April 2022

YMB NEWSLETTER

Newsletter #042722

 

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES

D205 Band Festival
Year-End Concerts
Album Release Party

Check out the Performing Arts Calendar for dates, times, locations.

YMB is thrilled to announce that concert receptions are back!
Join us in the Commons for refreshments and celebration after band, orchestra, and choir concerts this spring.

 

UNIFORM RETURNS AFTER FINAL CONCERTS

ORCHESTRA: Orchestra uniforms will be collected immediately following the May 10 and May 12 concerts. Students should bring a change of clothes and leave their uniforms in the orchestra room after the performance.

BAND: A few band students borrowed York tuxedos and skirts this year. These students should return the attire following the May 3 or May 5 band concert. If the band student is part of symphony orchestra, they should return the uniform immediately after the concert on May 12. Students returning band uniforms should bring a change of clothes and drop the uniform in the bin marked "Uniform Returns" inside the band room.

Learn more about formal concert uniforms and concert attire.

 

YORK ALBUM PROJECT - RELEASE PARTY MAY 6

The York Album Project has released four albums since 2020, and it's been three years since there's been a proper release party. Come join us at Elmhurst Hall on Friday, May 6th at 7:30pm, to celebrate a night of original music featuring performances by all of the songwriters that have contributed songs to this year's York Album Project. The show is all ages and free for all district 205 students. There will be a suggested donation at the door to help raise money for York Music Boosters who helped sponsor the York Album Project during the last couple of years. Contact Mr. Gemkow if you have any questions about how to get involved with the Amateur Musicians Club and the York Album Project.

 

UPCOMING ORCHESTRA CONCERTS

The York Cadet and Concert Orchestras will perform on Tuesday, May 10 at 7:30pm. Featured musicians include violinists Noah Choi, Maggie Maston and Lanz Galdo, violist Nora Conroy, and Brandon Cello on piano and cello. Learn more about this concert.

The York Symphony Orchestra takes the stage on Thursday, May 12 at 7:30pm. This concert will include the world premiere of a beautiful new arrangement of "Amazing Grace" and a performance by senior concerto competition winner trombonist Charles Scanlon (pictured). Learn more about the musical selections and other featured musicians for this event.

The spring orchestra concerts will take place in Baker Auditorium at York High School. Admission is free.

 

ALL D205 BAND FESTIVAL - MAY 16, 7PM
District 205 is pleased to announce the return of the All-District Band Festival.
More details here.

 

YORK MUSICIANS NEEDED

Elmhurst Music Boosters* is organizing musical entertainment for the Kiwanis Club's annual Pancake Breakfast and they're asking York musicians to get involved! Students should contact eimb205webmaster@gmail.com to sign up for a time slot.

WHEN
May 7 (Saturday)
8-10:30 am
Performance time slots are approx 15 mins

WHERE
American Legion, 310 W Butterfield Road, Elmhurst

WHO
-Solos, duets, chamber groups, bands, etc. (Groups should be no larger than 12 students due to space constraints.)
-Any style of music.
-76-key keyboard and amp available if any students would like to perform a piano piece or accompany other musicians.

BONUS
Free pancakes!
Earn volunteer hours!

*Elmhurst Music Boosters (EMB) is the parent organization that supports D205 musicians in grades 4-8.

 

JAZZ BANDS SWING IN FINAL CONCERT OF THE YEAR

Jazz is an extracurricular activity at York with ensembles rehearsing before school several times a week. Perhaps all of those early mornings are part of the special sauce that makes these groups so good! Stream the April 21 concert here. Thank you to YTV for providing the video.

 

MARCHING BAND CAMP
Mark your calendars! Marching Band Camp is August 10 - 12.
Watch for more details from Mr. Pavlik in coming weeks.

 

WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY VISITS YORK

On March 25, all three York orchestra classes were visited by the Western Illinois University Chamber Orchestra and their conductor, Dr. Kenny Lee. They performed a fascinating program for students, and also played alongside the symphony strings in a clinic rehearsal. This was a great way to launch into Spring Break with an especially engaging day of orchestra music!

 

ANNUAL CONCERTO / ARIA COMPETITION

Plan ahead for the 2022-2023 York Symphony Concerto/Aria Competition! Auditions will be Tuesday, September 13, 2022, after school, ending around 5:30 or 6:00pm.

  • The competition is open to junior and senior strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, piano and voice students enrolled in a York performing ensemble course.
  • Contact Mr. Ostwald with questions about appropriate pieces, difficulty, movements, cuts or length.
  • Winner or winners, if selected, will perform accompanied by the York Symphony if possible.

Applications are due Thursday, August 25, and are available in the Orchestra Room or from Mr. Ostwald.

 

THIS WEEKEND...
Don't miss York Drama's presentation of "Godspell." More info and ticket purchases here.

 

MORE GOOD NEWS

  • York Music Boosters proudly funds the annual Riddle and Carson Awards. Winners are selected by the Performing Arts teachers and will be announced at the upcoming spring concerts!
  • The April 8 "Duke Cast" featured Mr. Pavlik and band students Aidan Costanzo, Mac Olson, Ethan Soltys, and Isabella Pingel. Enjoy here.
  • Elmhurst's Summer Community Band and Jazz Band are a ton of fun and a great way to keep playing throughout the sunny months. Students can apply for a Summer Camp Scholarship to cover the cost. Applications are due May 15.
  • Are you a fan of York's Performing Arts program and would like to help boost the great things happening at the high school? Join the York Music Boosters board. Learn more about the positions we have open for the 2022-23 school year.
  • All of the spring concerts will be professionally recorded and available on CD. Click here to find out how you can place an order.
  • Check out our home page for photos from the orchestra trip to Madison and the band trip to New Orleans. YMB was happy to offer opportunities for students to offset the costs of these trips through our escrow program.

 

 

ECPA

The Elmhurst Centre for Performing Arts (ECPA) has launched a community-wide survey to rename the state-of-the-art live performance venue to be built on First Street in Elmhurst.

Through research, ECPA determined the need to rebrand and rename to better highlight the national programming which will be offered at this facility while also reflecting the talent, opportunities, and excitement of the performing arts communities in the western suburbs.  To that end, rebranding was launched in 2021 with a team of branding consultants from the Arts & Business Council Chicago who led area focus groups through the renaming process.  The result is a community survey which launched Thursday, April 21st and will remain open through Sunday, May 5, 2022.

ECPA requests and encourages everyone to take the survey allowing their voice to be heard. For more information, visit www.ECPA-Elmhurst.org or send an email to Shawna Roubitchek at ECPAElmhurst@gmail.com.

 

GO DUKES! LET THE MUSIC PLAY!