Please be sure to read it in its entirety as I have updated sections.

Solo Contest is THIS Saturday at Hickory Creek Middle School in Frankfort. More information is on the website.

The LWC Choir Step-Up Night that was originally scheduled for Tuesday, January 22nd has been rescheduled to Monday, February 11. See below for more information,

The Concert and Symphonic Bands will be going on a Field Trip on March 4. More information below. Forms and payment are due on Monday, February 11!

Any 8th grade band student interested in continuing in band in high school, your audition video is due no later than February 14! See below for more information.

IGSMA District Band Contest will take place on Saturday, March 16 at Manhattan Junior High. More information below.

SPAMalot Cast and Crew will have their pictures taken after school on Monday in the Band Room. Students can dress however they would like, however, no words on the shirts. Simple is best.

SPAMalot Tech Crew will have it's first meeting this Tuesday, February 12 from 6:00 - 9:00 pm in the Band Room. We are in need of parents to help the students build the sets for the show. It's a lot of fun and a great way to work with your kids on something incredible. Bring your drills and creativity!

IMPORTANT! If you owe money to the District for any activity, Unfortunately, if any fees are owed to the District for ANY activity and are not paid by February 22, your student will be unable to participate in any activities. This includes Band, Choir, Jazz Band, Musical, etc. Please check your Skyward account and make sure your fees are paid. Also, it is a good idea to check your Charms account and make sure all fees are up to date there as well. Many families still owe for books that were handed out at the beginning of the school year. If you have any questions, please contact your director.

. If you did not receive information and your child is participating, please let Mrs. Bussean know immediately.

MJH CHOIR STUDENTS ONLY!

The LWC Choir Step-Up Night will take place on Monday, February 11.

Monday, February 11th

What? Lincoln-Way Central Choir Step-Up Night

Who? All 6th, 7th, and 8th grade choir students

Where? Lincoln-Way Central Auditorium

Time? Students arrive at 6:00pm, concert for families begins at 7:30pm

Apparel? All choir students should be in their uniform (green polo shirt, black pants, black socks, black shoes)

Other Info? Pizza will be provided to students when they arrive

The Mokena Concert and Symphonic Bands (6-8) will be having a field trip to Northern Illinois University for a clinic with Dr. Thomas Bough on Monday March 4th during the school day. While at NIU, there will be a 2-hour clinic in the concert hall for all band students covering a variety of concepts including the music we will be performing for IGSMA contest. We will also be receiving a tour of the school of music. To cover the cost of the clinic, buses, and lunch, we are asking for $30.00 per student. You may pay by cash, check, or IBA.

Here is the tentative itinerary:

7:00 am-Depart for Northern Illinois University (charter buses)

8:30 am-Arrive and Unload

9:00 am-Clinic with Dr.Bough (Percussion will have an hour clinic with NIU Percussion Studio members and then join the band for the last hour)

11:00 am- Pack-Up Instruments

11:15 am- School of Music Tour

11:45 am-Lunch at Dining Hall

12:30 pm-Depart for MJHS

2:00 pm- Arrive and Unload at MJHS

We HIGHLY encourage that students attend this field trip as it will benefit the entire ensemble. Here is Dr. Bough's biography from his website:

“Dr. Thomas Bough joined the faculty of Northern Illinois University in the fall of 2005 as the Director of Athletic Bands. He also conducts the Wind Symphony and teaches graduate conducting and instrumental arranging. A former high school band director, Bough performed for two years with the Phantom Regiment Drum Corps, and has taught with the Cavaliers Drum Corps for five years in his capacity as a Yamaha Performing Artist. As a scholar, Bough has contributed nearly twenty articles and hundreds of new music reviews to the Instrumentalist magazine, School Band and Orchestra magazine, and DCI Today, as well as articles to five volumes of the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series. Dr. Bough is an active conductor, arranger, composer, clinician, and adjudicator for concert band, marching band, and brass band, with dozens of appearances per year to his credit across the United States. His music is published by Alfred Publications, Cimarron Music and GPG Publications. He has served as a masterclass clinician and/or conductor for the Music For All Summer Symposium and the Music For All National Concert Band Festival for over a decade. In May of 2014, his first compact disc was released, entitled, Concertos for Brass: The Music of Thomas Bough. It is available on the Summit Records label at www.summitrecords.com or on iTunes. Learn more about his work at www.ThomasBough.com.”

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Beekman at beekmant@mokena159.org.

Thank you to all the students who submitted their assignments on time!

The time for Concert Band placement auditions for the 2019-2020 school year is approaching! For next school year, auditions will be video recorded and sent to outside judges for scoring. Audition recordings will be accepted from February 1st through February 14th. Audition videos can be recorded at home or at school.

All students planning on joining band next year should audition. The audition will be used for concert band placement for the 2019-2020 school year, as well as marching band part assignment and role assignment (alternate spot).

More information regarding how to prepare for the auditions, as well as how to download the audition music/materials, can be found on our music website at the link below.

Website link: http://www.lincolnwaymusic.org/bandauditions

Please contact Mr. Mroczek at cmroczek@lw210.org with any questions.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING STUDENTS SHOULD STRESS ABOUT. JUST DO WHAT YOU CAN AND DO YOUR BEST! They just want an idea of how everyone plays so they can plan for the year. :)

The itinerary is below. If you have any questions, please contact your director.

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Bussean or Ms. Beekman

We still have quite a bit of outstanding money due in Charms. Please check your accounts over break and make sure you are up to date. Please be aware that the District is also reaching out about outstanding District participation fees. While this can get confusing, it is important that everyone understand that there is a difference between the participation fee charged by the District for participation in activities (ie basketball, track, scholastic bowl, band, choir, etc.) and the fees charged through the Music Boosters (Booster registration fee, books, polo shirts, etc.). Please make sure you are current on both sides. If you ever have any questions about this, please feel free to reach out to your director.

You will be receiving monthly Charms statements (these are the Music Booster fees) on or about the first of every month. Please check your balances in Charms at any time by logging into your child's account. If money is due, please pay one of four ways:

1. Cash (in an envelope clearly marked)
2. Check made payable to the Mokena Music Boosters - write who and what it is for in the memo line
3. Paypal via the Paypal button on your Charms account
4. IBA Transfer - please complete the online transfer form: https://goo.gl/forms/MOZFB8jurkbF7ByR2

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Bussean

2/9 - Solo/Ensemble Contest

2/9 - LWC Jazz Fest

2/11 - LWC Choir Step Up Night

2/11 - NIU Forms/Payment Due

2/14 - LWC High School Band Audition Submissions Due

2/19 - Music Booster Meeting