Orchestras News Oberlin School Orchestra Program Newsletter

Orchestra News

Issue # 005

January 2006

We are now half way into the 2005-06 school year. I find myself wondering where the time has gone. This year, like many before it, shows much promise. The students are excited about Orchestra and music in general. The changes in the music schedule allow for many more students needs to be met. The Orchestra program at the beginning level continues to grow and the Langston MS and Oberlin HS orchestras continue to add more performances to their schedule.

We had our first Friends of the Orchestra (FOTO) meeting. Thirteen dedicated parents attended, all ready to help by doing whatever it takes to improve and expand the program.

Working in the Oberlin Schools has been my thirty year blessing.
As always, my goal for each student and the Orchestra Program is to:

"Teach, Reach, Meet"
"then, Raise the Standard"

Happy New Year!

Harriett A. Thomas, Director

Oberlin HS Orchestra totals 54 members. The 43 members string Orchestra is larger than any group of previous years. There are fewer wind players, as we continue to focus on recruiting quality players.
The Orchestra and members of selected ensembles are being kept busy with many performances scheduled this school year. On December 13th, the OHS String Orchestra presented a Christmas Concert for the Oberlin AARP. A holiday touch was added to the December 14th Winter Concert, when audience members were serenaded with Christmas Carols by the String players. Small ensembles also presented two programs in the Oberlin Community. They performed for the Oberlin 19th Century Club on December 6th and provided music for the NASCORP Holiday Luncheon on December 21st.

Following a brief Winter break, Orchestra members will return to classes to begin preparing for their Performance Cruise Tour. Forty-six students are planning to participate in a Cruise Tour to the Bahamas aboard Royal Caribbean Cruise ship "Sovereign of the Seas" May 19-22, 2006. They will fly to Orlando, Florida, be shuttled to Port Canaveral where they will board the Cruise ship and visit Nassau and CocoCay, Bahamas. The Orchestra is scheduled to perform onboard. Following the cruise a trip to Kennedy Space Center is planned before returning to Oberlin. While it sounds like a lot of fun, the work and preparation places pressure and responsibility on each participant. Besides preparing music, fund raising, getting their U.S. Passport, and maintaining their grades in all classes, students are required to pass an etiquette course before receiving the "okay to cruise". This is the third OHS Orchestra to participate in a Performance Cruise. The first cruise took place in May 1996.