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NEWSLETTER
APRIL 2015 EDITION
PRESIDENTS’ MESSAGE
Dear Students, Families and Friends of Saratoga Music.
What a wonderful year of music the 2014.2015 year has been. We hope you were able to enjoy the
performances of our talented musicians and appreciate both the beauty of their music and their
growth as musicians. This year we have the special opportunity to support our high school
marching band and color guard to participate in the Tournament of Roses Parade on January 1,
2016. We hope you will be able to attend one of the benefit events and when the time comes
provide a rousing send-off for the group.
We want to recognize the tremendous performances by all of our vocal and instrumental groups
throughout the year and most especially at the recent CMEA competitions. All the groups received
high awards from the judges and were recognized for their achievements. Please plan to attend
one of the year-end concerts performed by our talented students and celebrate our graduating
seniors who have been an integral part of our programs.
Our next big event is right around the corner. The annual PANCAKE BREAKFAST will take place
on Sunday, May 3rd. This is another ‘don’t miss event’! The Pancake Breakfast features the entire
Saratoga Performing Arts community, which includes the 4th and 5th grade beginning musicians all
the way through the seniors. Visit the SMB Web Store (saratogamusic.weebly.com/smbwebstore.html) to learn more and order your tickets for this great event.
Lastly we would like to thank EVERYONE (students, parents, staff and administrators) who invests
their time and energy to the make the music programs in Saratoga and excellent experience for our
students and community.
Yours Respectfully.
Marguerite McAfee and Jennie Lau
2014.2015 Saratoga Music Boosters Co-Presidents
THE 2015-2016 SMB EXECUTIVE BOARD
President Co-chair………………………Jennie Lau
President Co-chair………………………Susan Nakahira
Treasurer…………………………………..Jennifer Guidry
VP Membership Co-chair………………Sheeba Garg
VP Membership Co-chair………………Monica Rhee
VP Fundraising Co-chair………………..Woanyu Yu
VP Fundraising Co-chair………………..Ashley Chao
Recording Secretary Co-chair………..Annie Ying
Recording Secretary Co-chair………..Laura Menard
Parliamentarian*…………………………Nancy Rafati
Auditor*……………………………………open
*appointed
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IN THIS ISSUE…
Presidents' Message…………………….……..1
2015-2016 Executive Board.………….….1
Pancake Breakfast…………………………..…..2
SHS Percussion Instruments Drive..2-3
SMB Fundraising Update……………….…..3
SHS Instrumental Music News…….…4-6
SHS Choir News………………..………...…….6-7
Redwood/SUSD Music News……………..8
PANCAKE BREAKFAST
When: SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015, 8:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Where: Saratoga High School
Please join us for Saratoga Music Boosters’ annual Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, May 3, 2015 from 8:00
a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Pancake Breakfast is a spring music festival with performances by students of the
bands, orchestras, choral groups, and color guards of the Saratoga elementary, middle, and high schools.
This is the last major fundraiser of the year and all proceeds support Saratoga Music Boosters. Pancake
Breakfast is always a very popular and festive spring event. It is a great opportunity for community
members to mingle and enjoy a "homemade" breakfast of pancakes, sausage, and strawberries while
listening to great music!
The raffle features three great prizes this year: a Go Pro camera and set up kit; Dinner for 4 at The Mynt
restaurant and a pair of Beats Mixr Headphones.
There will be an opportunity to pre-order tickets ($10.00) by April 30th or to purchase tickets at the door
($12.00). New this year -- electronic purchase option. You can advance purchase tickets via the SMB
Web Store (saratogamusic.weebly.com/smb-webstore.html). The advance ticket option includes a service
charge of $0.50. Advance ticket price for adults and children (5 and over) is $10.50. You may also
purchase raffle tickets on the web store 1 for $3, 2 for $5 and 10 for $20.
We encourage and welcome all parents and community members to attend the Pancake Breakfast.
We also need MANY parent volunteers to staff the event. Last year over 100 people volunteered and we
anticipate a need for even more this year. For those with students performing, you can work before or after
their performance. Moms and dads are needed, some before the event and many on the day of the
event. This is a volunteer opportunity for everyone – please sign up now!
If further information is needed: saratogamusic.weebly.com/pancake-breakfast.html
Sharon Heimbaugh (sharonheimbaugh@gmail.com)
Yuchi Wang (yuchiwang2003@yahoo.com)
Kiran Singh (ksingh1234@yahoo.com)
Pancake Breakfast Co-Chairs
SHS Percussion Instruments Drive Needs Your Help!
Recently I had the opportunity to go to
Ohio with the Winter Percussion for the WGI
World Championships. While the students did
great, it was an eye opener to see how many
of the percussion instruments were falling
apart. Some of the instruments are over 20
years old and worn down from being used
daily by Saratoga & Redwood students as well
as the community such as the Saratoga
Community Band, San Jose Wind Symphony,
and other McAfee Center Rentals. According
to Mr. Oliver, Percussion Director at SHS, “the
mallets are older than the students and we
were lucky to have made the semi-finals in WGI
World Championships.”
Even though the percussion instruments
are in shambles, and the staff has become
resourceful in patching up the problems, it’s still
(continued on page 3)
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SHS Percussion Instruments Drive (continued)
only a temporary fix. One can’t slap a band aid
on a broken window pane and hope all the
problems go away. You can try covering it,
boarding it, painting it, or removing it all
together, but no matter what you do, it’s still a
broken window. The window needs to be
replaced because a broken window isn’t
functional or aesthetically pleasing. The same
goes for the percussion instruments. The wheels
are bent and falling off, the drums peel and
affect sound, the harnesses have no padding or
support, and many of the mallets are either bent
or broken. At the semifinals performance in
Ohio, I witnessed the marching tenor drum
bracket snapping on the last beat of the
performance. Luckily, the drummer was able
to catch the falling parts and hold it together.
Our instruments barely survived a 5
minutes show and definitely won’t make the
5+ miles of Rose Parade. On top of that, the
percussion instruments are a crucial part of
many different bands and orchestras
throughout the community. We are in great
need of replacements and cannot do it
without help! Supporting the Percussion Drive is
community effort and will pay dividends for
decades to come. Our goal is to raise $90,000
total by the end of summer, and currently are
at 1/3 of the goal. Remember that this is a
MATCHING DONATION DRIVE – every dollar
you donate will be doubled, thanks to an
anonymous donor! Please spread the word,
and consider supporting SMB in the Percussion
Instrument Drive this month!
Linda Huie and Jonathan Pwu
SMB Fundraising - Upcoming and Past Events
Pancake Breakfast
Pancake Breakfast is the last amazing spring Fundraiser for Saratoga Music Booster on Sunday, May 3, 2015 at
Saratoga High School. This event is very causal because you can come and go any time between 8:00am - 12:30pm to
enjoy the priceless entertainment and unlimited pancakes, sausages, and strawberries. The event is open to everyone in
the community to come and enjoy. Also, don’t miss out on buying some raffle tickets, because there are some
wonderful prizes so bring your family, friends, neighbors and your wallet. Please order your tickets before April 30,
2015 to reserve your place.
Summer 2015 Sake Dinner
The Sake & Wine Dinner event is hosted by Jennie & Daryn Lau on Saturday, August 15, 2015 at 7pm. Come and
enjoy a wonderful, authentic Japanese dinner at Jennie & Daryn’s home. It’s a very fun opportunity to have a meal
with new and old friends. All contributions will go towards Saratoga Music Booster. Tickets can be purchased on
SMB Web Store.
Gift Cards
SMB has Starbucks, Hong’s Restaurant, Safeway and CVS gift cards available for purchase. A certain percentage of
all purchases will be added to students’ account to help with travel experiences. Contact Ashley Chao for gift cards at
chaoaishya@yahoo.com.
Tournament of Roses Presidential Visit Reception & Fundraiser
In March Mike Matthiessen, the President of the Tournament of Roses and wife, Ann came to Saratoga High School
to congratulate the band on being invited to the 127th Rose Parade on January 1, 2016. Mr. & Mrs. Matthiessen came
to a reception to endorse our effort in fundraising for the Rose Parade at the Mynt Restaurant where everyone had a
delightful time enjoying appetizers & wine. SMB would like to thank Eric Mattesion, who donated a generous amount
to kick off our Rose Parade Fundraiser, and all those who have made this a successful event.
Linda Huie and Ashley Chao, Co-VPs of Fundraising 2014-15
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Greetings from the SHS Instrumental Music Department!
As the year winds down, we find ourselves reflecting on how proud we are of our class of 2015.
These students have been dedicated members of Marching Band, Symphonic Wind Ensemble,
Jazz Bands, Symphonic Bands, String Orchestras, Symphony Orchestras, Winter Guard/Winter
Percussion, Pit Orchestras, CMEA S/E Participants, SCCBDA Members, All-State Members, as well as
a part of the MESH (Music Education with Saratoga High) and a flurry of other music related
service activities.
In the months of March alone, these students performed for the President of the Rose Parade,
performed in the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University, hosted and performed a CMEA
Festival, and traveled to Dayton, Ohio to perform at WGI World Championships (only naming a
few events); all this on top of their regular school activities and athletics. Looking at the year as a
whole, these students traveled to Spain to represent Saratoga on a major performance tour, and
traveled to Chicago to perform for an international audience of music educators and members
of the music industry! BRAVO, class of 2015!
Winter Guard and Winter Percussion Update
Our Winter Guards and Winter Percussion have had a great season and really represented
Saratoga well. The Winter Guard participation almost doubled in membership this year, many who
were brand new to the activity. Under the direction of their staff they performed to a beautiful
rendition of a children’s lullaby in their show titled “Star Gazing.” At the CCGC Championship,
Section Leader and Senior Kristyn Nakahira received the CCGC Scholarship! Thank you to Susan
Nakahira and Sandy Olson-Miller for serving as dedicated Color Guard/Winter Guard Liaisons and
chaperones this season!
The Winter Percussion traveled over Spring Break to Dayton, Ohio, to perform for the first time ever
at WGI World Championships! The experience was inspiring for all students, staff, and parents
traveling. Despite being “promoted” to a higher and more competitive division just weeks before
the competition, Saratoga made it past the Preliminary competition and advanced two spots in
the Semifinals. The students were able to enjoy watching World Class groups from all over the
country perform on the final night – an inspiration for future years! A huge thank you to Rich Selby
for serving as the lead truck coordinator this year, Sharanya Rajan for serving as the Percussion
Liaison and coordinating chaperones, and to Shin Fong, John Fu, Rachel Huang, Linda Huie, and
Susan Nakahira for traveling with us making this trip possible!
SMB is still currently looking for a Percussion Liaison for 2015-2016 – if you are interested, please
contact Pragati Grover at askpragati@gmail.com!
Jazz Program Update
This has been in incredible year for the Saratoga High School Jazz program. We have two more
shows and we need you to come out and support the kids. We are excited that our final two
performances are out in the “real world” and in really fun venues for your family. The Saratoga
Jazz Combos will be performing on May 2nd at Rotary Art fair at West Valley College at 2:00pm.
The Big Band and Jazz Combos with special guest artists will have their final performance of the
year on May 20th at Gordon Biersch in Downtown San Jose from 6:00pm – 8:30pm. The show will
be out on patio with the full menu available for you and your friends and family to have dinner
and enjoy some live music. Please get there early because the show is open to the public and
tables are on a first come first serve basis.
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SMB Fundraiser: Instrument Drive (part of the Rose Parade Fundraising goals)
SMB is holding an Instrument Drive for new Percussion Instruments this year! Throughout the week in
Dayton, Ohio our equipment has been telling us that it needs replacement: We had several
broken wheels to replace, mallet manuals that were bent or broken, and at the very end of the
last performance we had two sets of marching tenor drums (quads) COMPLETELY break. It did a
good job lasting us this long, but many of the instruments are at least 20 years old and need
replacing. This is much needed to survive the 5-mile plus parade in Pasadena this coming New
Year! For more information, please contact our SMB Presidents.
Spring Concerts and Performances
SHS Instrumental Music’s End-of-Year concerts will take place in May. Please make sure these are
on your calendar, as these concerts include End-of-Year Awards as well as Senior Recognition.
May 14th
May 15th
May 18th
May 20th
All Orchestra Program (Philharmonic Orchestra & Symphony Orchestra)
All Bands (Freshmen Band, Symphonic Band, Symphonic Wind Ensemble)
AP Music Theory Concert (SHS Music Building)
SHS Jazz Bands and RMS Jazz Band Showcase at Gordon Biersch Restaurant in
Downtown San Jose
In addition, the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra will be performing at the
CMEA State Invitational Band & Orchestra Festival at the UC Davis Mondavi Center on Friday, May
22nd. Parents and family are welcome to attend – it is a beautiful performance hall!
Band Camp Dates for 2015
All “Band Families” please refer to the SMB online calendar for 2015 Band Camp Information:
www.saratogamusic.org
Marching Band Kick-Off:
MB Leadership:
Band Camp:
MB “Informance”:
Classes Begin:
Saturday, May 30th and Saturday, June 6th
July 30th – 31st
August 3rd – August 8th
August 10th – August 14th (Split Days)
Friday, August 14th @ 7:00pm
August 17th
Orchestra Retreat Fall 2015
Retreat:
Friday, August 28th -Saturday, August 29th
Thanks to our SMB Board
On behalf of our students and staff at SHS, a big thanks to our stellar Saratoga Music Booster Board
and Committee Chairs for their tireless support of young people and Music Education in our
community. Under the leadership and unyielding efforts of our executive board you will find we
have done remarkably well fundraising and selflessly advocating for ALL music programs in
Saratoga Schools (SUSD and LGSUHSD). Most importantly, our SMB board has served young
people in Saratoga with an enthusiasm and energy that is contagious and stands as a wonderfully
positive metaphor for young people in our community. THANK YOU SMB Board!
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Lend a Hand to SMB
LEND A HAND! We would again like to challenge all parents and interested community members
to lend a hand to any SMB sponsored event in the coming year. Make this a part of your yearly
giving and yearly volunteer effort. Both of us have really enjoyed getting to know parents
personally through unified efforts, such as preparing for the Rose Parade, Jazz Cabaret, or
Pancake Breakfast, and have cherished the moments we have to spend together. Rather than
wait for a contact, make the effort to contact an SMB board member to find out how you can
help! Oftentimes the people you meet volunteering become lifelong friends!
Best Wishes for a wonderful spring season,
Michael Boitz, Anthony Lanzino, and Jonathan Pwu
Greetings from the SHS Choral Music Department!
The choir has been a hive of activity since returning from spring break. As the warm weather sets
in, and the days become longer, the promise of summer draws nearer. We are hard at work
preparing for the End of the Year concert as well as Pancake breakfast!
This past spring, the choir was a full-force participant in the “March Madness” which is the SHS
music department each spring. Chamber Singers began March by performing in the San Jose
State Choral Invitational. There, we had a chance to sing for and hear other high school choirs,
and receive helpful advice from renowned choral educator and conductor Dr. Betsy Cook
Weber. The following weekend the Chamber Singers went on to receive a Unanimous Superior
ranking, and the Concert Choir a ranking of Excellent at the CMEA choral festival. I would like to
say how proud I am of both choirs for participating in a sight-singing adjudication after the
performance portion. Both groups received high marks, and a superior rating from the sightsinging judge. For those not familiar, sight-singing is one of the most challenging tasks our students
are asked to do. We use sight-singing daily, as a tool in the rehearsal setting, as we learn music.
However, in a competition setting it is much more intense. The students and I are given a piece of
music we have never seen, and then we have 5 minutes to rehearse it. After that, we must
perform it for the judge- with no help from the piano. The students are adjudicated on pitches,
rhythm, and text accuracy, but also how closely they respond to secondary musical elements,
such as dynamics, and phrase shape.
The excitement from the festival kept us going strong as we joined with our instrumental
counterparts the next day at the Spring concert. It was such a beautiful concert. So much choral
music has been composed with the intention of being performed with instruments, not just piano.
In the SHS Music Department, we have such admiration for each other, and are so fortunate to be
able to so easily collaborate across the department. If you missed the concert, or would like to put
a piece on your music playlist, recordings are always available for order at the concerts!
The third Saturday of March brought the community out to celebrate at the Saratoga Blossom
Festival. The Chamber Singers were invited to perform, and took the opportunity to share an all
acapella set at the beautiful gazebo-park setting. It was fun to introduce the singers to so many
people in the community for the first time. We ran into several alumni parents, and have already
been invited to sing next year.
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With three weeks of go-go-go, the choir boarded a coach at the end of the fourth week and
headed down to Pasadena to support our students who carried on the SHS tradition of
auditioning and making it into a California All State Honor Choir. This was a great educational
experience for the students. Many were impressed and surprised with the quality of the music
produced by students their own age, and in such a short time! I was encouraged to see there was
an increased interest from the students in auditioning this coming year! For interested students, the
audition process begins as early as September. Next year the All State Honor Choirs will be in San
Jose, in conjunction with the Western Division National Music Educators conference. If you’re
student is interested in auditioning, this would be a great year to do so! Honor Choirs are a
wonderful experience because they present opportunities for personal music growth, foster the
creation of lasting connections with students outside their school communities, and the simulate a
highly focused, fast paced learning environment with a tangible concert goal at the end.
We returned home just in time to ready ourselves for a visit from Oxford University’s premier allmale acapella group “Out of the Blue.” The Oxford guys arrived in the late afternoon on Friday
April 3, and gave a workshop for 30 students- comprised of students from both the choir and other
interested members of the SHS student body. After the workshop, we had dinner with the guys
and headed to the McAfee Center for an evening of exciting energetic music. The highlight of
the evening occurred after the intermission when all of the students who participated in the
workshop were invited onstage to perform with the Oxford guys. Some of our students even took
on some of the solos and sang back and forth with the guys. After photos and a fun meet and
greet, we all happily headed into spring break.
We look forward to seeing you Mary 8, at 7:30pm, at the choir’s end of the year concert entitled
“Requiem: A light in the darkness.” We have been examining the parts of the requiem mass, and
its place in the history of music. Rather then focus on a single composer’s requiem composition, I
have selected portions from famous requiems- ranging from the contemporary Andrew Lloyd
Webber to the classical Mozart- and assembled them in a hybrid form. The second half of the
evening will contrast the Requiem, and feature songs about light, life and energy. And of course,
don’t miss out on the Pancake breakfast fun. Once again we will team up with Redwood Middle
School, for some end of the year fun! See you there!
Happy Spring!
Andrew Ford
Oxford’s all-male acapella group visits SHS
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All State Honor Choir Trip
It has been an absolutely busy but rewarding start to the Spring semester!
Aside from the fantastic CMEA festival showings from our jazz band, choir, symphonic band and
a handful of individual musicians at our local solo and ensemble festivals, we brought nearly 300
Redwood students down to Southern California for a lineup of university workshops, Disney studio
workshops and performances in the middle of the Disney parks. We are so grateful to our parent
volunteers, equipment truck drivers and chaperones for a memorable and successful 2015 trip.
Thank you for all of your help!
The success of music in Saratoga does not happen without the time and volunteerism of you, our
parents and community. Please join us in looking toward our annual, full-music community event,
the SMB Pancake Breakfast on the first Sunday of May! This fundraiser doubles as a performance
morning for all of our groups and is not to be missed. We not only need your help in cheering on
our students but also in helping make this event run. Please sign up to volunteer on this very
special morning. All work and proceeds goes directly back to your students through the form of
new instruments, equipment, music and more.
Pancake Breakfast will also feature the notable Spring semester debuts of various groups. Our
color guard has been working hard on their spring routine and looking forward to showing the
result of all of their hard work. Additionally, you will be up and cheering when you hear the
progress of our beginning strings and beginning band.
As it always must be said, thank you for your support of our students and the incredible things
that music does for them. Your advocacy is key to our continued excellence.
Don’t miss these important upcoming events!
SMB Pancake Breakfast & Performances: Sunday, May 3
Spring Concert, Jazz Band, Choir, Percussion Ensembles: Wednesday, May 6
Spring Concert, Strings: Tuesday, May 18
Spring Concert, Bands & Color Guard: Monday, May 19
Redwood Marching Percussion @ Saratoga Memorial Day Services: Monday, May 25
Band & Guard @ Redwood Graduation: Friday, June 5
Mr. Jow
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