February 5 Newsletter

• Weekly Schedule
• NEW: Donations for Pit Orchestra Dinners
  
• PAST DUE: Florida Trip Information - COMMITMENT FORMS DUE FRIDAY!
• REMINDER: Orchestra Mardi Gras!
• Mardi Gras sign up genius (volunteers & donations)
• NEW: IMA Scholarship Information
• NEW: WE Audition Information ('23 - 24 school year)
• Senior Recital Audition Information
• Instrumental Music Department Concert/ Event Dates
• Summer Dates 2023 released
• Noto's Hoagie Fundraiser
• NEW: March Forth Fundraising Campaign is here!!
• SAVE THE DATE: Panera Night Feb. 20th!
  
• NEW: RaiseRight Fundraising Opportunity

THIS WEEK:

Monday, February 06

• Pit Orchestra, 2:30 - 5:00pm
• Boys Basketball Pep Band, 6:30 - 8:45pm
• Winter Guard, 4:45 - 6:45pm & 7:00 - 9:00pm

Tuesday, February 07

• Pit Orchestra, 2:30 - 5:00pm

Wednesday, February 08

• Band Council, 6:40am
• Chamber Strings, 2:30 - 4:00pm
• Tuba Lessons, 2:30 - 4:00pm
• Winter Guard, 4:45 - 6:45pm

Thursday, February 09

• PMEA District Band

Friday, February 10

• PMEA District Band

NEXT WEEK:

Monday, February 13

• Pit Orchestra, 2:30 - 6:00pm
• Winter Guard, 4:45 - 6:45pm & 7:00 - 9:00pm

Tuesday, February 14

• Pit Orchestra, 2:30 - 6:00pm
• Tuba Lessons, 2:30 - 4:00pm
• Orchestra Council, 6:40am

Wednesday, February 15

• Pit Orchestra, 2:30 - 6:00pm
• Winter Guard, 4:45 - 6:45pm
• Tuba Lessons, 2:30 - 4:00pm

Thursday, February 16

• Jazz Band, 6:00 - 9:00pm w/ Dr. Wetzel

Friday, February 17

• NO SCHOOL
• 2nd Payment Germany Trip Due

Saturday, February 18

• Northampton County Band, 8:00am - 12:00pm

Stay up to date by viewing our online calendar on our website!

The IMA provides dinner to the students in the Pit Orchestra during full dress rehearsal days (Fri. 2/24, Mon. 2/27, Tues. 2/28, Wed. 3/1). We are asking for help with donations of fruit, dessert & meals on 2 of the nights, along with volunteers to help serve/clean-up each night. Please remember NO NUTS in any of the products donated.

Please contact Jennifer Smith (imajennifersmith@gmail.com) with any questions. Thank you!!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E48A5AB2EA0FBC07-dinners

This section of the newsletter is a recap of the trip meeting held on Monday, January 09.

It is because of the hard work our students put in on a daily basis that we are afforded these opportunities. This planned tour provides valuable performance experiences, along with will bring recognition to our school & program, while building a sense of community amongst our students.

There are two items linked below:

• Here is the slideshow presentation that was reviewed on Monday.
• Here is the trip information letter that was distributed on Monday & is also available at the front of the rehearsal room.

Itinerary:
The itinerary provided is subject to change and is in its most basic form. Within the next month, we will confirm our schedule of events and what we will be doing each day. This will be provided via email updates.

Cost:
The cost is listed as a range at this time, as we are waiting on airfare & a few other costs. In addition, the cost will be set once we have an estimate of the # of students traveling. For example, if 250 students travel, the cost will be different than if 270 travel, etc. It is our goal to reduce the cost of the tour as much as possible.

To reserve a spot on our trip next year, students must return the commitment form (p. 05 of the trip information letter), along with a $75 deposit by Friday, February 03. Checks should be made payable to IMA. This can be returned to the gray lockbox located in the instrumental music room OR can be mailed to:

Instrumental Music Association
Easton Area High School
PO Box 3535
Easton, PA 18043

** Should you have any financial concerns regarding the trip, please reach out directly to Mr. Ballentine at ballentinec@eastonsd.org.

Come out for a night of live music, all you can eat pie, a tricky tray, and more on Saturday, February 25!

New this year, we are transforming our typical "Spaghetti Dinner" into a Mardi Gras event! It will feature music from our orchestras AND jazz band!

Ticket cost is $10/ person and includes all you can eat pie, live music, refreshments, masks & beads. Additional concessions will be available for purchase. In addition, you can also participate in a HUGE tricky tray of over FIFTY baskets!

Orchestra student report time: 3:00 PM

Don't miss this event!

For more details and to purchase tickets, click here!

We are looking for volunteers to help with our Mardi Gras (formerly Spaghetti Dinner) event in February!

Volunteers are needed to assist with set up and various tasks during the event. If you are interested in signing up, please see the sign up genius below!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0e48a5ab2ea0fbc07-mardi#/

To help with donations, please see this sign up link:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0e48a5ab2ea0fbc07-donations#/

*Attention ALL Seniors*

The IMA will once again award six $1,000 scholarships this year to the seniors in the instrumental music program. The IMA Scholarship Application will be available Tuesday, February 7, on the EAHS Scholarship Website at scholarships.eastonsd.org.

The application and recommendations will be submitted online this year. The deadline to return the application is Tuesday, April 4, 2023.

There will be an informational Zoom meeting about scholarships at 6 PM on Wednesday, February 8. The link will be posted on the website and the senior class Schoology page.

We look forward to reading and considering your application.

*Questions regarding the IMA Scholarship can be directed to Mrs. Jennifer Brunetti at scholarships@eahsmusic.org

Any band instrumentalists in grades 9 - 11 interested in auditioning for wind ensemble/ symphony orchestra for the 2023 - 2024 school year, please read this informational document. That document includes:

• Required scales/ rudiments
• Excerpts
• Google form to submit all videos

Auditions are due via video by Monday, March 06.

I look forward to hearing your auditions!

Each year, we hold a recital where seniors are able to perform solo/ small ensemble works. This year's recital will be held on Tuesday, May 16, 2023.

In order to perform on the recital, students must audition. Information on what is required to audition can be found below:

Senior Recital Informational Document

To submit an interest form, students should complete this form by Friday, February 24.

Please view the attached document that includes all concert & event dates for the 2022 - 2023 school year.

For planning purposes, please see a list of TENTATIVE summer dates, including both strings camp & band camp.

Please note, an official list of 2023 - 2024 dates will be sent out towards the end of this school year.

Our Noto's Hoagie Sale is BACK!

SALE DATES: 1/30 - 2/15 (paper forms)

*online sale runs until 2/20

COUPONS: $10.00 per coupon, each good for one hoagie (choice of ham, turkey, roast beef, Italian, egg salad, chicken salad or tuna salad). Coupons will expire June 30, 2023.

COUPON DISTRIBUTION: February 27-28, exact times/locations to be confirmed.

Students attending the Germany and/ or Florida trips can offset their contributions through this fundraiser! 50% of the profits ($1.50/ coupon) will go towards student contributions for travel.

QUESTIONS: Contact Kara Howe at foodcoupons@eahsmusic.org

WHAT IS IT?
March 04 is known as “National Marching Arts Day.” To tie into this day, we are opening the March Forth fundraiser for one month with a goal of $15,000 in unrestricted funds. It is a large sum of money, but if 500 people donated $30, we would reach our goal! All donations are tax deductible.

It costs approximately $80,000 to maintain the programs the IMA supports on an annual basis. Through the donations of many over the past three years, some of what we have been able to provide includes:

• Maintaining instruments & uniforms
• Student leadership seminars (Drum Major Academy, etc.)
• Provide six $1,000 scholarships on an annual basis to graduating seniors
• Bring in guest clinicians/ private lessons
• Purchase new instruments & cases
• Offset costs of travel within the instrumental music program

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

There are THREE ways to make a donation:

1. The IMA website (www.eahsmusic.org) – donate & pay all online!
2. Paper form (check/ cash) – attached to this email
3. Facebook @ Easton Area High School Instrumental Music Association

50% of any contributions received for the March Forth campaign that are affiliated with a band/ orchestra student can go towards their trip contributions. Unfortunately, we are not able to have any Facebook contributions count towards student contribution goals.

Please consider donating today: https://eahsmusic.org/general/march-forth-2023/

An EASY & EFFECTIVE means of fundraising! 100% of the amount fundraised goes to helping offset student contributions for our upcoming travel opportunities.

WHAT IS IT?
Participants can buy gift cards at face value. There is a percentage listed that you earn for every purchase. Gift cards are either instant download and/ or physical gift cards. You can then spend the gift cards as you would normally, knowing you helped fundraise!

HOW IT WORKS:

Click here to learn more about the program, create your account & begin fundraising! Friends & family can help fundraise anywhere in the country - it is a great way to get relatives involved who may not be able to participate in our normal fundraisers.

The Easton Area High School (EAHS) Instrumental Music Program has a long history of success. The program consists of nearly 380 students in grades 9 – 12 and encompasses marching band, three concert bands, three orchestras, two jazz ensembles, pep band, and pit orchestra.

Email: ballentinec@eastonsd.org
Website: www.eahsmusic.org
Location: 2601 William Penn Highway, Easton, PA, USA
Phone: (610) 250 2481
Facebook: facebook.com/eahsmusic
Twitter: @eahs_band