The McLean High School Orchestra (MHSO)
program seeks to provide a stimulating orchestral experience for its student
musicians. We provide an environment for students to explore music as a life
skill, either as a vocation or as an avocation. Serious students of music also
are offered the opportunity and challenge of participating in chamber music. We
hope that upon graduation from MHS, all of our musicians take with them a
lifelong commitment and desire to continue in some way with their
music.
MARCH
2010
REMINDERS
MON MAR 01
CONCERT ORCHESTRA REHEARSAL
7 - 8pm
MON MAR 01
SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRA REHEARSAL
8 - 9pm
WED
MAR 03
CHAMBER STRINGS REHEARSAL
7:00 - 9pm
FRI MAR 05
DISTRICT ORCHESTRA. FESTIVAL -
CONCERT ORCH.
SAT MAR 06
DISTRICT ORCHESTRA. FESTIVAL -
SYMPHONIC ORCH.
SAT MAR 06
DISTRICT ORCHESTRA. FESTIVAL -
CHAMBER STRINGS.
WED MAR 10
CHAMBER STRINGS REHEARSAL
7:00 - 9pm
THU MAR 11
ORCHESTRA EXEC. BOARD MEETING 7:30pm
WED MAR 17
CHAMBER STRINGS REHEARSAL
7:00 - 9pm
TUE MAR 23
PYRAMID CONCERT
(Chamber only) 7:00pm
WED FEB 24
CHAMBER STRINGS REHEARSAL
7:00 - 9pm
29MAR-02APR
SPRING BREAK
SAVE OUR STRINGS AND BAND PROGRAM IN FAIRFAX COUNTY -
EVERY VOICE HELPS!
FCPS BUDGET UPDATE
We need your help again to advocate for elementary instrumental music in our schools.
An MHSOPA Board Member has prepared sample letters for your use. Edit, cut
& paste as you see fit to reflect your preference. Please get involved and make your voices heard.
The
FCPS budget faces a $176 million deficit for FY2011. Falling
revenue from property taxes (a by-product of the recession) is one
of the reasons. A proposal by former Governor Kaine to freeze the
composite index of local ability-to-pay (LCI) hurts FCPS directly.
If the LCI is frozen (not recalculated for FY2011), Fairfax County
stands to lose $61 million of school funding from the state.
Please write to the Governor and your elected
representatives in the Virginia General Assembly and urge them not
to freeze the LCI.
Two sample letters are attached.
Please write to the Fairfax County Board of
Supervisors and separately to the FCPS Superintendent and to School
Board members and urge them not to cut elementary strings and band.
There is scope to reallocate resources in other ways, possibly by
making further cuts to administrative overhead costs.
Two sample letters are
attached.
There is a proposed amendment to
the Budget Bill, for the
elimination of the Virginia commission for Arts and all arts grants fundingas part of the House Appropriations Committee Budget. The Arts
Commission and the funding program it oversees has been critical to the growth
of arts in the state of Virginia.
We need every supporter of
the arts to Ask the House to delete this amendment from the proposed House
amendments to the Budget Bill (House Bill 30). How
you can help >>>
Once again the Mclean High School Chamber Soloists have returned from a successful
exchange to Detmold, Germany. During the ten day period, the musicians were put through
rigorous rehearsals, culminating in two combined concerts, performed with the Detmold Jugendorchester (DJO) for
the residents of the town of Detmold. Follow
their 4,066 mile journey by clicking on on the links below.
Thank you, Martha Kelley for the Blog and Al Rizkalla for the
related photos and video clips. Thanks also to Katie
O'Hara & Sabine Hilbert-Opitz for their video clips.
