Winter Concert

The Choral Dept. will present their Winter Concert THIS Friday, Dec. 12th at 7:00pm at the Kimberly Church of God. The concert will feature 5 different choirs and will include a variety of music of the season. It is free and open to the public.

(Call time for all students is 6:30pm. Rhythmx and Vocé call time is 6:00pm.)

CONGRATS to the following:

Congratulations to the following students who were selected by individual audition for the 2009 Alabama All-State Chorus.

SATB: Ashlie Metcalf - A2
SSAA: Sarah Commer - A1
TTBB: Craig Bennett - B1
Parker Cantrell - T1
David Cunningham - B1
Stone Marsh - B1

These students will travel to Samford University Feb. 26-28th for the festival and concert.

Chaperones for District

The Chamber Choir will be traveling to Bluff Park United Methodist Church on Monday, Oct. 27th for District Performance Evaluations. We will need about 4 parents to chaperone (and ride the bus if possible) this trip. We will leave the school at 8:30am and return by 1:45pm. Please send me an email or call my cell if you can help out.

Zaxby's Spirit Night

THIS THURSDAY, October 16th will be the MJHS Choir Spirit Night at Zaxby's in G'dale. Please swing by and eat from 5:00-8:00PM and put your receipt in the buckets on the counter. We will get a percentage of the total receipts!! Spread the word.....

Cookie Dough & Cheesecake Delivery

All cheesecake and cookie dough will be delivered to the school on Wed, Oct. 15th. Please make plans to come by choir room and pick up your items. All monies should be collected when products are delivered. Make checks to MJHS.

CHAMBER CHOIR SPRING TRIP PARENT MEETING

All Parents of Chamber Choir members: We will have meeting in the choir room on Sunday October 19 at 3:00PM to discuss our Spring trip to Colorado Springs. Please make every effort to attend as we will be making decisions on all fundraisers, payment schedules and itinerary details. The trip is scheduled for April 23-26, 2009. Bring your calendars and lots of great ideas for fundraisers!!!

Vocé & Rhythmx rehearsals

7:00AM rehearsals will begin next week, Oct. 6th, for Rhythmx and Vocé. Only 2 absences are allowed for each student. Vocé rehearses on Mondays and Wednesdays and Rhythmx rehearses on Tuesdays and Fridays. Don't be late, as 2 tardies constitutes an absence! Drink much coffee!

All-State Show Choir

All-State Show Choir auditons will be held on Saturday, Oct. 18th at Bluff Park Methodist Church in Homewood. Students are responsible for transportation, but we will meet at MJHS to caravan together. We will leave the school at 9:15am and should be finished by lunch. Students who signed up for auditions are below:

Serah Millwood Jesilyn Loggins Lauren Armstrong Haylee Cornelius
Lindsay Knox Sydney Allums Heidi Cooke Ashlie Metcalf
Amanda Clements Beth Patillo Robbie Franks Miles Jenkins
David Cunningham

Rhythmx & Vocé Auditions

Auditions for Rhythmx (men's ensemble) and Vocé (women's ensemble) will be next week before and after school. There is a sign-up sheet on the wall in the choir room. Any Concert Choir member is eligible to audition. Results will be posted on Monday, Sept 22.

All-County Choir Members

Congrats to the Concert Choir members who were selected for All-County Choir. They are
Kaytie Etheredge, Marilyn Millican, Jesilyn Loggins, Lauren Armstrong, Jonathan Worcester, Parker Cantrell, Trent Martin and Zach Morro. We will be rehearse at 7:15am on the following days:

• M 9/22
• T 9/23
• W 9/24
• F 9/26
• M 9/29
• T 9/30
• W 10/1
• F 10/3

Every student MUST ATTEND ALL REHEARSALS or they will be replaced.

Attire

Attire orders will be placed soon. New members, please bring $ for your dress or tuxedo. Cost for new dress is $90; cost for new tux is $110 (Checks to MJHS) If you have found a used dress or tux to buy from an "old" member, please let me know so that I do not order you anything. Also, existing members need to try on their tux/dress from last year and make sure it still fits. I can order single items for the guys if need be.

All-State Choir Auditions

All-State music and CDs are in for those who signed up for auditions. Please be diligent in your practice and learn a little bit at a time. Cramming never works!!! If you want more info on All-State Choir go to www.alavocal.org and on the Right column click "All-State Choir". Also, if you did not sign up with me and would like to audition (All-State Show Choir Auditions will be Sat, Oct 18th/Regular All-State Choir auditions will be Tues, Nov 18th), please let me know ASAP and I will get you music and a CD.

AMEA Performance Time

The Chamber Choir will perform at the Alabama Music Educator's Conference at the University of Alabama on Thursday, January 22, 2009 at 11:00AM in the Moody Concert Hall. This is a prestigious accomplishment for this group. Parents, make sure to take off work and attend this 30 minute concert of these fabulous young musicians.

What's Going On....

Although I sent a hard-copy home with the students, I understand that most parents never see such a document. So, click below to get a printable calendar for the year. I will let you know of any changes, if and when they occur. Also, parents, please note the dates of events that I will need assistance with chaperoning and driving.

2008-2009 Choir Calendar of Events

Choir Handbooks

Parents: I have sent "hard copy" handbooks home this week. You should take the time to read over the material as many questions will be addressed, including grading procedure, attire purchases, etc. On the back page is a "Notice of Receipt" to be signed by both you and your child. Please return to me ASAP. If your child is a bit, let's say, unorganized, click on the following links to get to the handbook you need:

Concert Choir Handbook
Chamber Choir Handbook

As always, please let me know of any concerns or questions. Email is the easiest method of communication, but you are welcome to call and leave a message and I will get back with you.
Mrs. Heron

Congratulations Chamber Choir

The MJHS Chamber Choir was selected (by application, including past recordings, programs, and recommendations) to perform at the Alabama Music Educator's Association (AMEA) State Conference in January at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. This is a prestigious opportunity and will be heard by an audience of music educators from all over the state.
Way to continue to "go beyond what is expected..."

Back to Making Music

Parents & Students,
I am SO excited about this year and all the new changes! Although there will be some initial confusion and "getting used to", I am certain that the year will bring much more opportunity for learning and growing. I am working on assimilating a schedule for the year and will send it home with students on Monday (and Tuesday) of next week. We will be extremely busy this year, so make sure to mark all events on your calendars. I have already sent home our Choir Handbook, so please read, sign and return the back page. Parents, if you have any questions for me, please call me (my cell # is in the handbook) or email me. Also, if you don't already know, I am trying for National Board Certification this year, so please keep me in your prayers! (grin) I look forward to many months of fabulous music. --Mrs. Heron

Chamber Choir 2008-2009

Congratulations to the new members of Chamber Choir! We had some outstanding students that auditioned, eight of which scored high enough to become a member. Thanks to all who worked hard, stressed out, and went through the audition. I heard some really fine progress and many of you will certainly be ready by auditions next year. Hang in there!!

New members are:
Soprano: Ali Pichelmayer, Amanda Clements
Alto: Kayla Shotts, Sarah Commer
Tenor: Stone Marsh, Miles Jenkins
Bass: Coley Quinn, Blake Smith

Great job! Pick up your audition results/materials and new members get handbook agreement back to Mrs. Heron by Friday.

Chamber Choir auditions

Chamber Choir auditions for 2008-2009 will be held May 5-6 after school in the choir room. Please sign up for an audition time by next Wednesday, April 30th. Audition results will be posted Wednesday, May 7th. FYI: Please bring a blank CD to your audition.

Spring Concert

The Choral Department Spring Concert will be Tuesday, May 13th at 7:00PM at the Kimberly Church of God. The program, entitled "Things of the Night" will feature Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, Vocé, Rhythmx, and guest ensemble "Connect4".

San Antonio awards

The Chamber Choir received ALL Superior scores at the San Antonio competition. They also received the "Spirit of San Antonio" Award, given to, out of all the bands and choirs at the festival, the group who best represented their school, community and state in a respectful and commendable manner. Hey, not only can they sing fabulously, they know how to act too!! Much thanks to the parent chaperones on the trip--You made my job easy!!

Chamber Choir to San Antonio

The Chamber Choir will be leaving (VERY EARLY) Thursday morning, April 17th to fly to San Antonio, TX to compete in a national competition. Check back next week and find out how they "fared" in the Lone Star State. Also, there was an article about the trip in the "North News" section of the Birmingham News last Wednesday (4/9)--you can check it out at the al.com website.

All-State Concert

If anyone would like some extra credit points, a great concert opportunity is the All-State Choir concert. It will be at Samford University in the Wright Center (large auditorium in front with columns) at 2 PM, Sat, March 15. Be sure and get an extra-credit sheet to fill out and turn in with a copy of the program.

Boston butts

All Chamber students who sold Jim n Nicks boston butts are to be in the Jim n Nicks parking lot at 7AM Saturday (3/15) morning to pick them up. Bring large coolers to put them in and keep them warm until you deliver them. Don't be late!!

MJHS Choir makes the news!

The Choir at MJHS has a fabulous article in the Birmingham News on Feb 6th. The article is in the "North News" section. Dana Jaffe, the reporter, did an excellent job in writing the article. You can check out the article on al.com by doing a search for Mortimer Jordan, or see the article attached to this blog.

Zaxby's Spirit Night

Thursday Night, January 31st. End the month by eating dinner at Zaxby's and supporting the FABULOUS choral department on Thursday night. A percentage of all sales between 5PM & 8PM will go to the choir, so tell all you know to eat at Zaxby's THIS Thursday night!

Chamber Choir Parent Meeting

There will be a parent meeting in the choir room on Sunday, January 20 at 3:00PM. We will discuss the Spring Trip to San Antonio and all details concerning price, itinerary, and fundraisers. Parents, please make every effort to be there and bring your calendar.