Small Ensemble Groups to Perform at Middle School Tour Day on Friday, March 31

All small musical groups will tour middle schools during the school day on March 31 to encourage students to participate in music programs in high school. This includes students in Brass Band, Vocal Jazz, Tenor Bass Ensemble, Chamber Choir, and Chamber Orchestra. They will be touring Whitman, Robert Eagle Staff, McClure, Salmon Bay, and Blaine. Permission slips have been sent home, please turm them in ASAP. Bus transportation will be provided. 

Disney/NYC Trips - Important Information!

ALL CHAPERONES

Please pick up your packet of emergency/health information for the students in your groups from the Main Office on Thursday, 3/30 or Friday, 3/31 between 8-4:30. Due to confidential information, these cannot be picked up/sent home with students. Thank you!

Disney Trip

Photo - Want an official Disney photo of our group? We have to pay in advance! Turn in a $20 check made out to BPA, with your student(s) name(s) on the memo line, by tomorrow, Wed 3/29!

Uniforms and Instruments will be loaded up over the weekend in preparation for the drive to Disney.

Band students - No later than Thursday, 3/30, put your band shirts and tall black socks in your uniform bag.* While you are in there, check your uniform and let Jill know ASAP if you have a missing/loose button or snap, or if a part of your uniform is missing. Best time to catch Jill is between 8-10 am. 

Orchestra students - No later than Thursday, 3/30, hang your concert attire on the rack outside of the uniform room.*

*Whatever is at school by Friday will travel in the truck, whatever is NOT at school by Friday will have to travel in your luggage on the airplane with you.

Find recaps of the Monday 3/20 Trips Meetings in the program sections.

The Secret Garden - That’s a Wrap!

Congratulations to the cast, crew, directors, and volunteers for an incredibly successful musical run! Thank you to everyone who came to support and cast and crew of The Secret Garden. Look for a more detailed recap next week! Here are some photos from the closing show: 

Thank you to All the Families Who Helped Support the Musical!



Thank you all for baking, selling concessions, selling tickets and helping to clean up after each show. 

Band

Middle School Tour Day, Friday, March 31

Brass Band students will tour middle schools during the school day on March 31 to encourage students to participate in music programs in high school. They will tour with Vocal Jazz, Tenor Bass Ensemble, and Chamber Choir. They will be touring Whitman, Robert Eagle Staff, McClure, Salmon Bay, and Blaine. Permission slips have been sent home. Bus transportation will be provided. 

Upcoming Band Performances

April 2 – Brass Band plays at Swanson’s Nursery at 11:00 am

April 29 & 30 | Boats Afloat Jazz Combo

May 6 – CWU jazz festival, both jazz bands attending

May 23 – North High School band festival at Lincoln

June 2-4 - Honkfest. Time TBD.

June 4 | Joint concert with Wind Ensemble North Seattle College

June 7 | Symphonic Band performance with Whitman

June 8 | Final Spring Band Concert

June 13 – Final Jazz concert at the Royal Room, 5:30 load in, 6:30 downbeat

Marching Band Photos Ready to Order

You can view and order music group photos at the link below. There are two photos for Marching Band. Scroll through the photos to find your student's group photo. 

Link: https://v2.myproimages.com/rowlandstudio 

Code/password: BMU2223

Whitman Students invited to play with Jazz Bands on Fridays

To help build the bridge between middle school and high school, Whitman Middle school band students are invited to jam with Jazz 2 on Fridays! See Mr. Gillespie for more details. 

Disney Marching Practices

Please mark calendars for additional marching band practices. These practices are preparation for the Disney performances and are required for students going on the trip. Rehearsals will be held immediately after school and a few will require parent chaperones for marching in the streets. Please use the SignUp Genius to choose a volunteer spot.

• Friday March 31, 3:45 - 5:15 pm (chaperones required)
• Tuesday April 4, 3:45 - 5:15 pm (chaperones required)

Disney Trips Meeting Recap

• Students should know which flight they are on. If you are unsure, please email your rep.
• All students should arrive at the airport dressed in their choice of clothing for America's Got Talent. There won't be time to change (AGT Dress Code Below)
• There will not be time to make purchases at the airport before takeoff. We have 100 kids to keep track of, to get through security, and to get to the gate together. Do not leave the group.
• Students on the later flight will need to bring a bagged lunch and snacks. There will not be time to stop for lunch before AGT.
• Make sure your student packs appropriately for security checks. Double check online if unsure of an item.
• Reread the specific rules and contract from the school. Possession or use of alcohol, marajuana, vape paraphernalia, or tobacco will likely result in a student being sent home at parental expense.
• Bring uniforms to school as directed by Jill. Black socks and band shirts to be added to Marching Band uniforms. Concert clothes to be submitted to Jill for transportation.
• Dress code for stage at Disney is strict. If you are not wearing the distributed uniform, you must be wearing full black, no midriff, no shoulders showing.
• Students will need money for 8 meals. We recommend they have a combination of cash and cards. Most meals will be eaten at Disney. Assume $15 per meal plus snacks.
• Bring a water bottle. Stay hydrated. All restaurants will provide a glass of water on request.
• Take a picture of your Disney Pass number just in case.
• If you would like a chaperone to control meds for your student, you will be able to hand those off at the airport.
• If you are late for a Disney event, you will not be participating in the event. There is no room to be late.
• Chaperone check ins will happen approximately every 4 hours.

America's Got Talent Details

These are not Ballard rules. These guidelines are set by the studio and the seating of the entire group depends on how well we adhere to these guidelines. Watch a few clips on YouTube and note what the audience members behind the judges are wearing - if you want to sit up close (I know Mr G does!) then use these audience members as a guide.

• Dark plain clothing
• No logos, patterns, stripes
• No sandals, open-toed shoes, or high heels

Choir

Today! March 28 Elliott Bay Regional Choir Festival @ Ballard HS

All choir classes will participate in the Elliot Bay Regional Choir Festival taking place at Ballard High School during the school day. The groups will be joined by 14 other choirs from across Seattle. This is an adjudicated festival where each choir will receive scores and feedback from the clinician as well as a clinic from one of the judges. Students will wear their formal tuxes and dresses. They will either need to bring a sack lunch or arrange to buy something off campus, as the festival’s lunch break will take place after Ballard’s regularly scheduled lunch period. We’re looking forward to a fun and educational day with Treble Choir, Advanced Chorale, and Concert Choir.

Upcoming Dates

Friday, March 31

Middle School Tour Day, during the school day

Vocal Jazz, Tenor Bass Ensemble, and Chamber Choir will visit area middle schools.  

*We are in need of two chaperones for this event. Please contact Jaimee at bpabchoirrep@gmail.com if you’re willing and able!

Tuesday, April 4 

NW Choral Showcase, 7-8:30 pm

Ballard Choirs will welcome feeder elementary and middle school choirs to the Ballard Gym for an evening of choral music. Click here to donate snacks or help volunteer for this event.

Wednesday, April 12- Sunday, April 16

New York Trip

Thanks to all who came to the trip meeting on Monday, March 20. If you missed it, here is a recap:

Families were given a paper itinerary, students were assigned to their chaperones, and parents and students were given instructions to download an app that will include full itinerary information.

Permission slips are NOW DUE, so please get them in to Ms. Rowley if you haven't done so.

We strongly suggest that you download the free app Trip Plans by Travefy to your device so that you can refer to the most recent version of the itinerary (it will be adjusted in real time depending on delays, traffic, etc.). If you have printed a copy of the itinerary, please check for any possible changes on the online itinerary. The following are links to the app.

Trip Plans by Travefy - Apple App Store

Trip Plans by Travefy - Google Play Store

After you download the app, click the following link, and then select that you’d like to add this trip to your app: https://bit.ly/tripplansapp

Students and chaperones had the chance to meet and exchange phone information.  If your student did not attend, have them connect with others in their chaperone group to get the chaperone's contact information, then have your student text the chaperone directly with their number and name.  

Students are asked to travel with a valid ID and try to limit their luggage to a carry-on.  Please send your student with a credit card to pay for baggage if they plan to check a bag. Students are encouraged to coordinate with their roommate(s) to maximize packing space, number of liquids, etc. A small breakfast will be provided each day as well as one main meal. Students should expect to be on their own for one other meal of the day ($20-$25 per meal).  

After reading through the information, please reach out with any questions or concerns!

Friday, April 28

State Ensemble Contest

All day event

CWU in Ellensburg

Vocal Jazz, Chamber Choir, and Tenor Bass Ensemble will perform.

*We will need approximately 5-6 parent volunteers to drive carpools to Ellensburg and back. This pertains to students only participating with their ensemble. If your child is also performing a solo and staying overnight, they will need to arrange their own transportation back. Please email Jaimee at bpabchoirrep@gmail.com if you're able to help out with driving!

Saturday, April 29

BHS Foundation Fundraising Event

4-5:15 pm

Home of Cyndy Clegg in Edmonds (BHS Foundation Member)

Vocal Jazz performance

Students will organize their own transportation.

Wednesday, May 17

Chamber Choir performs at Bergen Place Park at 4:30 PM for Syttende Mai

Tuesday, May 30

OSPI Superintendent’s 50th Anniversary Art Show

During school day

Benaroya Hall

Vocal Jazz performance

Orchestra

Chamber Orchestra at Middle School Tour Day March 31

Chamber Orchestra, Vocal Jazz, Tenor Bass Ensemble, and Chamber Choir will visit area middle schools during the school day on Friday, March 31. Bus transportation is provided.

Disney Trip - Meeting Recap

On March 20th, the Disney travel agent met with orchestra and band parents, students, and chaperones to go over the details of the trip. Staff discussed the trip itinerary and rules, including acceptable dress codes, mandatory group check-ins, and the requirement to stay in groups of 3 or more at all times. Students were also given their assigned flights and chaperones. If you were unable to attend this meeting, please reach out to your program rep or your student’s director to get handouts and other important information.

Theatre

For questions about Theatre Arts classes that meet during the school day, email Mr. Riley’s theater substitute, Ms. Indira Rampersad at igrampersad@seattleschools.org.

Theater Classes

Did you know we have theater classes at Ballard High School? The acting class is working on two and three person short scenes and will then move on to audition technique, resume writing, and playwriting with writing specialist Rachel Atkins.Theater tech are currently working on set design models. 

One Act Play Festival 

May 18, 19, & 20 - 7:30 pm

Audition sign-ups and sign-ups for crews, including Publicity Crew, are in the Black Box. Auditions are during the week of March 27th. 

This spring, six student directors have selected five plays to bring to the Ballard stage, all of which explore what it’s like when reality itself comes into question.

Elliot Jakupcak directs Sure Thing by David Ives, a comedy that follows two strangers in a coffee shop who navigate a conversation with something no one else gets: the chance to start over when you say the wrong thing.

Ella Papineau directs The Yellow Wallpaper by Cameron Colwell and Georgia Drinan. Based on the chilling short story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, this play follows a new mother confined to her bed as she tries to make sense of the figure she keeps seeing in the pattern on her bedroom walls.

Autumn Bailey directs The Support Group from Hell by Jeffrey Harr, a dark comedy that follows a teen who joins a support group with members that are far more strange (and possibly supernatural) than she was expecting.

Izzy Rampersad and Milo Palmer co-direct The Hallmarks of Horror by Peter Bloedel. In this “whirlwind tour of horror tropes,” scientists attempt to explain what makes scary movies as scary as possible. The resulting demonstration is much more ridiculous than intended.

Up, All the Way Up? is a new play written and directed by Rose Champion, which follows a woman in the late 19th century as she writes the obituary for the peculiar and mysterious death of a millionaire on a mountain.

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

Spring Coffee Sales are Coming! April 26 - May 10

We will be partnering with Caffe Appassionato in Magnolia once again for this fundraiser. Orders can be placed online on the Schoolpay page during the sale. Coffee orders will be given to students at their music performance in June (June 1 for choir; June 6 for orchestra, June 8 for band). 

This is an important fundraiser for your student if they are currently a freshman, sophomore, or junior. They can apply funds raised toward the July payments for camps that happen the first weeks of school, program fees in the fall, etc. 

Leftover money that seniors have in their accounts go into the ASB account to the general fund unless you ask to have them transferred to a sibling. 

March Dine-Out Madness at Tutta Bella

Our next dine-out lasts ALL week long (Sunday-Thursday), March 26-30. Mark your calendars!

• Use the coupon code EasyAsPieBPABoosters at checkout.
• Code is valid Sunday, March 26 – Thursday, March 30.
• Dine-in or order delivery, takeout, or curbside from tuttabella.com.
• Code is valid at all locations - if ordering at QFC, use the app tuttabella.com and then enter the code EasyAsPieBPABoosters.
• 20% of sales will be donated to Ballard Performing Arts Booster Club.

Food Donations and Volunteers Needed for April 4th, 7pm NW Choral Showcase

Ballard choirs will welcome feeder elementary and middle school choirs to the Ballard Gym for an evening of choral music. Please click here to sign up to help or donate some snacks or baked goods. 

Fundraising Chair Wanted 

We're looking for a point person to oversee our fundraisers next year. Our fundraisers are pretty well-established, and we will be forming committees for the major events, so this role is more of a project manager position to ensure planning and communication progress smoothly for the various events. Contact Kris Bulson at BPABfundraising@gmail.com for more info.

Social Media Help Wanted

Social media has become integral to all aspects of the BPA. 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! This is easy-to-post content lifted from our weekly newsletter. Learn how to use the pro-version 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!

Communications Chair Wanted

We’re looking for a parent to corral our communications that feed our newsletter, website, social media and other communications channels. You’ll work with BPA president and board members and directors to make sure parents are informed through the newsletter. Work with parent volunteer newsletter editor, social media team, website coordinator, and publicity volunteers. It’s a great way to stay on top of all the goings on! Contact Rachel Hart Rios at bpabcommunications@gmail.com.

Spaghetti Dinner 2024 Committee Forming Now!

Now that you have experienced the joyful community vibe of the Spaghetti Dinner event, why not step up to help run the event next year? It would be ideal to form the committee now while the event is fresh in our minds to help make planning easier for next year. If you are interested, email bpabpresident@gmail.com.

Senior Salutes are Coming!

Seniors–it’s your time in the spotlight to be recognized for all the work you’ve done over the last four years. Stay tuned for a link to a brief questionnaire to fill out and submit with a favorite photo from your time in band, choir, orchestra, or theatre.

Check out the moving “Considering Matthew Shepherd" Choir performance.

Plus:

5 Conductors, 12 schools, 1 combined performance of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy”! See Chamber Orchestra and other schools performing at the NW Region Orchestra Concert.

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