The Fiddlers could not have ordered up a better night for the first ever Muskegon Street Performers, sunny in the mid 70’s!! The Fiddlers took control of the SW corner of the Muskegon Farmers Market with some limited dancing from the Country Fresh Dairy Cow, many passerby’s, and large groups in the shade enjoying the show.
The Fiddlers set was bitter sweet, it was the last performance for our graduated seniors. The Fiddlers dusted off some old tunes we had not heard in awhile and some new arrangements to this years set list. You can check out our Facebook page for a couple audio samples of last night set.
If you missed last night Fiddler set you will have a few more opportunities later this summer. The Fiddlers are in transition now as our Class of 2016 leaves and our incoming freshmen join but you will be able to catch them with their new look and sound later this summer at Sparta Irish Fest, Roosevelt Park Days, and Michigan Music Irish Fest.
On May 24th, 2016 the Mona Shores Middle School Orchestras performed their Spring Concert. Mr. Mosley directed and presented awards to the 6th and 8th Grade Orchestras and Mrs. DeRose did the same with the 7th Grade Orchestra. Here are a few pictures from the night, more can be found on our Flickr Page.
High School Orchestra students are working in Small Ensemble Groups for the remainder of the year. Here are pictures of them practicing, in no particular order.
The Mona Shores High School Fiddlers are taking to the streets of Muskegon as a Street Performer on June 3, 2016, 6pm-8pm. The Fiddlers will be performing in the SW corner of the Muskegon Farmers Market. Bring a lawn chair and grab some dinner as most of the food vendors will be at the Farmers Market as well. Mark your calendars now for some a night of great entertainment.
The 2016 High School Spring Concert and Awards Ceremony was an amazing show. Mrs. DeRose said “The concert is bittersweet. The 8th grade orchestra sounds great, I can’t wait to work with them. The seniors are such amazing group of people I am sad to see them go but excited for them as they leave Mona Shores.”
8th Grade Orchestras
Mr. Mosley’s Eighth Grade Orchestra open the concert with Richard Meyer’s Geometric Dances.
Concert Orchestras
The Mrs. DeRose’s High School Concert Orchestra took the stage starting the evening musical theme of Tributes. They played Andrew Dabcynski’s arrangement of An Armed Forces Tribute, Jon Williams The Olympic Spirt, and a Beatles Melody.
Mona Shores FiddlersGreg Beaudoin introducing Amran nut de Caerlaverock
The Mona Shores Fiddlers played two tunes. One original piece Amran nut de Caerlaverock by our own Greg Beaudoin. This piece was first performed by the Fiddlers at 2016 Collage Concert but tonight we got the touching explanation on how Amran nut de Caerlaverock is a tribute to his family. The Fiddlers finished night with a new version of Jackie Tar.
Symphonic Orchestra
The Symphonic Orchestra continued the tribute theme with John Phillip Sousa’s Stars and Stripes Forever and a Tribute To John Williams adapted by Paul Lavender. Tribute To John Williams was accompanied with a video arranged by Mr. Dave Droski and Jacob gravel.
Combined Orchestra performing Finale from Symphony No 45
The Combined Orchestras played Franz Hayden’s The Finale from Symphony No 45, arranged by Richard Meyer with the musicians turn off their stand lights when leaving the stage as they played leaving only the Seniors at the end.
2016 Senior Strings
The Senior Strings presented some touching gifts to Mrs. DeRose and performed Jupiter From The Planets by Gustav Holst, arr. Deborah Baker Monday.
Shelby Sikes introducing Jupiter from the Planets
Margaret Henrikson and Emily Morris presenting Mrs. DeRose with a Senior Gift
2015-2016 Awards:
National Orchestra Award: Dale Liddle
Directors Award: Margaret Henrikson
Outstanding Fiddler Award: Greg Beaudoin
MSBOA Scholar Musician Award: Paul Young
Edquist Memorial Fund Scholarship Awards: Dale Liddle, Emily Morris, & Paul Young
The link below is to the PDF file of the latest Student Account Balance Sheet. If you have any questions about the balance please contact Kathy Morris, MSOPA Student Account Treasurer
The annual general membership meeting of the Mona Shores Orchestra Parent Association will take place at 6:55 PM on Tuesday, May 10 just prior to the High School Spring Concert in the High School Performing Arts Center. Agenda items include voting in the board of directors for 2016 – 2017 school year. All parents with an active student in the orchestra program is eligible to vote.
Thank you in advance for your participation in our annual meeting.
Sincerely,
MSOPA Board
Karen Grace, President
Erin Kuhn, Vice President
Angela Oullette, General Accounts Treasurer
Alexis Liddle, Secretary
The Mona Shores Orchestra Parent Association has teamed up with Harvey and Matt Anderson of the Meat Block to help our organization and our students raise money. The attached order form lists seven delicious ways you can support our orchestra. $5 of each product ordered will be given back to the orchestra, and half of that
$5 will be placed in the student account of the seller. Simply fill in the name and phone number of the customer and clearly mark the selected product. Money should be collected at the time orders are placed and checks should be made payable to Mona Shores Orchestra Parents Association (MSOPA). All order forms with payment must be turned in by Monday, May 9. Products must be picked up by the seller on Monday, May 16, from 4:30 5:30 PM, in the high school east parking lot (by the orchestra room). Any orders not picked up during this time will be shipped back to the Meat Block and can be picked up at a later date.
ALL ORDER FORMS MUST BE TURNED IN TO YOUR ORCHESTRA TEACHER BY: MONDAY, MAY 9
Thank you for your continued support of the Mona Shores Orchestra Program!
Milan at last or as they say in Italy “Milano, Finalmente!” Milan is our last city of our Italian tour and this is our last day before our travel home begins.
Piazza della Scala
Our day began with a short bus ride through the Brera neighborhood where many artists, fashion designers, people of influence in the design/art world, etc. live and then a short walk to Plazza della Scala. From the Plazza we began our guided walking tour where we were able to view the La Scala (The Opera House), Gallerie D’Italia and the entrance to the Victor Emmanuel II Galleria.
Galleria
We made our way into the impressive Galleria Victor Emmanuel II. This impressive Galleria was this first of the modern era of a unified Italy built by the King, Victor Emmanuel II who either fatally fell or was pushed from the top of 4 Story Glass Dome. Since the beginning of the Galleria it has been home for the luxury shops of Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Prada. Our tour was briefly stopped for a quick limbo contest that some street entertainers were conducting to earn a few Euros, some in our group did an amazing job.
Limo Contest
Galleria
Galleria
From the Galleria looking at the Duomo
Milan Duomo
From the Galleria we made our way to Plazza Duomo. This is Milan’s main square and is very large. We made our away around the impressive and very large Duomo. The Duomo is a 14th century church and is the fourth largest church in Europe. The sculptures and the “Lego style” uniquely cut bricks make the structure very unique.
Duomo
Duomo
A walk through the Plazza del Duomo to our journey through the Brera Neighborhood ended in the courtyard of the Brera Gallery. The Gallery houses some of the top Italian collection of paintings as well as Napoleon’s looted art. The Gallery is also a very prestigious art college and it was graduation day when we visited. There were many graduates walking with their families in their graduation gowns and a wreath on their head.
Sforza Castle
From the Gallery we made our way deeper into the Brera neighborhood to get to the Sforza Castle. This brick 13th century military castle is a fortress within a fortress. It has a gate and city walls to protect from foreign enemies with a Renaissance palace inside another fortress to protect the Royals from enemies “within” the city walls. From outside the castle you can see the Branca Tower across the Palazzo Dell’Arte.
Sforza Castle
Sforza Castle
Sforza Castle
Sforza Castle
Sforza Palace
Branca Tower
Branca Tower
Piazza CastelloPiazza Castello
Our tour ended back at our original entrance of Sforza Castle at the Piazza Castello. From here we were able to venture out on our own to shop at the high end stores, lunch, or explore more landmarks in detail. This would also be our meeting spot to leave for our last Italian diner at Restaurant Da Cecco.
Diner at Restaurant Da Cecco.
Diner at Restaurant Da Cecco.
Diner at Restaurant Da Cecco.
This was our last day in Italy. We had amazing weather, on a great trip, with a great group of people!! The only bad part of the trip was the air travel and the delays. For more information on the trip visit the previous Italian Day Trips Postings or view more pictures of the trip visit our Flickr Italy Group Page.
Day 7, Thursday, April 7, 2016: A day in Cremona and then travel to Milan for our final city in Italy.
Duomo di Cremona, Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta
We started our day with a guided walking tour of Cremona. Cremona is a northern Italian city with a long rich history since 400 BC that has been occupied, destroyed (Natural or War), and been rebuilt over the years but rich in Romanesque-Gothic art. The tour began outside a clothing store where a window beneath our feet to view a lower level revealing the original Roman Era streets, shows how the city has been rebuilt on the rubble.
The tour took us to the Piazza del Comune where Duomo di Cremona, Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assent is. In the Piazza we are able to see how the Church and the local government occupy the Piazza this has had much influence on the city. Streets from the Piazza we able to see one of the many store fronts of master local violin makers.
Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assent
We able to enter Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assent and get a small tour of the Frescoes on the walls. The cathedral is home some of the oldest frescoes, from the late 14th and 15th century, portraying the Life of Mary and Jesus.
Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assent
Our guided tour ended at the Stradivari Museo del Violino. Here we able to see many priceless Stradivari instruments on display, learn the history of the instruments, process/tools into making the instruments, the important elements of the instruments, and much much more.
Birthday Girl
After lunch on our own, we made our way to Milan for late afternoon arrival. We had free time to take on some of the incredible shopping of Milan before dinner at Restaurant Scorpion. Dinner this night also included a Birthday Celebration for Alexis.
Note: Pictures and details of the trip will be posted over the next several days in chronological order of the trip.
More pictures of Day1-7 are on our Flickr Italy Group Page.
Birthday Girl
Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assent
Duomo di Cremona, Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta
