The internationally known St. Olaf Orchestra from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., will perform at Lassiter High School on Saturday, February 7, 2015 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and seniors, students are free. Tickets can be purchased at stolaftickets.com, or by calling 1-800-363-5487. Called “one of the best college orchestras in the nation” by Time magazine’s Richard Ostling, the St. Olaf Orchestra is known for its passionate music-making and professional-level performances. The orchestra’s tour of Georgia and Florida this winter will feature a repertoire that includes Dvorak’s brilliant Carnival Overture, Tchaikovsky’s lively “Dance of the Jesters” from The Snow Maiden, and Rimsky-Korsakov’s masterful Scheherazade. Two students will also be performing solos with the orchestra, rotating throughout the tour.

The St. Olaf Orchestra, led by conductor Steven Amundson, was recently named the winner of the 2013 American Prize for Orchestral Performance among colleges and
universities. As part of the internationally acclaimed St. Olaf Christmas Festival, the Orchestra has been broadcast on PBS and public radio stations nationwide.

In addition to performing throughout the United States, and notably as Garrison Keillor’s guest on broadcasts of A Prairie Home Companion in 2001 and 2011, the
St. Olaf Orchestra has performed internationally in Norway, Austria, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Switzerland, Spain, and China. They plan to tour Argentina in 2016.

Steven Amundson is in his 34th year on the faculty of St. Olaf College, where in addition to leading the orchestra, he teaches courses in music theory and conducting. Before  arriving in Minnesota in 1981, he served as the music director of the Tacoma Youth Symphony and was the music director and conductor of the Bloomington (MN) Symphony. In addition to guest conducting many of this country’s All-State orchestras, Amundson has served as a guest conductor for the Interlochen National Arts Camp and several professional orchestras, including the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. In the 1980 International Conducting Competition hosted by the Mozarteum and Austrian National Radio, Amundson won the first (Hans Häring) prize. In 1992, the Minnesota Music Educators Association named him “Orchestra Educator of the Year.”

2015 Winter Tour
St. Olaf Orchestra

Saturday, February 7, 8:00 p.m.

Lassiter High School
Shared concert with the Lassiter Chamber Orchestra
Marietta, GA

It’s that wonderful time of year where 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade music are filled with the sound of recorders!  As parents, I know you have a lot of questions about what your child needs to bring.  Please read the questions and answers below and don’t hesitate to contact me with other questions.

Mr. G

WHEN ARE WE STARTING RECORDERS?

–          We are starting recorders this week in most classes, but next week for the rest of 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th grade.

MATERIALS NEEDED (students need to have these at EVERY music class)

–          Recorder

–          “Be A Record Star” (book) by: Ed Sueta

–          Pencil – students should bring their own pencil and keep it in their recorder case.

***Write names on all materials in permanent marker***

HOW LONG WILL THE RECORDER UNIT LAST?

–          Students should plan to bring recorders to music class for the rest of year.

CAN STUDENTS BRING RECORDERS HOME?

–          Yes, students should practice rhythms, note fingerings, and playing their recorders at home.  They must remember to bring them back to school when they have music class.

WHAT HAPPENS IF A CHILD FORGETS HIS/HER RECORDER OR BOOK?

–          1^st time – Student signs the “I forgot my recorder log” and may use one of my class instruments/books

–          2^nd time – Student receives a letter to be taken home, signed, and returned about remembering recorders for music class.  Student will still sign the log and be allowed to use a class instrument/book.

–          3^rd time and beyond – Student receives a letter to be taken home AND student loses a participation point for not having all of his or her materials ready for class.  Student will still sign the log and be allowed to use a class instrument/book.

WHAT IF MY CHILD DOES NOT HAVE A RECORDER?

–          Proceed to your nearest music store and see if they have the needed supplies or can order for you.

–          You can also look on Amazon.com to order.

Welcome to 2015 and to the new music website!!!

There are still some things that are a work in progress, but very soon I hope to have some detailed information in each of the areas you see on the above menu.

As of right now, you will need to follow a link to the music calendar as I have not been able to embed that just yet; however, I hope to have that fixed before too long.