre Families Can Help Support the Musical

The director and production team for the musical will reach out soon to families of theatre students with a list of ways that the BPA Boosters can support the musical. Stay tuned for more news on this next week. Until then, please sell advertisements and sponsorships for the program. Payments for advertisements and sponsorships should be in the form of a check to Ballard Performing Arts and handed in to the payment box at school for BPAB treasurer, Jill Hansen. 

Download the sponsorship form.

Download the advertising form.

Completed forms can to handed to stage manager, Max, or emailed to bpabevents@gmail.com.

Buy your tickets and save your seats  – Tickets are on sale now!

The district only pays for teachers’ salaries; everything else we have to raise or donate.

Mattress Sale is February 5 - One Day Only!

We know no one gets excited about fundraising but we need your help! On Sunday, February 5 we will be hosting our 4th annual Mattress Fundraiser right here in the BHS Commons from 10 am to 5 pm. This one-day sale features top brand mattresses, pillows, sheets, and more from Simmons Beautyrest, Therapedic, Englander, and more. The prices are well below retail because they order directly from the manufacturer, there is no retail space overhead, and advertising expenses are minimal. Plus, they deliver! (Or you can pick up your mattress for free three weeks after the event, at school).

We know it’s odd but the Mattress Fundraiser is sooooo easy. We won't be successful unless our families take the time to share the event with everyone they know!  

Here are two easy ways to lend your support:

• Simply talk to 10 people (chances are one of them needs a new mattress) - friends, extended family, neighbors, and co-workers! You can start the conversation by asking someone how they slept last night. It's that easy! 
• Take a picture of the below, and attached flyer, and text that to everyone you know with a brief comment, "If you happen to be in the market for a new mattress, please check out this great event in support of my BHS music student! For additional info, reach out via text to (360) 454-3210."

Please talk to everyone you know!

Here are other ways you can help spread the word:

• Watch this short video: CFS Mattress Fundraiser.mp4 on Vimeo
• Check out the company's website: www.CFSBeds.com
• Click the Facebook event: https://bit.ly/Beds4Ballard23
• Indicate that you're going to the event - we earn extra $$ through the fundraising company if we get over 250 people to join!
• Invite all of your friends so they can help us hit our goal!
• Share on your newsfeed and ask people to do the same! 
• Hand out this form and ask people to fill it out if they plan to attend so your student can get credit for the sale.

Want additional information about the event? Check out the FAQs, reach out to cfsteamseattle@gmail.com or text (360) 454-3210, or contact Kris Bulson at bpabfundraising@gmail.com.

Serious Pie Ballard Dine Out 1/26

Dine Out to support Ballard Performing Arts on January 26th at Serious Pie Ballard - order online, in-person, or by phone and 20% of your total will be donated to support BPA programs. Add the $0 BPA card to your cart if ordering online, and if calling in your order or ordering in person, don’t forget to say “Ballard Performing Arts”.

Save the Date: Dine out at Duke’s on February 16!

More details to come.

Mattress Fundraiser Help Wanted

Our 4th annual mattress sale is Sunday, February 5th from 10 am-5 pm in the BHS Commons. The only thing we need help with is waving signs to attract the attention of people walking or driving by. We have lots of short shifts available. Easy way to get service hours! Sign up here.

Spaghetti Dinner Help Wanted

We need friendly greeters, food servers, ticket takers, spaghetti makers, and more! Students, family members, alums…all are welcome! Pick the job and the shift that works best for you!



Sign up here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F084FA9A92CAAF85-2023

Social Media Help Wanted

Social media has become integral to all aspects of Ballard Performing Arts. Our students are ramping up with performances, trips, and visiting specialists.You can help highlight programs, get the word out about dine-outs, concerts, events, and fundraising, and use social media tools to tell the story of our fundraising efforts through reels, stories, and posts. The social media team needs you! You'll post content lifted from our weekly newsletter, learn how to use the pro versions of the popular software Canva, and get the inside scoop on everything that is coming down the pike with our programs. Please reach out to Jeannette Chen at bpabsocial@gmail.com - she has a graduating senior and would love to train an enthusiastic parent who wants to keep the momentum going!

Nothing can stop the Spaghetti Dinner! See what an incredible crew of teachers, parents, students, and other volunteers can do to keep a tradition alive! Take a look at Spaghetti Dinner 2021 – the “dinner and a show” virtual pandemic edition.

Check out past performances any time on our YouTube and Vimeo channels.