Posts Tagged ‘Northshore School District’
Posted by glennled on February 22, 2016
NSD 6th-grade Honors Orchestra and Choir, 2016
Three hundred and thirty-three students from the Northshore School District made the Honors Orchestra, Choir and Band this year and played a concert for their parents, relatives, teachers, and friends at Northshore Jr. High School in Bothell on 9 February. And among them, three (~1%) are my students in elementary band at Skyview Jr. High—one trumpeter, one baritonist, and one trombonist. I’m in my fifth year as a para-professional teacher of beginning brass for fifth and sixth graders who come to Skyview from Crystal Springs, Canyon Creek, and Fernwood elementary schools for classes each week.
Guest conductors were Eileen Treusch (orchestra), Darcy Morrissey (choir), and Frank Halferty (band). The program allotted four pieces to the orchestra, five to the choir, and three to the band. If this were a contest instead of a concert and if I were an adjudicator, I would give the “Best Performance Award” to Darcy Morrissey and her choir. The orchestra was 111 members strong, but the choir was even larger: 128! And the band was 96; that’s a big band, too. I wonder what percentage of the band students are taking private lessons—20%, 10%, 5%? That’s how you “Become your Best” (my motto). And that’s how you eventually make Washington State Band in high school.
Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
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Honors Orchestra (L)
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Honors Orchestra (R)
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Honors Choir
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Ted Christensen (R), NSD Music Coordinator
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Music Directors from five NSD junior high schools
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Honors Band
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Honors Band (L)
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Honors Band (R)
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Trumpeters
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Trumpeters
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Trumpeters
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Trumpeters and Baritonists
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Baritonist from Canyon Creek Elementary School
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Baritonist from Canyon Creek Elem School
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Trombonists
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Trombonist from Crystal Springs Elementary School
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Trombonist from Crystal Springs Elem School
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Trumpeter from Crystal Springs Elementary School
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Trumpeter (R) from Crystal Springs Elem School
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Tenor Saxophonist from Canyon Creek Elementary School
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Charlie Fix, Orchestra and Band Director, Skyview Jr. High School
Posted in School Concerts, Skyview Junior High, Student Competitions, Honors & Awards | Tagged: band, baritonist, brass, choir, honors, lessons, Northshore School District, orchestra, Skyview Jr. High, teacher, trombonist, trumpet, trumpeter | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on May 2, 2015
2015 NSD 6th Grade Honors Orchestra (left), Choir (center), and Band (right)
In a stellar performance, three honors groups—the best NSD musicians of 2015—entertained a packed house at Northshore Junior High School in Bothell on 10 February at the annual Northshore School District’s (NSD’s) Sixth Grade Honors Concert.
NSD 6th Grade Honors Band (right), Choir (center), and Orchestra (left)
First was the Honors Orchestra, conducted by Jim Rice of Inglemoor High School. Next was the Honors Choir, conducted by Kyra Renstorf of Woodinville High School and Leota Junior High School. Finally was the Honors Band, conducted by Janie McDavid of Shelton View Elementary and Kenmore Junior High School. [Incidentally, Mrs. McDavid’s husband is Dr. Brad McDavid, Director of Athletic Bands, University of Washington, who is featured in numerous posts in this blog.] Each group performed four pieces. The program was emceed by Ted Christensen of Inglemoor High School (IHS), who is Music Coordinator for the Northshore School District. This is his 32nd year at IHS.
Below is a gallery of photos from the concert. As usual in this blog, I highlight trumpeters in the band, three of whom I teach at Skyview Jr. High School in Bothell. In all, Skyview contributed 12 musicians to the Honors Band. Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
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Jim Rice conducts 2015 Honors Orchestra
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Ted Christensen emcees the 2015 Honors Concert
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Krya Renstorf conducts 2015 Honors Choir
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Janie McDavid conducts 2015 Honors Band
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Posted in School Concerts | Tagged: band, choir, concert, Dr. Brad McDavid, honors, Janie McDavid, Jim Rice, Kyra Renstorf, Northshore School District, NSD, orchestra, Shawn McGinn, Ted Christensen, trumpeters | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on May 31, 2014
On 19 December 2013, the music program presented its “Sounds of Winter” concert in the Inglemoor High School Gymnasium. The Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, Concert Choir, Belle Voci, Chamber Choir, Mass Choir, and Wind Ensemble all performed for the large crowd. There are 8 trumpeters in the Wind Ensemble and 7 in the Symphonic Band. The Wind Ensemble is directed by Ted Christensen, who also is the Northshore School District Music Coordinator. Jim Rice directs the Symphonic Band and Jazz Band. At this concert several pieces were conducted by Megan Webster, Student Intern, Central Washington University.
The 45-member Symphonic Band performed “On This Day Earth Shall Ring,” “Wishing You a Merry Christmas,” and “The Bells of Christmas.” The Wind Ensemble (66 members) performed “Stars,” “Jesus, Jesus Rest Your Head,” and “Christmas Festival.” The Orchestra performed “Dances from the Nutcracker.” The music program enjoys the support of the Inglemoor High School Music Boosters.
Posted in Inglemoor High School, School Concerts | Tagged: band, ensemble, Inglemoor High School, music, Music Boosters, Northshore School District, orchestra, symphonic, wind | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on May 31, 2013
It started in 1984, when Eric Lucas was a senior in high school—a concert called “Northshore Jazz Night” that features the high school jazz bands within the Northshore School District. Mr. Lucas is now Director of Instrumental Music and Performing Arts Department Chair at Woodinville High School. “So often,” he said, “when we play at jazz competitions and individual school concerts, we never get the chance to hear each other play. This is a fun event, usually about the first week of May, just for the entertainment of ourselves, parents, relatives, and friends.”
And on 30 April at Inglemoor High School in Kenmore, we heard five bands from Woodinville, Bothell, and Inglemoor high schools. I got photos of almost every band, but my camera’s battery died just before the Inglemoor Jazz Ensemble took the stage. The lead trumpeter in the Woodinville Jazz Ensemble is my former student. Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
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Woodinville Jazz II
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Six trumpeters, Woodinville Jazz II
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First trumpet soloist, Woodinville Jazz II
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Next trumpet soloist, Woodinville Jazz II
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Trombone soloist, Woodinville Jazz II
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Inglemoor Jazz II
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Saxophone section, Inglemoor Jazz II
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Trumpet soloist, Inglemoor Jazz II
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Trumpeters, Inglemoor Jazz II
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Saxophone soloist, Woodinville Jazz Ensemble
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Trumpet section, Woodinville Jazz Ensemble
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Vocalist, Woodinville Jazz Ensemble
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Eric Lucas, Director of Instrumental Music, Woodinville Jazz Ensemble
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Lead trumpeter, Woodinville Jazz Ensemble
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Trumpeter friends, Woodinville Jazz Ensemble
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Trumpet soloist, Bothell Jazz Ensemble
Posted in School Concerts | Tagged: band, Bothell, ensemble, high school, Inglemoor, jazz, Kenmore, Northshore School District, trumpeter, Woodinville | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on February 16, 2011
Something special happened in Bothell last night—315 young musicians filled the floor of the spacious gymnasium at Northshore Junior High School and gave the adoring audience some thrilling sounds! It was the annual Honors Concert of the 22 elementary schools within
Honors Band (foreground), Orchestra (center), and Choir (background); Mr. Shawn McGinn (lower left)
the Northshore School District. Equally packed were the stands, overflowing into standing-room-only spaces for the many relatives and friends in attendance. And outside in the rain, their cars crammed into every feasible space in the school lots and out along the streets of the surrounding neighborhood for blocks. This was a big deal!
I attended because I teach some of the kids in the 105-member Honors Band. I am an Instructional Assistant to Mr. Shawn McGinn, band director at Skyview Junior High (see my blog post, “Glenn Now Teaches Brass…,” 6 September 2010). On Mondays, I teach the trumpeters and trombonists of the 2nd-year elementary band, and on Fridays, I conduct that entire band.
From Mr. McGinn’s band program, 15 students were selected for Honors Band. Of these, there were three flutists, four clarinetists, one bass clarinetist, one percussionist, two trombonists, and four trumpeters. They come from either Canyon Creek, Crystal Springs, or Fernwood elementary schools. I’m so proud of them all.
Honors Band, Janie McDavid conducting
Janie McDavid conducted the Honors Band. She currently teaches elementary instrumental music at Kenmore Junior High and Meridian Park and Echo Lake elementary schools. She led the band in three selections which ended the concert: “American Spirit March,” “The Tempest,” and “Eye of the Tiger.” Outstanding!
Posted in School Concerts | Tagged: American Spirit March, band, Bothell, brass, Canyon Creek, choir, Crystal Springs, Echo Lake, elementary, Eye of the Tiger, Fernwood, honors concert, instructional, instrumental, Janie McDavid, Kenmore Junior High, Meridian Park, musicians, Northshore Junior High, Northshore School District, orchestra, school, Shawn McGinn, Skyview Junior High, The Tempest, trombonists, trumpeters | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on December 23, 2010
Mr. McGinn leads the Jazz Band
Mr. Shawn McGinn, director of bands and orchestra at Skyview Jr. High in Bothell, wore a tuxedo with cummerbund, and the students were all dressed in solid black. That tells you how classy this concert was! It was held last Thursday in the 600-seat Northshore Performing Arts Center (NPAC), and the house was packed.
Like all of Mr. McGinn’s school concerts, this one was well-organized and well-rehearsed. The students knew what was coming and what to do when the time came…and they did it well! It was a very entertaining and impressive evening event.
More than anything, I am impressed with the breath and depth of the music program he is building. It has to be one of the best within the Northshore School District, and it’s getting bigger and better all the time. At this concert, the opening act was a self-directed jazz sextet with vocalist, and that was followed by the orchestra, conducted by Mr. McGinn. Next he led the 7th grade band, after which he conducted the 8th-9th grade band and the jazz band.
Wow! There are about 180 students under his tutelage. They are at about six levels of proficiency. Makes you wonder when and where all
The Orchestra
these groups practice. And remember, Mr. McGinn has been doing this for several years! That really pulls and stretches a teacher. Does this man have passion and drive? Does he have purpose? As an audience member, it’s a pleasure to witness all these people on stage, striving with their leader for excellence.
And just think: this is happening all over America and in some form or another, all over the world. Music is a giant. It pervades every culture. How did this come to be?—because the gifts of natural musical talent and ability are not rare. Yes, great talent is indeed quite rare, but many, many people worldwide are born with excellent musical talent and then develop outstanding abilities. It is quite common among us. Why? Is there some noble, universal purpose to this? For me, the answer is clearly yes—so we can express ourselves, so we can communicate with each other in infinite ways by infinite means, so we, too, can create beauty, so we can give and share among our communities. When we play our instruments and sing for others, even in the school cafeteria or NPAC or Husky Stadium, we are on the world stage.
Hear Ye, Hear Ye, Hear the Words of Aldous Huxley: After silence that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.
Jazz Band
7th Grade Band
8th-9th Grade Band
Trumpeter takes a solo
Another trumpeter solos
Another trumpeter solos
Opening Act: Jazz Sextet with Vocalist
Posted in School Concerts | Tagged: 7th Grade Band, 8th-9th grade band, Aldus Huxley, band, Bothell, Husky Stadium, jazz band, music, Northshore Performing Arts Center, Northshore School District, NPAC, Skyview Jr. High, trumpet, trumpeter | 2 Comments »
Posted by glennled on November 11, 2010
Thrilling Pre-Game Percussion Performance--Wow! Those Drummers!
The Stanford Cardinals skunked the University of Washington Huskies, 41-0, a couple of weeks ago. It was
Crushing half-time stats!
the Huskies’ first home shutout in 34 years (since 1976)! Our team stunk so bad that fans started leaving by half-time. No doubt, the cold rain made that an easy decision for many fans. But if you came for the bands and the music, then Husky Stadium smelled sweet as a rose, and you were entertained in high fashion. The half-time show, especially, was fantastic!
Husky Alumni Band
There were three bands at the game: UW Varsity Marching Band, UW Husky Alumni Band, and a visiting band named “Musica Grato Himi” from Himi, Japan. (As you know, I’m a proud member of the Alumni Band and stayed at the Stanford game to the bitter, cold, rainy end.)
The half-time show was spectacular! Not only was the music superb (from the movie, “Mama Mia”), but
also some 800 cheer and dance team members from 44 junior high and high schools performed on the field along with the UW Varsity Band and Musica Grato. The entire field was covered with enthusiastic, fit people in the most colorful uniforms! For more about cheer and dance squads, please see the next post on this blog.
Finale of the 2nd Annual UW Half-time Spirit Extravaganza
Some final notes about the Japanese band. Musica Grato is Italian for “give thanks to music.” In 2005, the UW
It was a sloppy game
Husky Marching Band performed in Himi, Japan, and Musica Grato performed in Seattle at both a Husky football game and at a concert with a band from the Northshore School District located in Bothell/Woodinville. Since Musica Grato was formed in 2003, it has steadily achieved magnificent results. Atop the list of their awards and honors are their performance at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China in 2008, and the Sudler Shield prize from the John Philip Sousa Foundation of America. During the 2010 trip to Seattle, they again performed a joint concert with the Northshore School District Band on Monday, 1 November, two days after the UW-Stanford football game.
The Huskies will come back
Posted in HMBAA - Husky Alumni Band | Tagged: bands, Bothell, Cardinals, drummers, Husky Alumni Band, Japan, John Philip Sousa Foundation of America, Mama Mia, Musica Grato Himi, Northshore School District, Stanford, Sudler Shield prize, University of Washington, UW, Varsity Marching Band, Woodinville | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on September 6, 2010
Concert, 8 June 2010 - L-to-R: 2nd-year band, jazz band, & 1st-year band
Wow, here’s a totally new experience for me! I’m now an assistant to the band director at Skyview Jr. High School in Bothell. He hired me for the 2010-11 school year to teach brass instruments to beginning band students from the local elementary schools which feed into that junior high. Each week, early in the morning, elementary band students will be bussed to Skyview for band classes. I’ll conduct rehearsals and teach the brass players (trumpet and trombone).
How did this happen? It’s all the result of a chain of events after I helped one of his band members last spring. Please go to “Archives” on the left side of this blog and click on “May 2010”; then find the post, “6th Grade Student Earns Quick Promotion!”
At that time, I wasn’t seeking a teaching position with any school, but I was (and am) seeking new students for private lessons. I met the band director, attended the concert in June, spoke to both his bands about private lessons during the summer—one thing led to another, and “Voila!”—here we are. This is gonna be fun! 🙂
Posted in Skyview Junior High | Tagged: band, Bothell, brass instruments, concert, jazz, Northshore School District, private lessons, Skyview Jr. High, trombone, trumpet | 12 Comments »
Glenn's Trumpet Notes 
