May 2008 Newsletter

In this Issue:
From the President
Thank You from the BMMP Directors
Treasurer's Report
Music CD Sale
Celebrating Music at BMMS
Jim DeGeorge Award Winners
Thank you, Band Volunteers!
WOW! What a year!!
Band Awards Dinner: June 4th
Regional Youth Orchestra Auditions
Bravo! to Our Sponsors

From the President...
I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to serve as Music Parents' president for the past two years. It has been a pleasure and an honor to work with our remarkable Board members. Each one of them has given of their time and talents with grace and generosity.

It also has been a pleasure to work with our music directors. It's not by chance that Burleigh Manor's music program is top-notch. Our music teachers' dedication to our students is awe-inspiring, and it was an eye-opener to learn how detailed their jobs are!

I also thank Mr. Gibson for his support. I wish him all the best in his retirement after many years of service to education, and the distinguished honor of a National Blue Ribbon.

I am pleased to announce that Rawnie Obrigewitch will be our president next year. Rawnie has been a vice president on the Music Parents Board for two years, and will serve as president for one year. To ensure a smooth transition, we are recruiting for a co-president to work with Rawnie who can lead Music Parents the following year. If anyone is interested in learning more about this opportunity, please let me or Rawnie know (you can find our e-mail address on the Contacts page).

We all are fortunate to belong to a community that is committed to encouraging its students in their involvement in the arts, which we all hope will be a lifelong passion.

I wish you all a happy, healthy and fun summer. - Malinda Hughes

Thank You from the BMMP Directors
The BMMP directors and community send out a big THANK YOU to Malinda Hughes for her outstanding service as our President for the past two years. Malinda, we are very grateful for your hard work and leadership! Heartfelt thanks, also, to Cynthia Calvert who has edited our newsletter diligently AND coordinated the Band Awards Dinner for five years. And special thanks to Joan LeRoy for all of her hard work as our Band Volunteer Coordinator for three years!

Treasurer's Report
As the school year winds down let me say “Thank You” again to all those who have contributed to the Musical Note Club as well as those who have put their time and effort into making this such a great year.

So far this school year, we have used our funds to purchase much needed percussion mallets, bring in guest conductors and clinicians, purchase choral music, pay for royalty and copyright fees, and cover basic needs such as printing and postage. We will also use our funds to purchase the trophies for the music awards night.

For those parents with students moving up to high school, good luck and please keep supporting the music programs through the high school music backer and booster programs. For those parents with students returning to Burleigh Manor in the Fall, have a great summer and let's look forward to another noteworthy year of BMMS music.
- Mark Richmond

Music CD Sale
Music Parents is selling CD sets with selections from the spring adjudications and concerts. Each set includes two CDs featuring all of the school's music groups. They are a wonderful way to capture this time in your musician's life, and you will enjoy listening to them for many years.

The CDs are professionally produced by Savin Sound, one of Music Parents' business partners. Each set costs $15.00.

To place an order, please complete an order form, and submit it and your payment to your child's music teacher. You can download an order form by clicking on the link below.

Music CD Order Form

Thank you for supporting Burleigh Manor Music Parents!

Celebrating Music at BMMS
The last week of May is Music Celebration Week at BMMS.

On Thursday, May 29, all eligible music students will attend a performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Toby's Dinner Theater. BMMS's music directors have organized this trip to express their appreciation for their students' hard work all year, especially with the adjudications and spring concerts.

To coincide with this special event, Music Parents is sponsoring music trivia contests. All BMMS students are encouraged to join the fun! Each morning, the Bobcat News anchors will broadcast a trivia question in categories ranging from classical to contemporary. Students can submit their answers by placing them in a box in the Media Center. Each day, one correct answer will be selected, and the winner will get to choose the prize (either a $10.00 gift card to iTunes or Best Buy). Good luck to all!

Jim DeGeorge Award Winners
Each year, BMMS's Music Directors recognize three individuals who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to our school's music program. The award is named for Jim DeGeorge, the founding principal of Burleigh Manor Middle School who sowed our school's musical spirit. Congratulations to the winners of this year's awards:

Ellie Whittenberger has been the Choir program's piano accompanist for many years. She also plays with many of our students at the Howard County and State Solo & Ensemble Festivals.

Jacqueline Sica, BMMS's health teacher, attended the Band and Choir's Hershey adjudication several years ago, during Mr. Brodie's illness. Since then, she has been a special advocate and ally of BMMS's music program.

Reed Senter is the first student recipient of this award. Reed, a senior at Centennial High School, has been Mr. Brodie's intern throughout the school year. He has worked directly with students, and taken on numerous behind-the-scenes responsibilities. Next year, Reed will study music at the University of South Carolina.

Thank you, Band Volunteers!
Thank you to the dedicated parent volunteers of the Wind Ensemble, Concert Band II and Concert Band I. The Spring Concerts were held on May 13th and May 15th. Helping with ticket sales, set-up, chaperoning, and monitoring the auditorium doors were: Malinda Hughes, Lillian Reichenthal, Evie Kawata, Juping Bao, Diane Bohr, Eydie Hammers, Sabrina Rous, and Kathy Davis. Apologies to anyone left off of this list!

After 3 years, I am stepping down as the Band Volunteer Coordinator. Thank you to all band volunteers throughout the years! I personally would not have been able to coordinate without your support, dedication and enthusiasm! Thank you!

- Joan LeRoy

WOW! What a year!!
Back to Music Night
Music Note Patrons raised $6,860.00
3 Winter Concerts
All County Auditions
Over 280 band students from Howard County
Over 150 band students from Howard County
All State Auditions
GT Band -Over 20 hours of rehearsal
22 BMMS students make the 80 member band
GT Chorus -Over 20 hours of rehearsal
27 BMMS Students make the 70 member choir
All State Band
4 BMMS Students/1 Alt. & 4, 9th Gr. Alumni- 10% of the All-State band!
All State Choir
1 BMMS Student
Chamber Choir Christmas Caroling
Chamber Choir Performance for Faculty Breakfast
Two Tersiguel’s Musical Feasts
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Trip
Madrigal Festival Trip
District Solo and Ensemble Festival
107 Band entries & 6 vocal entries
Three Band Adjudications
Superior ratings
Three Choral Adjudications
Superior ratings
State Solo and Ensemble Festival
Four Spring Concerts
Hershey Park Festival- Wind Ensemble & Chamber Choir
Superior Rating, First Place Vocal Judges Choice
Five Band Night Rehearsals with Clinicians
Five Vocal after Hours Rehearsals with Clinicians
Student Orientation Performances
Parent Orientation Performances
Excellence Trip to Toby’s Dinner Theater
Awards Ceremonies
We couldn’t do it without your help. Thank you!

- The Music Directors

Band Awards Dinner: June 4th
Band families, rising band families, and band alumni: It’s time celebrate our band students’ hard work this year at the Band Awards Dinner. The dinner will be on June 4th in the BMMS Dining Room beginning at 6:00 p.m. Families bring either a side dish and a dessert or a main course (please remember to label your dishes and serving utensils that you wish to take home again). And don’t forget to study for the music trivia questions! If you have any questions or want to help out, please contact Cynthia Calvert.

Regional Youth Orchestra Auditions
Attention 8th graders: Auditions for the Howard County High School Gifted and Talented Orchestra (formerly the Howard Regional Youth Orchestra) 2008-2009 season will be held in June (dates TBA). More information about GTO and auditions can be found at www.hsgto.org.

Auditions are also being held for the Greater Baltimore Youth Orchestra. The Youth Concert Strings group accepts 6th, 7th, and 8th grade strings players. The Youth Orchestra accepts 7th and 8th grade strings, woodwind, brass, and percussion players. For more information, go to www.gbyo.com/orchestras.php. Auditions for the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras will be held in August. Audition information will be posted next month at www.mcyo.org.

Bravo to our business partners for their generosity!
Please support the people who support us.

Graphic Impressions, Inc.
8990 Route 108, Suite C
Columbia, MD 21045
410.730.4884 or 800.411.8448

Savin Sound
Located in Ellicott City, MD
Serving the Baltimore Metro area.
410.750.0272

Tersiguel's French Country Restaurant
8293 Main Street
Ellicott City, MD 21043
410.465.4004