Groton Music News
Attention Groton CSD Alumni & Family! The music department is looking to continue the school's tradition of inviting alumni on the stage to join current students in singing "Carol of the Bells," only this time, virtually! If you are interested in submitting a recording, please click the link on the choir page. This is also open to any faculty, staff, and family of current students/alumni. If there are any questions, please email Mr. Caza. We look forward to sharing the virtual stage with you!
Thank you to all who completed the form for music lessons this year. Emails were sent out on October 1, 2020 with lesson times for all of the students. If you did not receive this email, please contact the ensemble directors.
Please see the NYSSMA page for updates about 2020-2021 festivals.
Darien Lake Festival
Congratulations to the 7th and 8th grade Band and Chorus! They performed at the Darien Lake Music Festival on May 11th. Band earned a " Superior" rating in Division A and the Chorus earned an " Excellent" rating in division AA. Drew Bush was also recognized and received the outstanding accompanist award for his djembe playing with the chorus. We are so proud!
NYSSMA Major Ensemble Festival
Congratulations to the SH Chorus for earning a SILVER rating from the NY State Schools Music Assoc.!! They sang 3 pieces for experienced music judges on 4/8 at the Fabius-Pompey high school and received comments on their performance.
Read below for News Updates 4-22-19!
Darien Lake Music Festival- Sat 5/11
NYSSMA Major Ensemble Festival
Read below about the SH field trip on Mon 4/8! This festival is our "state test" for chorus. We'll sing 3 pieces and get evaluated by music teachers on our performance.
Permission forms (no cost!) due ASAP!! By Fri 3/28 at the latest please.
Permission forms (no cost!) due ASAP!! By Fri 3/28 at the latest please.
nyssma_majors_permission_2019.docx |
Cabaret for Cancer
You're invited to "Be Our Guest" this weekend at the Cabaret for Cancer!
At this event, you will hear performances from students of all ages while you enjoy a potluck dinner (we encourage you to bring a dish to pass!). The $10/person suggested donation at the door will go toward 4 major cancer research organizations. You may still attend if you cannot afford to donate $10- there is no donation too small! We hope you will "Be Our Guest" this weekend! Help find a cure! Sign up to bring food here. |
Kudos- Area All State Festival
Congratulations to Brooke Brecht and Morgan Dittman! They rehearsed this weekend for 11 hours with renowned conductor Dr. Amy Vorhees and performed in a beautiful concert at Binghamton University.
They qualified for this festival with their excellent NYSSMA scores last May. Their dedication, musicianship, and hard work are exemplary. Recordings will be available soon. |
All County Success!
Congrats to the students involved in the All County Festival hosted in Groton last weekend! We made it out before the storm picked up and the groups sounded amazing.
Listen to the recordings below!
Listen to the recordings below!
Students involved:
Brynn Blasz Drew Bush Sandtrea Peer Zoe Morusty Delaney Ayer Dianna Nino Leanna Jackson Megan Cute Braedy Dilger Darian Mitchell Sam Young Alyssa Fennimore Madison Howell Emily Slater Evan Carlo Chloe Conger Morgan Dittman Isaac Hall Travis Oudekerk |
Middle School Chorus
High School Chorus
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NYC Trip
The Senior High Band/Chorus/Art/Drama students have the opportunity to visit New York City this April thanks to the GVPA booster!
PLEASE NOTE: The date has changed due to an overlap with the French trip. We are now going on Sat. April 6th, NOT 13th. We will...
The total cost is $189 per person. To raise money for your trip, you can: Sell Simply Scrumptious items (cookie dough, garlic knots, etc.) (10/22-11/2) Sell Fruit (11/5-11/19) Buy Music Apparel (Dec, Mar, & May) (goes to general funds) Other fundraisers will arise as well! The permission form and initial deposit of $75 will be due MONDAY 11/5 |
WINTER CONCERTS!
Concert season is quickly approaching! We are so excited to share some beautiful winter music with everyone.
Here are some FAQs for commonly asked questions.
- Students should arrive by 6:15pm at the high school
- Students should wear all black including socks
- Ties are allowed but not required
- If a student does not have a specific item of clothing (black shirt e.g.) please contact me ASAP so we can acquire an extra
- If necessary, black jeans are acceptable
- This year only white shirts are still okay (transition year!)
- Students must stay for the full concert 7-8pm
- Attendance at the reception from 8-8:30pm is encouraged but not required
- CHORUS-only students and CHORUS/BAND students should bring a small dessert/snack item for the reception; BAND-only students bring drinks
- Attendance at the concert is mandatory; the 3 excusable absences include 1) car accident en route, 2) severe family emergency, 3) sick and absent from school with a doctor's note
MUSIC GIVES THANKS!
Join us on MONDAY 11/19 from 6-8pm in the high school cafeteria for a DISH TO PASS DINNER!
We are so excited to celebrate and give thanks for the wonderful music community in Groton!
Please sign up to bring food, drinks, paper products, etc. here!
We are so excited to celebrate and give thanks for the wonderful music community in Groton!
Please sign up to bring food, drinks, paper products, etc. here!
NYC Trip UPDATE!
Hello music/art/drama families,
We have important news regarding the NYC trip. Please read the full email below.
This year we asked parents and students to share their interest in either Dear Evan Hansen or Anastasia, knowing that Dear Evan Hansen costs around $300. I received more positive feedback for Dear Evan Hansen than Anastasia from parents/students and moved forward with the arrangements, as tickets were already selling out for April.
As of today, we have only received deposits from 14 students and permission forms from 26 students, which does not meet our quota of 35-40. We've been talking with the GVPA, and we're concerned that not enough people will be able to afford the unfortunately high deposit and overall cost. Without enough deposits, the GVPA would have to cover the initial payment; they do not have enough money in their account to do so.
In light of this information, we would like to change the musical in order to include all students in the process and make it more accessible. This would bring the cost to $189 per student. The new deposit price is $75 and it is due Mon 11/5. Unfortunately, Anastasia prices have risen since September. Instead, the most affordable show is Once on This Island, a revival on Broadway with a Tony-award-winning cast.
We offered a choice of show this year because so many students expressed interest in a show that meant a lot to them, but it was more expensive. In the future we will simply choose a less expensive show in order to open the trip up to everyone.
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns. I understand this is an important change and I would be happy to discuss it.
Thank you!
We have important news regarding the NYC trip. Please read the full email below.
This year we asked parents and students to share their interest in either Dear Evan Hansen or Anastasia, knowing that Dear Evan Hansen costs around $300. I received more positive feedback for Dear Evan Hansen than Anastasia from parents/students and moved forward with the arrangements, as tickets were already selling out for April.
As of today, we have only received deposits from 14 students and permission forms from 26 students, which does not meet our quota of 35-40. We've been talking with the GVPA, and we're concerned that not enough people will be able to afford the unfortunately high deposit and overall cost. Without enough deposits, the GVPA would have to cover the initial payment; they do not have enough money in their account to do so.
In light of this information, we would like to change the musical in order to include all students in the process and make it more accessible. This would bring the cost to $189 per student. The new deposit price is $75 and it is due Mon 11/5. Unfortunately, Anastasia prices have risen since September. Instead, the most affordable show is Once on This Island, a revival on Broadway with a Tony-award-winning cast.
We offered a choice of show this year because so many students expressed interest in a show that meant a lot to them, but it was more expensive. In the future we will simply choose a less expensive show in order to open the trip up to everyone.
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns. I understand this is an important change and I would be happy to discuss it.
Thank you!
Haunted Hallow- THANK YOU!
Thank you all for your help with Haunted Hallow! It was a big success! Special shout-outs to Heather Carlo, Regina Cornelius, Crystal Young, Jill Bush, & Cheyenne Cute!
Haunted Hallow
The 2nd annual Haunted Hallow will take place Saturday 10/27 from 5-8pm at the Jr/Sr High School.
This Haunted House involves 2 levels of spooky tours, Halloween-themed refreshments, and fun lobby activities for all ages.
We need help with the following:
SIGN UP TO HELP HERE
Set-up will take place Fri 10/26 from 3-5 and Sat 10/27 from 9-4.
Break down will take place Sat 8-10pm.
Parent supervision is needed during set-up & break down but ESPECIALLY during the main event. Duties include selling refreshments, selling tickets, bringing water to actors, monitoring customers, referring any misbehaving children to the teachers, etc.
Please email [email protected] or call 607-898-5301 ext. 2209 to sign up! Thank you so much!
This Haunted House involves 2 levels of spooky tours, Halloween-themed refreshments, and fun lobby activities for all ages.
We need help with the following:
- Donations (click to see what we need)
- Set-up & break down
- Student actors, tour guides, designers, volunteers
- Parent supervision
SIGN UP TO HELP HERE
Set-up will take place Fri 10/26 from 3-5 and Sat 10/27 from 9-4.
Break down will take place Sat 8-10pm.
Parent supervision is needed during set-up & break down but ESPECIALLY during the main event. Duties include selling refreshments, selling tickets, bringing water to actors, monitoring customers, referring any misbehaving children to the teachers, etc.
Please email [email protected] or call 607-898-5301 ext. 2209 to sign up! Thank you so much!
Haunted Hallow!
Get ready to scare! See the main page for information and see below for music. The full playlist on Youtube is here.
SCARY
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SPOOKY
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Music Wing Grand Re-Opening & Music Night!
Due to some unfortunate issues with the new floor installation, the music wing has been under construction during the first weeks of school.
This means for a couple weeks we will meet in the gym and caf. All chorus and band classes will meet in the gym, and general music classes will meet in the caf. There will be no access to instrument lockers at that time, so please do not bring your instruments yet.
They are hoping to be done by Weds, 9/19. Then we need ALL HANDS ON DECK to help us move everything from the stage and storage units back to the music wing. Any students with study halls can come down to help during the day. We will also be at the school until 8pm to make sure everything is ready to go on Thursday. We'll buy pizza for anyone who comes to help!
Our opening Music Night will be Weds 9/26 from 6-8pm. There will be fun activities such as karaoke, Just Dance, arts and crafts, and more. We will provide PIZZA and ask that you bring a drink, dessert/snack, or paper products if possible. Let's get to know each other and have a fun family night! We look forward to meeting everyone!
This means for a couple weeks we will meet in the gym and caf. All chorus and band classes will meet in the gym, and general music classes will meet in the caf. There will be no access to instrument lockers at that time, so please do not bring your instruments yet.
They are hoping to be done by Weds, 9/19. Then we need ALL HANDS ON DECK to help us move everything from the stage and storage units back to the music wing. Any students with study halls can come down to help during the day. We will also be at the school until 8pm to make sure everything is ready to go on Thursday. We'll buy pizza for anyone who comes to help!
Our opening Music Night will be Weds 9/26 from 6-8pm. There will be fun activities such as karaoke, Just Dance, arts and crafts, and more. We will provide PIZZA and ask that you bring a drink, dessert/snack, or paper products if possible. Let's get to know each other and have a fun family night! We look forward to meeting everyone!
*Music Dept. Handbooks Due Fri. Sept. 14th!*
2018_music_dept_handbook.docx |
First Glee rehearsal Weds. 9/12!
Groton's after-school chorus, Groton Glee, will start rehearsing on Weds 9/12. For this fun first day, we'll run from 3-5 with food and a welcome party. Bring your friends!
The Fall Permission Form is below. Due 9/21.
The Fall Permission Form is below. Due 9/21.
groton_glee_fall_permission_form.docx |
2017-18 Year in Review
Pep Band
Jazz Band Tri-M & Choir Officers After School Band Glee Music Welcome Night Community Service Day Haunted Hallow Fruit & Cookie Dough Sale JHAAS Choir All County Band Music Thanksgiving Ithacappella Concert Conference All State Choir Winter Concerts |
Holiday Gala
All County Chorus SHAAS Choir Valentine's Singing Telegrams Music Night Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Music in Our Schools Concert NYC Trip (School of Rock) Formal Recital NYSSMA Solo Festival Keys for Cancer Benefit Concert John Hancock Day Concert Spring Concerts Music Awards Banquet Graduation Performance |