2016 IHSMA Solo & Small Ensemble March 18, 2016 Dear Students and Parents, On Saturday, April 2, we will be attending the Iowa High School Music Association State Solo and Small Ensemble Festival at MOC High School in Orange City, Iowa. ​ We are proud of your hard work the past few months and hope you will see results that will reflect that work. All the time spent on your solos and ensembles make you a better musician and also make our large ensembles better. Thank you for putting in the extra time! Here is some information that will be useful to you: ● We will take 3 buses. The first bus will leave the high school at 6:00 AM. Anyone performing before 9:15 AM must be on this bus! A second bus will leave the high school at 7:15 AM. Students performing between 9:15 and 12:15 must be on this bus. The final bus will leave the high school at 11:00 AM. If you only perform in the afternoon, you should ride this bus. ● You may leave MOC once you are finished with all of your performances! The first bus will leave MOC High School at 10:30 AM; the second bus will leave at 2:40 PM and the last bus will leave when we are finished and have our ballots, around 5:00 PM. If you do not ride home on your assigned bus, please let us know! ● ANYONE WHO IS DONE PERFORMING IS ALLOWED TO GO HOME WITH YOUR PARENTS ONLY. PLEASE ​ PROVIDE US WITH A NOTE SIGNED BY YOUR PARENT​ . ● There will be a concession stand available for lunch and snacks. Please bring money. No one will be allowed to leave the school facility unless you are done performing and are with YOUR PARENTS. ● Pay attention to your center times and be prepared to be flexible when it comes to centers running on time or late. ● BAND/ORCHESTRA STUDENTS:​ Make sure you have your judge’s copy, original parts, and ballot prior to moving to your warm-up center. All entries should meet at the warm-up center 10 minutes prior to your warm-up time. Mrs. Hecht or Miss Schuman will meet you there to warm you up. Check in with your center throughout the day to make sure it is running on time. Following your performance, one student in your group should collect all music and the judge’s copy and return it to the music box.

Please see the attached introduction sheet for your introductions!

OVER

● CHOIR STUDENTS:​ Make sure you have TWO original pieces of your music prior to moving to your warm-up center. The music will be in our location in the gym and your accompanist will have your ballot. All entries should meet at the warm-up center 10 minutes prior to your warm-up time. Mrs. Tucker will do her best to meet you there to warm you up. Check in with your center throughout the day to make sure it is running on time. If they are ahead of time, you may be able to perform earlier if it works for both you and your accompanist. Also, please be considerate if your family/friends are coming to hear you. Do not go early if they have not arrived yet. Following your performance, leave the center and wait outside the door for your music. Do not talk with the judge unless they initiate a conversation. One student in your group should collect the music after the judge is finished and ​ return it to the music box in the gym immediately​ as another singer may need to use it after you. ● Dress for success! Do not have bare shoulders, short skirts, or undergarments showing. No jeans!! No prom dresses!! High heels will put you off-balance for breathing and are awkward, so please avoid them. “Business Dress” is the most appropriate. ● IT IS THE EXPECTATION OF THE STORM LAKE MUSIC DEPARTMENT THAT STUDENTS ARE SUPPORTING THE OTHER ENTRIES FROM OUR SCHOOL. IF NO ONE FROM OUR SCHOOL IS PERFORMING IT IS RECOMMENDED YOU HEAR ENTRIES FROM OTHER SCHOOLS. ● REMEMBER YOU ARE GUESTS AT MOC. IT IS EXPECTED YOU ACT IN A MANNER THAT REFLECTS RESPECT AND HIGH CHARACTER. TREAT THE SCHOOL, FELLOW STUDENTS, AND THE CENTER WORKERS WITH RESPECT. KEEP OUR HOMEROOM AREA NEAT AND PICKED UP. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY LOST OR STOLEN ITEMS. ● Admission for audience members is a suggested donation of $3 for adults and $1 for students. Encourage your family and friends to attend and support our department. ● The Storm Lake Music Boosters have generously offered to pay your accompanist fees for all contest events this year. However, IF YOU SCRATCH, you will be responsible to cover the $30 accompanist fee on your own. You will also need to reimburse the school for your registration fee of $12.

Thank you again for all your work! We are very proud of your accomplishments! Sincerely, Mrs. Hecht

Mrs. Tucker

Ms. Schuman