Old Settlers
Thank you to all parents and students who attended our music camp and performances for Old Settlers!
I hope to create a tradition of sharing music at one of our town's oldest traditions. Music camp will continue to occur with Tuesday - Friday before school starts. Times will be determined by any potential students conflicts.
I hope to create a tradition of sharing music at one of our town's oldest traditions. Music camp will continue to occur with Tuesday - Friday before school starts. Times will be determined by any potential students conflicts.
District 3's ILMEA Honor Ensembles and Other Events
Honor ensembles are special events that bring together the best musicians from a regions schools. The District 3 ILMEA honor band and choir require an audition, so we will be looking at students attending during the 2023/2024 school year. Click here for more information on how our program will start designing our classroom instruction to support learning the audition materials.
Auditions are submitted online and are due by the first week of October. The events occur in November.
Other opportunities supported by ILMEA are:
A composition contest
More information can be found here.
Materials must be submitted by October 15th.
A Jazz Festival
This also requires an audition, click here for information on the audition materials.
Future Music Educators Seminar
If you are interested in more information, email Mr. Alexander or click here.
Auditions are submitted online and are due by the first week of October. The events occur in November.
Other opportunities supported by ILMEA are:
A composition contest
More information can be found here.
Materials must be submitted by October 15th.
A Jazz Festival
This also requires an audition, click here for information on the audition materials.
Future Music Educators Seminar
If you are interested in more information, email Mr. Alexander or click here.
Middle School Winter Concert
Our middle school band and choir concert will be held on Sunday, December 4th. Call time for students is 2:30 pm with the performance beginning at 3:00 pm. Join us for an afternoon of music from our first semester of learning in our classroom.
Madrigal Dinner
The Cissna Park Madrigal Dinner is a strong tradition that has been performed 38 times since its beginning. The dinner will be held on Friday, December 9th 2022. Doors will open at 5:30 pm with the performance beginning at 6:00 pm. Choir and Band students are required to attend and perform at this event. Extracurricular groups include the Madrigal Singers, an advanced choral group who performs a majority of the music at the dinner, Speaking roles, non-speaking roles, and crew members running lights and sound. Sign-ups are located outside the music room and the deadline for signing up is Wednesday, August 31st 2022.
Middle school students are needed for serving the meal. Mr. Alexander and Mrs. Hasselbring will speak with individuals sometime in November.
This is our largest performance of the year and we ask for parent support to help set-up and tear-down the event. Join us on August 30th for more information on how you can help us for not only this performance, but all performances throughout the school year.
Middle school students are needed for serving the meal. Mr. Alexander and Mrs. Hasselbring will speak with individuals sometime in November.
This is our largest performance of the year and we ask for parent support to help set-up and tear-down the event. Join us on August 30th for more information on how you can help us for not only this performance, but all performances throughout the school year.
Solo and Ensemble
It is my hope that Cissna Park students return to performing at the IESA solo and ensemble event in Watseka on Saturday, April 1st. This opportunity challenges students to learn either a solo or small group piece that is then performed for a judge that provides feedback and a rating of their performance. This is a tremendous opportunity for your student to experience what it is like to audition for an ensemble or music degree. Judges are always supportive and give students another perspective and feedback regarding their performance. Times are determined by the host school after materials are submitted. Most entrees perform in the morning or early afternoon.
Students can sign-up as a soloist and in small groups. It is possible for a student to do both. The most entries a student can enter in is 3.
The deadline for interest is Friday, December 2nd. The goal is to have music selected and provided to your student by winter break. Entry fees are due on Friday, January 13th.
Students can sign-up as a soloist and in small groups. It is possible for a student to do both. The most entries a student can enter in is 3.
The deadline for interest is Friday, December 2nd. The goal is to have music selected and provided to your student by winter break. Entry fees are due on Friday, January 13th.
IESA Band and Choir Festival
At our parent meeting on August 30th, we will discuss our potential interest in performing at the IESA Band and Choir Festival. This event has our band and choir travel to another venue to perform music from our classroom, get feedback from quality judges, and a rating on our performance. The plaques located in the cabinet on the ramp leading to the main gym come from this event. Cissna Park school held a long tradition of performances at this event and I look forward to the time when we return.
Performances include both the middle school and high school and times are determined after we submit our entry materials. Potential dates for this event are Friday, April 28th and Saturday, April 29th. I would communicate early with the hosting site that the Saturday conflicts with our prom to work towards a potential solution.
Performances include both the middle school and high school and times are determined after we submit our entry materials. Potential dates for this event are Friday, April 28th and Saturday, April 29th. I would communicate early with the hosting site that the Saturday conflicts with our prom to work towards a potential solution.
Fine Arts Night
Our final concert of the year includes both the middle school and high school ensembles. It will occur on Thursday, May 4th. We will also collaborate with other high school and middle school classrooms to represent creative thinking in our schools. More information on the events and galleries that will be available before our performance will be shared in the spring. Our creative galleries will be available for viewing at 5:30 pm with the performance beginning at 6:00 pm.
Baccalaureate
On Saturday, May 14th, high school choir students have the opportunity to sing at the senior Baccalaureate. This is not a required event, but is highly recommended. Call time for students is 4:45, with the performance beginning at 5:00 pm.
Graduation Band
Our band students are required to perform at senior graduation on Friday, May 19th. Call time is 5:15 pm with graduation beginning at 6:00 pm.
Summer Camps
There are a multitude of music camps for each instrument and ensemble throughout the summer. Camps are expensive, so there is not requirement for participation. Camps provide unique opportunities for students to experience music from different perspectives with large groups of likeminded students who enjoy and love participating in music. Please contact Mr. Alexander for more information or to start a conversation if financial needs are required for participation.
Illinois Summer Youth Music
Camp is run through the University of Illinois and does not require an audition.
This camp is geared more towards students looking for more music opportunities throughout the summer.
Use the following link for more information. https://isym.music.illinois.edu/
Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp
Located in Michigan, this is a national and internationally attended camp. It does require an audition and significantly more resources.
Financial aid is a possibility through the organization.This camp is geared more towards students who look to pursue a degree and career in music.Use the following link for more information. https://bluelake.org/
Interlochen Summer Fine Arts Camp
Located in Michigan, this is a nationally and internationally attended camp. It does require an audition and is the most expensive of these three. Financial aid is a possibility through the organization.This camp is geared more towards students who look to pursue a degree and career in music.
Use the following link for more information. https://www.interlochen.org/summer-arts-camp
Illinois Summer Youth Music
Camp is run through the University of Illinois and does not require an audition.
This camp is geared more towards students looking for more music opportunities throughout the summer.
Use the following link for more information. https://isym.music.illinois.edu/
Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp
Located in Michigan, this is a national and internationally attended camp. It does require an audition and significantly more resources.
Financial aid is a possibility through the organization.This camp is geared more towards students who look to pursue a degree and career in music.Use the following link for more information. https://bluelake.org/
Interlochen Summer Fine Arts Camp
Located in Michigan, this is a nationally and internationally attended camp. It does require an audition and is the most expensive of these three. Financial aid is a possibility through the organization.This camp is geared more towards students who look to pursue a degree and career in music.
Use the following link for more information. https://www.interlochen.org/summer-arts-camp