Yearly Archives: 2010

Today Sarah and the Metea Valley Marching Band boarded buses for Orlando!  They are going to march in the Magic Kingdom Main Street Parade on Sunday afternoon and they are all SO excited!  They have been looking forward to this for months!  I’m sure they’ll keep themselves busy during the 36 hour drive!  🙂

After Sarah got dropped off and we did a little house cleaning, Angela took the older kids (I stayed home with Ben while he napped) and went to see “How to Train Your Dragon” at the theater.  They really liked it.

We’ll miss you Sarah!  We can’t wait until you get back home on Wednesday!

Congratulations Brittany and Sarah!  Today we found out that both Brittany and Sarah made it into higher audition groups in high school next year!   They are so excited!  Sarah was the most worried she wouldn’t make it but was extremely relieved when the results of the auditions came back!

We are very impressed with the music programs in our district.  Sarah has just loved band at Metea this year and is looking forward to being in it next year (hopefully also as a marching leader in the marching band).  Brittany is looking forward to orchestra at Metea, because we have one of the best orchestra directors in the country.  Mr. Liu was at Waubonsie last year and came to Metea this year.  The kids at Waubonsie are still really sad that he left, but what a blessing for us!

Tonight, Sarah and the rest of the Metea Valley High School freshman and sophomore fine arts students performed the school’s first “Collage” concert in the new auditorium, with more than 300 students participating in two consecutive shows to accommodate the massive crowds that poured in.

We were all awestruck by the sounds of the various instruments from the Symphony Orchestra, String Quartet, Symphonic Bands, Symphonic Winds, Jazz Ensemble, Steel Bands and Percussion Ensembles. Accompanying the musicians were the Cecillian Singers, Bass Chorus, Concert Choir, Vocal Jazz Ensemble and United Voices.

The various ensembles were strategically positioned around the auditorium to awaken the senses of listeners as the various lights and sounds moved about the room.

It was amazing that a school right now of only sophomore and freshman students did so well.  It sounded GREAT!  Angela volunteered to help out with the programs (she directed people as they came in the main doors) and I brought the kids.

Keep up the GREAT work, Sarah!

Today, Kirstyn had a reader’s theater in school, where she acted as Master of Ceremonies!  She was very excited to do this and did a GREAT job!  The theater was a collection of readings about famous African Americans.  They were:  1)  Phyllis Wheatley and the Famous Poets of Yesterday, The Tuskegee Airmen, The Great Migration, and The Scientists Hall of Fame.  Not only was she the MC for the entire program, but she was also the main narrator for the Tuskegee Airmen reading.  Unfortunately, I had to work, but Angela was able to go see her performance.  Go Kirstyn!

Today Sarah went to Downer’s Grove North High School and participated in the Illinois State Solo and Ensemble Festival.  She played a very hard piece that her private flute lesson teacher had given her (at least it looked incredibly hard to me)!  She did a great job and the judge was impressed!  🙂  Naturally, she said that she made some mistakes but if she did, I didn’t hear them.  I just want to be the proud dad!  🙂

Keep up the GREAT work Sarah!