GU and Ridgeview Choir Exchange

The Greenville University Choir visited Ridgeview High School today and had a really cool choral exchange!  

As the HS choir came into the gym for their regular class time Dr. Wilson, warmed up both choirs and the GU choir demonstrated physical movements that go along with their warmups. 

(Mr. Marchese brought his study hall in to observe and took this cool picture of both choirs from up in the top of the bleachers.)  A few other teachers and administrators came to observe, and Jeremy and I were happy to be there to watch as well.

Ridgeview choir sang 3 of the pieces they're working on for the GU choir. 

Then Midnight Blues sang a song:

Then the Greenville Choir sang. 

It was neat to see Ridgeview alumni featured in some of these.  In the second song, Arise My Soul, Annah played her violin.  

In the third song, Jesus Christ the Apple Tree, (which is the GU Chamber Singers), Annah is the soloist at the beginning and end. 

Allison sang the solo on God So Loved so beautifully, I couldn't hold back my tears any longer.

Here is the playlist of some of the GU choir songs:

To end their time singing, the choirs combined to sing The Lord Bless You and Keep You. 

The GU Choir stayed to eat lunch at Ridgeview, and both choirs crammed in the choir room with their lunches and visited!  It was a pretty cool exchange!

I'm working on getting my substitute teacher license, and today I had an early appointment for fingerprinting and background check.  Then I took the Prius to get an oil change and tire rotation.  They have such a nice waiting area at our Toyota dealership; I don't mind sitting for more than an hour because I get to crochet.  Afterwards, I met the girls at the Music Shoppe to take their bows in to be re-haired.

They were just getting started on their sister shopping day!

They came home and showed us all their treasures...

Here at our house, Annah has been doing all the babysitting this week that she and Sylvia usually split.  She love hanging out with Nola too, and thinks she's really funny!  Today, Annah showed Nola a little bit about the violin.

Caeden mowed our yard today.

I'm working on an entrelac bag in cotton for my mom.

Last Day of School

Sylvia's last day of 10th grade

Caeden's last day of 8th grade

a.k.a. The Last Day of "The Worst Years of My Life"--although, he has actually enjoyed 8th grade much more than 6th and 7th!

Annah got her violin out today!  She tuned it up and practiced!

Gram and Krampa came over today, and Gram wanted to hear Caeden play his guitar.

I really need to get video. He plays so beautifully!

I finally forced Annah to play her violin.  When she started lessons back up in August, she was feeling very overwhelmed by all she had going on with her senior year and college search--and rightly so.  So, she talked with her violin teacher, and they agreed that it was best for her to just text the day before she wanted a lesson. However, Annah hasn't sent any texts, had any lessons, or even picked up her violin since that August lesson.  It just made me sad, and I missed hearing her play, and I didn't want her to forget her skills and talents!  So, I just told her to go do it.  She played so beautifully, and it was wonderful to see and hear her playing again!

Ryan's family took a trip to Florida this past week, and came home last night.  He came over today, and he and Annah watched The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and they finally had the Mario Kart challenge they've been talking about for months!  Annah did win most of the games, but after all her smack talk, the boys did tease her a little bit after the one game she lost!

There was a home basketball game tonight, and Annah sang the anthem.  She has become known for singing it at Ridgeview, and the announcer said his compliments to her right into the microphone tonight after she sang.  She must get a lot of compliments from others, because we receive a lot for her too.  I love that she enjoys singing the anthem.  

VIDEO:

Worship at Mahomet

Today was our 3rd/last Sunday to lead worship at the Mahomet church.  We'd been wanting to do more with the kids' string instruments, and we finally got it together for today.  

I feel like I always need to give a disclaimer when I post videos of music in this building.  The acoustic situation is very, very difficult to deal with as musicians.  Both the makeup of the space and the sound system cause a lot of echo and extra sound, but make it difficult for the people on stage to hear each other and stick together and stay in tune.  So, you may hear that a few times, but overall, I am amazed with how well the kids did feeling, hearing, and making music in this space.

The kids started the service with Safe Retreat.

VIDEO:

We only did 2 songs for the worship set--Tis So Sweet, and Oceans--because Oceans is soooo long.  

And, for the reflection/response, we did a song I've wanted to do for years, because I think it's one of the most beautiful melodies I've ever heard. I also love it because the St. Patrick's Breastplate is spoken at the end of it.  I had to piece together music from several places to get an arrangement we could all do together, but it was so special to get to play Holy Spirit with Gabriel's Oboe with the kids.

Pastor Karin gave the sermon today

We have really enjoyed our time with the Mahomet folks this summer!

Violin Recital

Annah played in her teacher Sharon Chung's studio recital today at Presser Hall at IWU.  Sharon had all of her students line up to make sure their violins were well-tuned before the recital.

 As Annah was waiting in line, I looked over the recital program and noticed she was performing at the end. A wave of emotion washed over me, as I realized she was the "big kid" now--not the little one playing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.  She caught me crying as she came back down off the stage.  I just don't know how it happened so quickly.

(She was just this kid...!!!)

Annah had a lovely performance. It took some convincing to get her to play on the recital today, as she has had SO much going on lately, and exams are this coming week. She said preparing for a recital is stressful, but once her teacher told her she could play the same piece she played for solo/ensemble contest, she decided to do it.  I am so glad she played!!!  She said she was too, and that she had fun!  She amazes me.

Sharon and all her students who played today

Sharon is a wonderful teacher, and Annah really enjoys her lessons with her.

Though I sure don't play perfectly, or even all that well sometimes, I'm so grateful Annah still wants me to accompany her.  I'm incredibly thankful for the blessing of making music together.

3rd in State

Back at the beginning of March, the girls participated in Solo/Ensemble Contest in various ways.  Each of them played a solo on their string instruments, and they both scored very well. Because most Class D schools do not have orchestras, there are few students playing string/orchestra solos or small ensemble pieces at contest.  The girls' two high-scoring solos earned them 3rd in the state for Class D school orchestras in Illinois.  

I knew this the day of contest, because I came across some stats as I was looking on the IHSA website when we got home.  I thought it was funny, but really just a technicality.  However, when the school athletic director was contacted about purchasing a plaque to commemorate the Ridgeview school orchestra placing 3rd in state, he assumed he should order it.  The plaque came this week, and it is huge!  

The girls' picture was taken with it, and articles ran on the school website (RHS Website Article) and in the local newspaper.

At school, their has been a non-perishable food drive the past few weeks.  During advisory period today, the classes competed in a building project with the food their classes had collected.  

Caeden's class built a Christmas version of the Golden Gate Bridge and won.  

Sylvia's class built a house with Santa's sleigh.

All of the food on the stage

Annah is practicing a cool Haydn piece these days.  I love to hear her play!

Violin Recital

Annah's private violin teacher, Sharon Chung, held a studio recital recital today! It was the first of Sharon's recitals that Annah has been able to play on, and it was held in the beautiful Westbrook Auditorium in Presser Hall at Illinois Wesleyan University.

Sharon, tuning her students' violins to the piano on stage before there recital...

The idea of the recital just came up a couple weeks ago, and Annah wasn't sure she could prepare the piece she was working on by this time, with everything else she has going on for the end of the school year. So, Sharon had her pull out a piece they had worked on last fall, and Annah was more at ease about performing that.  

We just decided on Monday that I would accompany her.  It was so nice to rehearse and perform together.  We've come to the point where Annah and Sylvia are both playing challenging music on their string instruments, and it's not so easy for me to accompany them.  Or, at least, I don't play their pieces as well as I'd like to be able to.  But, it makes me feel so honored that they still want me to play for/with them.

VIDEO:

I think Annah had a lovely performance!

Sharon and Annah, after the recital

We are so grateful to Sharon for her patience with Annah's busy schedule, and especially for the skills she is helping Annah create!  She is a fantastic teacher!

HS Music Dept Awards Banquet

We attended the HS Music Department Awards Banquet this evening.  It is always fun to get together with this group and celebrate the wonderful music-making they have achieved during the school year!

Leadership Committee:

Annah was the Choir representative.

Annah, Allison, and Addie were recognized for receiving Level I ratings on their vocal solos at IHSA Solo/Ensemble Contest in March.

This group, plus Taylor, received a I (Superior) rating for their clarinet quintet at Solo/Ensemble Contest in March too!

Allison and Annah were the only 2 Ridgeview students to audition into ILMEA district ensembles last fall.  Allison sang in the choir, and Annah played in the orchestra.

Keegan, Jacob, Annah, Addie, and Allison were chosen to sing in the Honor Choir at the HOIC Honors Music Festival this year.

Jacob received the Superior Bass Award, and Annah the Superior Alto Award for choir this year. (Soprano and Tenor winners weren't present, so I forget who they were!)

As Annah received her "several-eth" award, Mr. Marchese whispered to her that trees were literally dying because of her.  (Because of all the certificates she was receiving. Hahaha!)

Annah also received the Outstanding Sophomore in the HS Band Award!

It was a really sweet and happy moment when Allison and Addie received the National School Choral Award together!

So proud of these girls!

All 13 of the seniors were honored.

Not all of them were there tonight, but they will all be missed, for sure!

Annah loves her music buddies SO much!!!

And there's not much she loves more than music!

You are amazing, our darling girl!