2/9/2020: Week #19 Update

Dear Choir Parents,
 
We have a few Choir items you may want to know this week:
INTERNATIONAL TRIP AMBASSADOR CHOIR WITH ANDY-  Final rehearsals this week in the MPR as follows:  Monday 2/10 3:15-8:15pm,  Tuesday 2/11 3:15-5pm,  Wednesday 2/12 3:15-4:15pm, Thursday 2/13 3:15-4:45pm.  Thursday 2/13 baggage check in is at GP Memorial church 5:30-6pm
INTERNATIONAL AMBASSADOR CHOIR TO POLAND AND AUSTRIA— Our Ambassador choir departs on Friday 2/14 for Europe.  Bon Voyage and safe travel to all!
GP SOUTH POINTE PLAYERS ONE ACTS THIS WEEK—  This week on Wednesday 2/12 and Thursday 2/13 at 7pm in the South Auditorium.  Come see many of our choir students directing and acting in 6 One Acts to be performed this week.  Break a leg all!
SPRING FLING PLANNING COMMITTEE WANTS YOU—  Each year choir throws a party for its adult members and friends in mid-May.  It is our final big fundraiser of the year and is almost as much fun to attend as it is to plan with a group that each year proves to be creative, lively and fun.  The kick off planning committee meeting is this Tuesday 2/12 at Michelle Conlan’s home 474 Fisher Rd at 7pm.  All are welcome to join in.  It is a great way to meet new people and get involved as much or as little as you would like.
A COMPETITION PRIMER—  For those of you curious about what to expect for the Bishop Luers competition,  Lorie Vogel sent the following information to her mentee.  We thought we would share:
“There is bus transportation to and from the competition for the students and any volunteer chaperones. The bus will depart right after school on Friday March 6th to head for Fort Wayne. They will make a dinner stop (fast food) along the way. The students/chaperones/teachers stay in a hotel near Bishop Luers High school/Fort Wayne on Friday night. They perform in the competition all day and late into the night on Saturday (last year it ended close to midnight). The bus will depart Bishop Luers after the competition to head back to GP. They usually arrive around 3:00-4:00am Sunday morning. All of these arrangements will be made by Mr. Pratt and Anita Adams and communicated to you. You don't need to do anything.
Mr. Pratt usually sends out an email looking for chaperones, if you are interested in that.
Alternatively, many parents choose to attend the competition because it is a lot of fun!!!!  If you do, you can make your own hotel accommodations and transportation. Last year, the South Singers sang in the morning (I think?) so you might want to go down Friday night or very early Saturday morning. (It's about a 3 hour drive).
Food is available for purchase at the competition, so students should bring money for that. The students are 4 to a hotel room and select their roommates for Friday night.”
Thanks Lorie!  Mr. Pratt will send formal information closer to the competition date.  But we hope this primer gives you an idea of what to expect.
BISHOP LUERS COMPETITION HOTEL—  We have secured a block of rooms at the Fairfield Inn North in Fort Wayne Indiana for those attending the Bishop Luers Competition.  Our students and chaperones are not staying at this hotel.  There are double rooms, regularly $134 available for $114, reserved for us on 3/6 and 3/7.  Call the hotel at 260-442-3040 and ask for the GP South Choir block of rooms.  Note:  it is choir tradition for parents to meet in the hotel lobby after competition for snacks and beverages to celebrate our competition successes.  The block should be available for reservations on Tuesday 2/12 and will be open through 2/21.
Reminder—GROSSE POINTE THEATER SCHOLARSHIPS-  Each spring GPT offers scholarships to undergraduate students attending a theater camp this summer, and seniors attending an accredited college or university next school year.  The 2020 rules and regulations and the Application form are attached.  The application deadline is April 18th, and the auditions will be held on April 26 at 2:00pm at 315 Fisher Road.
Reminder—VOLUNTEERS NEEDED PLEASE--  Our next Charity Gaming event (and final for this school year) will be Thursday March 26th - Sunday March 29th.  Again they are day shifts at One Eyed Jacks.  Please consider volunteering for a shift. Click here to volunteer:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c084faca7238-volunteer3 .  (Please Note this is the same weekend as our Chicago competition, so we especially need parents to volunteer who are not attending the competition!  Thank you.)
ADMINISTRATION PERFORMING ARTS INVESTIGATION UPDATE—  As a follow up to the 1/22 email you received, we want to report that booster leadership has met with Drs. Niehaus and Dean and had a collaborative and productive meeting about our program moving forward.  Booster leadership, along with performing arts staff, has actively attempted to collaborate with administration since early November.  We are now optimistic that with our recent challenges and our continued efforts to work with administration to improve our program for all students, this year will be stronger than ever in choir.
Thank you for supporting your student’s Choir program.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
 
With Warmest Regards,
Laura Sanom-Fleming and
Katherine Brandon
2019-20 Choir Booster Presidents