Check Out the Performance Lineup!

The 65th Annual Spaghetti Dinner: Night at the Movies is coming up on Sat, Feb 3, 2024, 5:30-8:30 pm. 

While admission is free, you can support BPA by purchasing tickets for a delicious spaghetti dinner featuring our famous sauce, fresh salad, yummy garlic bread, and a small dessert. (Gluten free pasta and vegetarian sauce available.) To purchase tickets, click here or use the QR code on the postcards. 

Amazing Lineup!

You won’t want to miss performances of music from The Jungle Book, Footloose, The Muppets, La La Land, and many more. View the full performance schedule! 

Volunteer!

We need lots of help, please volunteer for the event or donate concession stand treats. Sign up here!. 

Great Raffle Prizes!



Get ready for a great raffle this year! Prizes include tickets to Taproot Theater, Seattle Symphony, Choral Arts NW, Majestic Bay, and Seattle Theater Group!

EBMEA Solo and Ensemble Contest on Feb 10

Solo and Ensemble payments are due now.

• Solo cost is $22*.
• Ensemble cost is $32* per group. (Divide that amount by the number of members of the ensemble to get the cost per individual.)

Ensemble payments need to be turned in together. One member of the group should collect the individual payments, then place them in an envelope with the ensemble name written on it. 

*Cash or checks payable to BPA. Drop payment envelopes in the band room secure mailbox.

What is the EBMEA Solo and Ensemble Contest?

If your high schooler is anything like mine, you have no clue what this is and whether or not they're participating. (Several years ago, as she rushed to get ready for school one hurried morning, she pleaded for a check that she needed “RIGHT AWAY” because she was past due in paying and then followed it up with “Oh and can you please drive me to this tomorrow?”) So, to avoid this, do yourself a favor and ask your child, “Hey, are you participating in the Solo and Ensemble competition? Have you paid yet?” 

While the directors promote this optional event during class, help them arrange ensembles if needed, provide them with coaching and time to prepare in class, unfortunately quite often, the kids neglect to share this info with their grown ups. This event is organized by the EBMEA (Elliott Bay Music Educators Association) and will be at Chief Sealth on Sat. Feb 10th (schedule is still TBD). It is a regional music competition, like district sports competitions but for our student musicians. The finalists from our region will go on to compete at the State Solo and Ensemble Contest in April. Click here to learn more.

Wed Jan 31st | Yearbook Photos for ALL Music Groups!

On Wed, Jan 31st, all music groups will have their photos taken for the yearbook during the school day. Students MUST bring their entire concert uniform to school that day, all of it - black shoes, ties, black socks - whatever is needed for the complete look. (They can hang it on a rack in the hallway by the uniform room in the morning.) And then…they MUST take their uniform back home at the end of the day. Grown ups - thanks in advance for your help in reminding your students!

Band

Upcoming Dates

Mark your calendars for these band events (note that not all students are needed at all pep band events):

Jan 26th - Pep Band at basketball game, 7:00pm call time

Jan 30th - Pep Band at basketball game, 7:00pm call time

Jan 31st - Bring dress clothes to school for yearbook pictures

Jan 31st - Brass band at Greenwood Senior Center, 3:30pm

Jan 31st - Pizza and Pep Band night, 5:30pm

Feb 3rd - Spaghetti Dinner, 5.30-8.30pm, all bands will perform; all families are invited

Feb 6th - Wind Ensemble to PNW Band Festival

Feb 8th - Prospective family night, 6:00-8:00pm; call time 5:30pm

Feb 10th - EBMEA Solo and Ensemble Contest

Feb 14th - Small group orchestra and band (not percussion) performances at Ballard Elks Lodge, 6pm

March 1st - Wind Ensemble to CWU Windfest 

Basketball Games for Pep Band - Pizza and Pep Band Night January 31st

The band will be playing for various boys and girls basketball games until the end of January. Each student needs to attend five games plus the pizza and pep band night (which is mandatory), and they can sign up for which games they would like to attend on the signup sheet in the band room. They wear their band t-shirts to these games. We will also need one or two parent volunteers to be around the band room area while the game is going on. Please sign up here. Thank you for helping out! 

The Pizza and Pep Band night will be January 31st this year. This is a mandatory game and 8th grade band members from nearby schools will be invited to attend to see what BHS Marching and Pep band is like. This event is a great way to promote the band program with rising freshmen. Pizza will be provided and chaperones will be needed. Students will meet at 5:30 pm to rehearse the pep band songs, have pizza at 6:30 pm, play pre-game music at 7:10, and the game starts at 7:30 pm. If you know of 8th grade band students who are considering Ballard, please encourage them to join in on the fun. Please sign up to chaperone here. Chaperones will help with pizza handout and cleanup as well as directing families to the gym. Please plan to be there 5:00 to 7:30 or 8 pm.

Jazz Band Trip to Reno | April 25-28

The remaining payment ($257) is due by Feb 15 and can be paid on our website or with cash/check (made out to BPA). Drop in the secure box in the band room or send to Ballard Performing Arts, PO Box 17774 Seattle WA 98127.

*Email bpabtreasurer@gmail.com if you'd like to apply your student's fundraising credits toward the upcoming trip payments. 

Choir

The registration deadline for Solo and Ensemble has passed. If your student is singing a solo, or in a duet or small group, they need to pay by placing their money in a labeled envelope in the secure black mailbox in the band room. Ms. Rowley and Serena will take care of registrations. Please pay in cash or check (payable to Ballard Performing Arts), $22 - solo, $16 - for each singer in a duet. Fees for Vocal Jazz, Tenor Bass Ensemble, and the Chamber Choir are covered by BPA. You will also need to pay your accompanist (information was handed out in class about this).

See the following upcoming dates. We are still short of chaperones for the Concert Choir trip in February and the Concert Choir/Advanced Chorale trip to Portland in May. You will need to be approved as an SPS volunteer. https://www.seattleschools.org/departments/volunteer/volunteer-application-process/

Upcoming Dates

Wed Jan 31st - All ensembles and choirs are having their photos taken for the yearbook. Bring your choir uniform to school, including shoes, ties, black socks - whatever is needed for the complete look. Be sure to take your uniform home at the end of the day. 

Sat February 3rd - Spaghetti Dinner, 5.30-8.30 pm,. All choirs will be singing and all families are invited. 

Thurs February 8th - Prospective Families Night, 6-8 pm. All small ensembles will be singing.

Sat Feb 10th - Solo and Ensemble, at Chief Sealth International High School (schedule TBD).

Thurs February 29th - Concert Choir will be attending a Choir Festival at Pacific Lutheran University, during the school day, leaving at 6am, back at school by about 3pm. Four chaperones needed! Chaperones needed! Please contact Sally bpabchoirrep@gmail.com if you are able to chaperone.

Thurs May 23rd - Sat May 25th - Save the date! Advanced Chorale and Concert Choir trip to Portland, OR. Information about deposits and other details will be coming soon. We need nine chaperones. Please contact Sally bpabchoirrep@gmail.com if you're able to chaperone. 

Orchestra

Upcoming Dates

Jan 31st - All groups are having their photos taken for the yearbook. Bring your orchestra uniform to school, including shoes, ties, black socks - whatever is needed for the complete look. Be sure to take your uniform home at the end of the day.

Feb 22-25 Wintergrass Festival

The Wintergrass Festival format is changing and only interested students will perform, not the entire orchestra. Contact Mr. Valdez if you're interested in performing at the festival.

March 9 CWU Orchestra Festival

Chamber Orchestra is confirmed; Symphonic Orchestra is waitlisted.

April 2 NW Orchestra Festival

Whitman Middle School

May 24-26 Orchestra Vancouver B.C. Trip

One more male chaperone is still needed for the Vancouver trip to meet SPS requirements. If you're able to chaperone, please contact Connie at bpaborchestrarep@gmail.com.

The $150 deposit check was due 1/12. Future payments will be online and will be about $650/person total (including the deposit).

Trip details:

• Dates – 5/24-5/26
• Activities: Adjudicated Festival Performance and clinic, Dinner and awards banquet, Grouse Mountain tour
• Included in cost: Charter bus travel, 2 nights hotel stay
• Not included in cost: Meals outside of banquet dinner (hotel may have breakfast—will confirm).

More details will be coming soon, along with an information night sponsored by the festival on a date TBD. Students planning to attend this trip must have a passport and/or Real ID that will allow them entry to Canada.

Theatre

Addams Family

Rehearsals for The Addams Family are in full swing!

Hello Ghouls and Goblins! Rehearsals are progressing well. Musicians, actors, techies, and production folks are all hard at work. T-shirts and posters are on their way shortly. Reminder: All musical participants will be asked to sell 2 ads for our program in the weeks ahead! This is an important way to help fund our complex and sure-to-be-fabulous show. Info about how you can help is forthcoming from Ms. Miller.

Questions? Email Ms. Miller at mashor@seattleschools.org.

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

Support BPA! Buy Tix for 65th Annual Spaghetti Dinner | Sat Feb 3

Ticket Sales are LIVE for the 65th Annual Spaghetti Dinner: Night at the Movies on Sat, Feb 3, 2024, 5:30-8:30 pm! 



Please join us for a magical night of food, community, and performances at our biggest event of the year. While admission is free, you can support BPA by purchasing tickets for a delicious spaghetti dinner featuring our famous sauce, fresh salad, yummy garlic bread, and a small dessert. (Gluten free pasta and vegetarian sauce available.) 

Chocolate Sales are coming back on Jan 29th… just in time for Valentine’s Day and Mid-Winter Break!

Encourage your child to help fundraise.

We've estimated that each trip will cost at least $400 per student for transportation and lodging. Encourage your student to check out a box of chocolates and sell them to teachers, classmates, family, friends, office colleagues and neighbors before and during mid-winter break.

How does it work?

1. Students fill out this check out form. 
2. Checkout will be at the uniform room door. Jill will be available for checkout most mornings (starting 1/29) before school starts (8:15 to 8:40am). A completed form is required to get a box.
3. Students sell the candy for $1 bar, and then turn in $60. For each box sold, the student receives $24 credited to that student's account and those funds can be used for spring trip, camp payments (due in July), or program fees in the fall. Unused funds can even be transferred to a younger sibling when a student graduates (or donated to BPA general fund).

*Students are responsible for turning in the full cost of the box of chocolate, $60, whether they sell it all or not. They cannot turn in coins. All money should be bills or checks (payable to BPA).

All money will be due Feb 29th.

Dine out for BPA

February 29th at MOD PIZZA, 6010 15th Ave NW. Buy a pizza at MOD any time between 10:30am-10:00pm, mention that you're supporting BPA, and 20% of what you spend will be donated to Ballard Performing Arts. Details to follow.

All Hands on Deck for Spaghetti Dinner on Feb 3!

We have a wide variety of big and small jobs starting several days before the event and going all the way until after the event. From ticket sellers and takers to concession treat and spaghetti makers, please sign up for a job here. Students, family members, alums…all are welcome!

Check out the performance schedule here so you can time your shift around student performances.

Lots of Available Volunteer Positions!

Please check out the list of available volunteer positions. Email bpabpresident@gmail.com with any questions. 

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

Cornish's Summer@Cornish Music Program

Our program is very accessible to all stages of development for teens.  Our music foundations program is modeled after our Cornish undergrad musicianship program which combines theory, ear training, and singing - ideal for any student interested in songwriting or composition. Teens can mix and match electives in other artistic areas in the afternoons. Additionally, we have unique electives in music such as music for games, vocal ensemble, piano lab, and even taiko drumming!

Learn more at summer.cornish.edu/music.

*Scholarships are available and parents can access this simple form here: https://apply.cornish.edu/register/extensionscholarship

*Info session for parents - first session in January: https://apply.cornish.edu/register/Summer2024Jan