BHS Music Boosters General Membership Meetings to Begin This Tuesday

The BHS Music Boosters Association will hold the first general membership meeting of the 2010/2011 year on Tuesday night, September 14th, at 7:30 in the BHS Band Room.

Come hear about plans for our big fund raiser of the year, the November 6th Gala Benefit Concert featuring "The New England Tenors" and the BHS Chorus and Select Singers. Other plans for the year to be discussed include a new music scholarship and we hope you will take part in helping to institute it!

We are also looking for volunteers to bring snacks to the football games and will have sign up sheets at the meeting. If you have a conflict that evening, please contact Shirley Fong to volunteer at shirltalk@aol.com.

The Music Boosters Association encourages the participation of parents and guardians of both band and chorus students! Come and see what we are all about!

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL? BHS Home Opener Against Billerica in Woburn This Saturday, 9/11

The 2009-2010 BHS Red Devils Marching Band

Burlington High School Red Devils football season begins tomorrow night with the traditional opening game rivalry against Billerica. Although it is a home game, home turf will be at Woburn High School due to construction on Varsity Field. Kickoff is 6:00 pm. See the sidebar for directions.

The Burlington High School Marching Band will be featured during the half-time show with its newest members, the class of 2014!

Band members will be treated during intermission to snacks and drinks provided by the Music Boosters.

The Music Boosters encourage everyone to come out, make some noise and cheer the team and Marching Band on at this exciting season opener!

Welcome to the FOGELBERG PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Great news, Music Boosters friends!

The School Committee members have unanimously voted to change the name of Fogelberg Auditorium to Fogelberg Performing Arts Center!

The decision was made based on an appeal in the middle of June to Dr. Conti by one of our own Music Boosters members . 

The following is the text of an article that appeared in the Wednesday, September 8 edition of the Burlington Daily Times Chronicle as reported by Mark Biagiotti.

BURLINGTON - During its recent meeting, the School Committee voted unanimously in favor of renaming Fogelberg Auditorium at Burlington High School to the Fogelberg Performing Arts Center.

School Supt. Dr. Eric Conti stated the new name would reflect the change from an auditorium to a professional performance venue that hosts plays, recitals, and concerts.

“Renaming the auditorium to the Fogelberg Performing Arts Center will help improve the marketing aspect of the facility,” said Conti, as he noted some of the improvements and upgrades that have been implemented to the auditorium over the years which include new seating, new lighting, and a new sound system.

It was noted that the facility has dressing rooms, fly space, and an orchestra pit.

The School Committee, as a whole, felt the name change is a great idea and all the members fully supported it.

Chairman Christine Monaco offered a gesture of humor when she congratulated the late Ed Fogelberg on the “upgraded” name change of his auditorium.

“If you are watching this Ed, [Fogelberg], congratulations because you just got upgraded,” said Monaco.

On with the performances!!!

STUDENT AUDITIONS: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE

The Burlington High School Drama Club will hold auditions for It's a Wonderful Life on September 14 from 6:30-9:00 pm and September 15 from 2:45-5:00 pm in the Fogelberg Performing Arts Center. Performance dates are December 4 at 7:30 pm and December 5 at 2:00 pm.

Directed by Jennifer Lavin Howard of the Burlington Players, It's a Wonderful Life has been adapted from the film by Frank Capra and features 20 roles plus an ensemble playing multiple characters.

Character descriptions and a complete synopsis are available on Facebook at "BHS Drama Club IT"S A WONDERFUL LIFE Auditions". For more information, students can contact Mr. Middleton in the Music Department.

IT'S OFFICIAL: NEW MUSIC BOOSTERS ASSN. EXECUTIVE BOARD TAKES SHAPE

The Burlington High School Music Boosters Association is pleased to announce its Executive Board members for the 2010-2011 school year.

President: Donna Gregorio
Vice President for Band: Brenda Cahoon
Vice President for Chorus: Maryellen Schissler
Secretary: Vicki Kikuchi
Treasurer: Sue Frost
Members at Large: Steve Parker, Faydeen Sateriale

Committee Chairs are as follows:
Publicity and Blog: Vanessa Ovian
Fund Raising: Shirley Fong, Rebecca Cote annd Carol Sheldon
Hospitality: Shirley Fong and Phyllis Fleishman

The first general meeting for the BHS Music Boosters Association will take place on Tuesday, September 14 at 7:30 in the band room of the high school. An overview of the year will be presented and will include the upcoming Gala Benefit Concert and Silent Auction, scholarships for band and chorus members, and several other important issues.

All parents and/or guardians of BHS Marching Band, Dance Squad, Color Guard and BHS Chorus and Select Chorus students are invited to attend this meeting.

WELCOME BACK MUSIC BOOSTERS!

Photos of band camp courtesy of Shirley Fong

The BHS Music Boosters are excited to begin a new school year supporting the music program at Burlington High School. There are lots of things in store this year. Following is the welcome back letter that will be sent to all music parents. We hope to see you all at the first Music Boosters general meeting on September 14 in the Band Room of the high school.

August 28, 2010

Dear Parents:

Welcome! As the parent or guardian of a student in the Burlington High School Marching Band or Chorus, you are an automatic member of the BHS Music Boosters Association. We invite you to participate in any or all of the activities of the Association. By doing so, you support the education and well-being of your high school students.

Those of you who are new to the high school will be excited to see that BHS offers an outstanding music program of concerts, musicals, banquets, parades, and other performances throughout the year. The BHS Music Boosters is committed to providing support, financial and otherwise, to the BHS music students, and to this program of events. Through our fundraising efforts, we are the only Burlington High School association to provide a scholarship to all marching band seniors, including dance squad and color guard members, that are going on to higher education.

Participation in the Boosters is a great way to be included behind the scenes in events that your child cares about! Parents carry water at parades, help with instruments and equipment at football games, bake, build or paint sets for the stage performances, help with publicity, sell balloons, and much more.

We desperately need participation in our general meetings to make and vote on decisions that affect your students – decisions that range from candy sales to scholarship amounts. There are five general meetings a year, they will be held the second Tuesday of every other month. The first general meeting will be held Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 7:30 PM in the band practice room. We encourage you to join us for this first meeting.

Enclosed you will find a copy of the BHS Music Boosters By Laws, the Music Department Schedule for school year 2010 - 2011, and directions to “away” football games and other events. Please note that due to construction on the Burlington Varsity Field, all home games will be played at Woburn High School. The attached schedule is current as of the current date and differs from the Band Schedule that was mailed over the summer. For the latest on the football schedule, go to: http://www.highschoolsports.net/Team/Burlington-High-School-Burlington-MA/Football/Varsity/Boys/. Through additional communication and email updates, we will do our best to keep you informed of current events and happenings. If you are not already receiving email announcements, please send your email address to me at dgregorio20@gmail.com or call at 781-272-8280.

A Contact Information/Volunteer Form is also enclosed. Please update your information and indicate the activities you would enjoy helping with. Please bring it to the first meeting, or mail it to the address provided.

Thanks to all in advance. We are looking forward to a great year!

Sincerely
Donna D. Gregorio
BHS Music Boosters President

Don't Be Late For This Very Important Date: BEST Kids perform Disney's "Alice in Wonderland, Jr."

Burlington Educational Summer Theatre (BEST), a program of the Burlington Public Schools, is thrilled to return with its final production of the season, Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland, Jr.” The performances will take place at 2:00 and 7:00 pm on Saturday, July 24 in the Fogelberg Auditorium of Burlington High School.

Who doesn’t know the story of Alice and her madcap adventures as she follows White Rabbit into Wonderland? Join her as she experiences a host of zany characters including the DoDo Bird, the Tweedles, the Queen of Hearts, the Caterpillar and the Cheshire Cat. Described by MTI as a “fast-paced stage adaptation of Alice in Wonderland,” the production “features updated dialogue and new arrangements of such classic Disney songs as ‘I'm Late,’ ‘The Un-birthday Song’ and ‘Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah.’”

A family-friendly production, the BEST Kids’ performance of “Alice in Wonderland, Jr.” will feature more than 60 students from Burlington schools ranging in age from seven to thirteen, with Rachel Seeley in the lead role of Alice, along with Sydney Matai as Small Alice and Emma Saltsman as Tall Alice. Also included in principal roles are Elana Schlansky as the White Rabbit and Katherine Ellis as the Mad Hatter; playing Caterpillars are Mia Campbell, Kacey Ridley, Gabrielle Corsino, Tyler Gnerre and Ashley Blathras; Cheshire Cats are played by Amanda Wagreich, Kaitlyn Brine and Cassidy Cummings. Also in featured roles are Amanda McCombs as the Dodo Bird, Madison Carter as the Doorknob, Mikaila Gnerre as Lilly and Ivy Saltsman as the March Hare. Also, Jade Gordon plays Mathilda, Jessica Gordon plays Rose and Jordyn Nobrega plays Petunia. Playing the roles of the King and Queen of Hearts are Michael Seeley and Emily Bertolami; and, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum will be played by Rachel Czerwinski and Emily Frost.

The BEST production of “Disney’s Alice in Wonderland, Jr.” has a sizable ensemble with members playing the roles of Magical Characters, Flowers, Sea Creatures, Royal Cardsmen, the Tweedle Entourage, the Tea Party Entourage and the Park Children. The members of the ensemble are: Kerry Alexander, Sara Cannalonga, Casey Damon, Annie Ellis, Sasha Festi, Marlea Gainley, Shaylinn Gainley, Mari Gedick, Elisa Gonzalez, Kailee Heffler, Jessica Poulin and Carlee Wickwire. Also included are Bridgette Sullivan, Lindsay Corbett, Scott Czerwinski, Mary Hanafin, Daniel Harrigan, Matthew Harrigan, Serina Khalifa, Shane Manfredi, Glen Middleton-Cox, Samantha Murphy, Juliana Nigro, Stephen Nigro, Nicole Noonan, Christina Raposo, Jessica Sarver, Isabella Seeley, Caitlin Shea and Claudia Webb. Additionally, Theresa Chai, Kylie DeVarney, Joseph Godin, Erin Hardy, Kelliann Keaney, Olivia LoPreste, Jillian Murray and Annalisa Petrizzi.

Burlington Educational Summer Theatre is a summer program of the Burlington Public Schools that offers a professionally produced educational theatre experience for students. The program is in its second year under the guidance of BEST Executive Director John Middleton-Cox, a highly regarded theatre professional and music educator. Joining Middleton-Cox for the production of Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland Jr.” are Jeanne Coroniti (Fox Hill Elementary School’s music teacher) as Artistic and Music Director, Jamie Jaffe (Fox Hill classroom teacher) as Production Director, and Leanne Reardon (Assistant Director for Suzanne’s Dance Connection in Burlington) as Choreographer. Returning to BEST Kids this year are professional set designer Peter Waldron and award-winning costume designer Maureen Krebs.

BEST staff also includes a number of high school students and graduates, all veterans of Burlington High School productions, in roles as crew members and counselors. They are led by Kevin Parker as House Manager, Stage Manager Tori Carrabino, along with stage crew members Joseph Nosak, Jacinda Pedersen, Daryn Starkey, Nick Stewart and Sam Cote. Eva Costanza returns as a vocal coach, Eric Leva is the rehearsal accompanist, Chris LaRocque is the Sound Technician and Samantha Goober is the lighting technician. They are joined by Andrew Frost, Emily Martin, Caroline Coe, Zaven Ovian and Samantha Ellis.

Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland, Jr.” will be performed in the newly renovated 800-seat, air conditioned Fogelberg Auditorium of Burlington High School, located at 123 Cambridge Street, Burlington. Reserved seating tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and senior citizens and can be purchased at http://www.burlingtontickets.org/. For more information please call 781-A-FUN-TIC. Fogelberg Auditorium is handicapped accessible (please phone 781-270-1860 for special assistance).