As I sit here on a Saturday, the first day of March, I'm feeling reflective. The festival season has ended successfully with all DCS orchestras receiving a First Division Rating (1) at Chelsea this past week. Despite snow days and illness (both students and directors) we persevered and achieved. Thank you and bravo to all the orchestra students for their efforts. I am a proud orchestra director!

However, there isn't much time to bathe in the afterglow with so much in the three weeks ahead. Orchestra roars into Spring like a lion so buckle up!

• See NYC section below for all NYC related items....
• Sign up by March 7th (google form posted on canvas) to come bowling with the orchestra on Friday April 11th 6-8. $30 covers everything - a meal, 2 hours of bowling, shoe rental, $10 in arcade tokens. We did this a few years ago and kids had a blast. Students need to provide their own transportation to Revel and Roll in Ann Arbor.
• State S and E is on Saturday March 15th in Chelsea. Good luck to students who signed up to perform. I expect the performance schedule to be released any day now.
• All Orchestra is on Tuesday March 18th. This is a ticketed event. Expect a flyer detailing how to purchase tickets via GoFan not later than this Tuesday. Thank you to the amazing orchestra boosters for getting everything set up for this large scale event.

All Concert Orchestra students will be taking part in orchestra placement audtiions this spring plus any interested 8th graders. Requirements will be three 3 octave scales, an excerpt of orchestra music and a solo of the students choice. I will provide the scales to be learned and we will work on them in class. I will provide the excerpt from one of their orchestra pieces. I have suggested solos but students may choose any piece for their solo portion. They need a minimum of two minutes of music for their solo selection.

On Wednesday April 2nd and Thursday April 3rd, DCS welcomes Rodney Page to work with our students! Rodney is a freelance violinist, DJ, composer, conductor based in the Detroit area. Thank you to our boosters for sponsoring this event. Also, thanks to the Wylie PTA for bringing the entire 4th grade to see Rodney's multimedia presentation on day 2!

If you'd like to learn more about Mr. Page, here is a link to his website!

https://www.full-engagement-experience.com/

The DOB is still in need of a social media chair for this year. Time commitment is minimal for this position, mostly posting updates and photos on our social media channels. This person would also work with students interested in creating content for the orchestra program. If you are interested in this position, please contact us at dexterorchestraboosters@gmail.com.

All Orchestra Spring String Fling:

We're trying this activity again, and this year we have an indoor back-up plan in case of inclement weather! Tuesday, May 6th, 3:15-5:30 p.m., Wylie Field of Champions

(kickball field next to the bus loop). Join us for afternoon of fun activities including kickball games and field day-type events such as water balloon toss, egg spoon races, etc. Pizza, snacks, and drinks will be provided. More info TBA.

Thinking ahead to celebrating our seniors:

Each spring, we celebrate our seniors with social media posts leading up to the DHS Spring Concert and a slideshow at the concert itself. To recognize each senior, we will need their senior picture (or equivalent photo), as well as candids of their time in the orchestra program. Families love to see pics of seniors showing the first days of learning their instrument, concerts, field trips, activities, sectionals, etc. Parents/guardians of seniors can begin submitting photos for the slideshow to our DOB Google Drive. Email pics to Mr. Deloria or to Melanie McIntyre. There will also be a qr code in the All Orchestra Program if you want to drop directly into the google drive.