Welcome to CDHS Music 2011/12! Once again, we’ve been overwhelmed by student participation in the music groups this year.
We’re very excited about this year and we wanted to touch base about a number of things.
NEW TO CDHS MUSIC?
CDHS has been recognized as having some of Canada’s finest student jazz groups – with senior groups often drawing comparisons to college and university-level big bands. Invited performers for Canada’s Governor General, CDHS students have won almost every award around, including 25 national gold awards. The CDHS Hospital Benefit Concert has featured students performing with legendary artists including Jeff Healey, the Downchild Blues Band and others while raising $15,000 for our local hospital. Graduates of CDHS Music can be found in Toronto jazz clubs, the Canadian Opera Company, and at North American post-secondary institutions including McGill University, Humber College, MIT, and the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. But the most important part of CDHS Music has nothing to do with music. It is the team-oriented approach to learning, the dedication and commitment to excellence, the sense of family and the fun.
CDHS MUSIC PARENT GROUP
If you are interested in being on this year’s CDHS Music Parent Group, please indicate on the accompanying form. The parent group is largely instrumental in assisting at shows and helping plan and carry out the Dream Lottery.
TRIP PROPOSAL – NEW ORLEANS, birthplace of jazz, late April 2012
This year, we are proposing a trip to the birthplace of jazz – the Big Easy. The trip would include:
The New Orleans International Jazz Festival – a professional world-renowned jazz festival featuring performances by tons of professional artists in every sub-style of jazz, including blues, gospel, funk etc. (also features incredible Cajun food!).
A performance clinic with a renowned New Orleans jazz artist.
A steamboat jazz cruise on the river where the great jazz trumpeter Louis Armstrong played. (The showboats were the inspiration for the musical of the same name.)
A Habitat for Humanity build to assist in the construction of the Musicians’ Village after Hurricane Katrina. New Orleans still suffers immeasurably from Katrina.
A Bayou swamp tour.
Tour of New Orleans and the French Quarter.
Tour of Mardi Gras World.
Tour of a plantation.
Promises to be an amazing musical and educational experience! More information on the trip will come in the next couple of weeks, including dates and cost.
FUNDRAISING
Begins today!
Every year, CDHS Music holds two major fundraisers – the Florida fruit sale and the Dream Lottery. Between the two fundraisers many students typically fundraise $300-500. Fundraising money goes directly to individual student trip costs, providing a huge incentive. Some students raise their entire trip costs with the two fundraisers.
FLORIDA FRUIT
Tentative delivery date is Nov. 14-18. Please remember that delivery is part of the service students provide and that all fruit must be gone on the delivery date (there is 25,000 pounds of fruit that needs to be moved out from the music room or we can’t function!).
DREAM LOTTERY
Our second and final fundraiser is the annual CDHS Music Dream Lottery. This event is a fun night of draws and music with prizes over $10,000 that again raises many thousands of dollars for you and your children.
THANKS TO SCOTT DRUMMOND GM
We are fortunate to have a partnership with Scott Drummond GM that allows us to focus fundraising efforts on helping students rather than purchasing supplies for the program. Scott Drummond GM helps make CDHS Music students sound so great. Thanks Scott!
Looking forward to a great year,
Dave and Michelle Noble
