Middle and High School Orchestra students just wrapped up a 3-day workshop with Robin Fountain, author/lecturer and Director of the Vanderbilt University Orchestra, who presented concepts from his book, The Ensemble Musician: Six Principles for a More Rewarding Life in Music.
Fountain comes to DSAO as part of the school’s Visiting Artist program where we invite performers, composers and pedagogues in the music industry from around the world to work with our students. Their time at our school is usually brief, ranging from a few hours to a few days, but their impact on our students is far reaching, often lasting a lifetime.
The DSA Friends Foundation raises money for the Visiting Artist program via its annual Fill the Gap campaign. Denver School of the Arts currently faces a "gap" of $1,500 per student. This gap is the difference between what it costs to provide a comprehensive arts/academic education per student and what we receive per student from the district.
So far, DSA Friends has raised $309,174 of its $550,000 goal, with 31% of DSA families participating. Orchestra department is striving for 100% participation in the 2022-2023 Fill the Gap Campaign, which ends Dec.16th. No matter how much you give, it all counts toward our goal for participation! Your 100% tax deductible contribution can be made at:
We are still looking for more musicians to join our Chamber class during Period 4. If your student is interested (or knows of other non-Orchestra majors who might be interested), please contact enion_pelta@dpsk12.net or Enrique_Lasansky@dpsk12.net for more information ASAP.
Chair tests for Sinfonia, Advanced Orchestra and Full Orchestra will be conducted on Tuesday, Sept. 13 during normal class time.
Back to School Night is Thursday, Sept 15, from 5-7:30PM. Swing by the Orchestra room during your student’s class period (Middle School, Period 1 and High School, Periods 7 & 8) to learn more about what your student will be learning this year.
DSA Block Party is September 24, 2-5pm, featuring Art and Performances by DSA students (including Orchestra) at DSA South campus. More information re: performance schedule to come soon.
We will be having a Parent meeting via Zoom on September 20 at 7:30pm to discuss trip highlights, share permission slips/student contracts, and answer any questions that you may have. To join this Zoom meeting, click https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89747391355
We are getting closer to knowing our chaperone needs and will reach out to parents who have requested to be added to our list as soon as possible. Once selected, chaperones will need to register/pay for the trip and begin the DPS background check process. Contact Wendy Berhman at wberhman@gmail.com.
We are starting a scholarship fund for families needing assistance paying for this (and future) trips. If you would like to contribute or know of other donors who would like to help, please send a check (payable to “Denver School of the Arts Orchestra”) to DSA/Attn: Dr. Lasansky at 7111 Montview Blvd, Denver 80220. Please include “Orchestra Trip Scholarship Fund” on the memo line so that we can specifically earmark the funds for travel scholarship purposes.
Saturday, Oct. 8 at 7pm, DSA Concert Hall — String Orchestra Concert
Monday, Oct. 10 at 7pm, DSA Concert Hall — String Orchestra Concert
Saturday, Dec. 3 at 3pm, DSA Concert Hall — Chamber Concert
Friday, Dec. 9 at 7pm, DSA Concert Hall — Full Orchestra Concert
Saturday, Dec. 10 at 7pm, DSA Concert Hall — Full Orchestra Concert
Friday, Dec. 16 at time and venue TBA — Midwest Clinic Preview Concert
Saturday, Mar. 11 at 7pm, DSA Concert Hall — String Orchestra Concert
Monday, Mar. 13 at 7pm, DSA Concert Hall — String Orchestra Concert
Thursday, Apr. 20 at 7pm, DSA Concert Hall — Full Orchestra Concert
Friday, Apr. 21 at 7pm, DSA Concert Hall — Full Orchestra Concert
Saturday, Apr. 29 at 3pm, DSA Concert Hall — Chamber Concert
Friday, May 12 at 7pm, DSA Concert Hall — String Orchestra Concert
Saturday, May 13 at 7pm, DSA Concert Hall — String Orchestra Concert
Volunteers Needed
Volunteers Needed Looking for a way to get involved? We have lots of volunteer opportunities, but with our first concert only weeks away (Oct. 8th), here are our most immediate needs:
Orchestra Closet — We have several boxes of concert attire donated by current and former DSAO families. If you would like to be the point person for connecting families in need of finding attire OR donating their student’s outgrown clothing, please contact carla_mead@dpsk12.net.
Concessions — During concerts, we run concessions selling snacks and beverages donated by our orchestra families. The concessions coordinator oversees the operation, making sure we have enough snacks and drinks to sell, setting up the tables in the hallway, and keeping track of the cash generated. We send out a sign-up asking (1) for volunteers to help run the tables and (2) for food & drink donations.
Ushers — We generally have 2-3 ushers per concert checking tickets, passing out programs, and assisting anyone who needs help finding or getting to their seat. Our seasoned ushers have students who are seniors, so please consider shadowing the team this year with an eye to taking over the role in the 2023-24 school year. We will need: Lead Usher-in-Training, Volunteer Ushers. Contact janehkreed@yahoo.com to learn more.
We are accepting donations of concert attire for the DSAO orchestra closet.
Now that summer is over has your musician managed to out grow all of that fabulous concert attire that you just purchased last year? Don't let those items collect dust in the back of their closet. Donate them to the DSAO orchestra closet.
Please send those outgrown suits, tuxedos, shirts, bow ties, cummerbunds, dresses, tops, skirts, pants, shoes (anything really) in before the first concert. (For those who don't know - We started an orchestra concert closet a couple of years ago where we could store outgrown but still very wearable concert attire donated by orchestra families. This clothing and formal attire is available to any orchestra family prior to each concert for outfitting their growing musician.)
King Soopers/City Market Community Rewards Program
If you have a King Soopers/City Market loyalty discount card, you can raise money for the Orchestra department every time you shop. Simply:
Go to http://www.kingsoopers.com or http://www.citymarket.com and login to your account. Note: If you have a loyalty card, but don’t have an online account, you will need to create one by going to the website, entering your card number and providing basic information and a valid email address.
Click Community Rewards.
Search for “Denver School of the Arts – Orchestra” either by name or input the code WQ755 and click Enroll.
The next time you shop, be sure to swipe your loyalty card (or enter the phone number registered to your card) at checkout so that DSAO can start earning money. Ask friends/family members to select DSAO as their King Soopers/City Market community rewards recipient too!
Note: If you do NOT have a King Soopers/City Market loyalty card, be sure to pick one up at your store’s customer service desk.