Prep Winter Recital

The Prep classes performed for parents and friends with great success! Good job for a first time on stage---everyone smiled, sang, played instruments, and the grand finale was Jingle Bells!

Grade 1 Choir At Its Best

Congratulations to Grade 1 Choir! Your concert was beautiful and we are so proud of you! Students performed in English, Italian, German, and Spanish, accompanied by Esther Sofaer on piano and many percussion instruments. Have wonderful holidays!

Nursery and Kinder Shine

Kinder had its first appearance on stage last week in their Winter Recital-Open House on the Ambrit stage. Everyone was happy to appear and show what they do when they are in music class. Their happy smiles were great to see as they sang Feliz Navidad and other winter and Hannukah songs.

Nursery had their Open House concert in the music room. The room was packed with parents and many cameras and videocams to record their first performance. Everybody had a snack of Christmas treats afterwards.

Scuola Modugno Visits Ambrit

It was about time! Our friends from the Scuola Modugno have hosted our choir and ensemble tours to Puglia twice, and on Wednesday, December 11 they came all the way up from Monopoli to visit us and sing a most memorable concert. Three hundred and fifty Ambrit students were an excellent audience to the full-length concert offered by the singers who range from 8-18 years old. Under the direction of Angela Formica, the performance included clever arrangements of Italian and spiritual Christmas songs, followed by a selection of show tune hits. The students introduced the music themselves in English. Afterwards they mixed and mingled with the Ambrit students over panetone and pandoro in the atrium. In spite of the rainy weather, we had a wonderful time hosting them, and hope that their tour of Rome isn't too wet! Congratulations, Monopoli singers, and come back!

Piano and Friends Annual Concert

The Piano and Friends annual concert of primarily classical music was given in mid-November. The concert celebrated the first birthday of the beautiful grand piano and showed off our music teachers and music friends. The program included the Mozart Andante in C (Nicola Gilbert on flute), Mendelssohn Song Without Words (Rose Bruno on piano), Schubert allegro from Sonatina n. 2 (Damion Wallace on violin), Pete Sheppard played drums to Bach Gavotte and Gigue (Paige Short accompanying on piano), Esther Sofaer played the Etude Tableaux Op. 39, n. 9 by Rachmaninoff, Stan Adams performed his fabulous arrangements of Disney and Beatles on trombone, soprano Maria Infante sang "Don't Be Anything Else" and the Mozart Rondo from Kegelstatt Trio K.498 (Yvonne Fisher on clarinet, Ginger Izzo on viola). The Ambrit choir singers sang I Love A Piano to the four-hand accompaniment by Nicky and Rose. A great evening, especially because it raised over €1000 for the Suffyan Koroma sickle-cell anemia fund.
Our piano has lots of friends!

Grades 4 and 5 On Stage

Grades 4 and 5 performed at Ambrit December 2 to a full house! Parents heard music in several languages and were proud of the great singing and playing. Soloists featured Aurora, Stefan, Antoine and Sofia. So much talent packed into one concert!

Ambrit String Orchestra Hits Ambrit

The Ambrit String Orchestra played an impressive overture to the Grades 2 and 3 Winter Recital. Angels We Have Heard On High was brilliantly arranged by Damion Wallace, who is also the director of the dedicated and talented group. Students played to a full house and an appreciative audience, setting the mood for what became a successful musical performance. Congratulations to Billy, Giulia, Alessandro, Jacopo, Sofia, Catherine, Mattias, and Miss Ginger and Mr. Wallace. Strings rule!

Music Department Calendar

Calendar of Music Department Events 2008-2009

Halloween Singalong, October 31, 9:30 for EC students and Parents
Second Annual Piano and Friends Concert,November 14, 19:00
This is a benefit concert for Sickle-cell Anemia, in memory of Suffyan Koroma, Jr.

Monday, December 1, 17:30 All Choirs Concert
(Treble, Junior, Middle School Choirs)
Tuesday, December 2, Grades 4 and 5 Winter Recital
Thursday, December 4, Grades 2 and 3 Winter Recital
Friday, December 5, Kindergarten Music Concertina, 9:30
Friday, December 5, Nursery Music Open House, Music Room 11:00
Wednesday, December 10, 9:30 a.m. Grade 1 Choir Winter Recital
Wednesday, December 10, 11:00 a.m. Prep Winter Recital
Thursday, December 11, Scuola Modugno Concert for students at Ambrit
Tuesday, December 16, 19:00 Grades 7 and 8 Winter Recital
Thursday, December 18, 19:00 Grade 6 Winter Solfest Recital

2009
Thursday, January 29-February 1, Ambrit Chamber Ensemble to AMIS Festival, The Hague.
Saturday, February 14, Ambrit String Orchestra and Chamber Ensemble concert at All Saints, 14:00
Friday, March 6, 19:00 Parent Teacher Talent Show
Wednesday, March 11 all day, Rome International School Association Music Festival, Ambrit. RISA
Wednesday to Sunday, April 22-26 Mediterranean International School Association Middle School Honor Choir, Madrid, Spain, for Honor Choir members
March 19 Father's Day Breakfast, Grade 1 Choir Sings
Thursday, May 7, Annual Folk Dance Festival 9:30
Wednesday-Saturday, May 13-16, Junior Choir to Genova.
Monday, May 26, 17:30 All Choir Spring Concert
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, May 27-29, Private Lesson Recitals
Wednesday, May 28-June 2, Ambrit String Orchestra in Rotterdam

Grades 2 and 3 Great Winter Recital

Congratulations to all Grade 2 and 3 students who performed a fabulous concert Thursday, December 4. The theater was full of an appreciative audience of parents and friends, and the concert started out with an overture by the Ambrit String Orchestra. Songs in seven languages were performed, including one in Mandarin with a special Chinese New Year dragon who made a grand entrance thanks to many grade 2 students who were inside it. Quentin sang a beautiful solo on Einini. Our adult performers were James Varah on cello and as baritone, and Paolo Toscano on trumpet playing Beethoven's Ode to Joy while students sang and used American sign language. Esther Sofaer was our accompanist. Great work, everyone!

Honor Choir MAIS Madrid 2009–Information

MAIS
MEDITERRANEAN ASSOCIATION OF INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS
Apartado 80 – 28080 Madrid, Spain http://www.mais-web.org
Fax: (3491) 357-2678 E-Mail: rohale@mais-web.org

MAIS 2009 Honor Choir
October 10, 2008
To: MAIS Administrators and Music Teachers
From: Paige Short and Reina O’Hale
Re: 2008 MAIS Honor Choir

Hello, everyone! I hope that you all had a great start to the school year. Paige Short from Ambrit Rome, will be the conductor this year. Joy Edenfield, from the Carlucci American School will be the accompanist. The American School of Madrid is the host school. The major performance will be held Saturday evening at the new 600 seat Performing Arts Center at the American School of Madrid.

It’s time to think about the 2008 MAIS Honor Choir. This message will include the following information:

• What the choir is
• Who performs
• Criteria for singer selection
• Music chosen
• Registration information and form
• Chaperone information

We have made some changes in the organization of this event so please read this information carefully. Any musical or performance concerns should be directed to Paige Short, Ambrit Rome: email: shortpaige@ambrit-rome.com Please cc Reina O’Hale. All questions about any other matters (payment, registration, schedule, chaperones, hotels, etc.) should be directed to the MAIS office: e-mail: rohale@mais-web.org

What the Honor Choir is:
This is the 15th annual MAIS Honor Choir; previous years have included performances in Rome, Rabat, Madrid, Lisbon, and Tunis, and Trieste. This year’s choir will be held in Madrid and hosted by The American School of Madrid. The MAIS Honor Choir is open to singers in grades 6-8 exclusively (high school singers are not allowed) from MAIS member schools. It is for students who show excellence in singing and musicianship and who consistently display a high level of personal character and discipline.

Who will perform:
Singers are auditioned by their school’s music teacher; with input from appropriate others, in order to meet the established criteria for selection. Each school should select up to twelve strong singers (six boys, six girls), who are motivated to work independently with rehearsal CD’s, as well as with the teacher and group, to memorize a challenging program of approximately 30 minutes’ worth of music.

Criteria for selection:
First and foremost is the student’s singing ability. The singer’s voice should be comfortable with the part. The music is for three-part mixed. This means sopranos, altos, and boys with changing voices.
Second is the student’s maturity and ability to work in a cooperative effort. Behaviour must be without question; if there is any doubt concerning a student’s maturity level, perhaps it would be best to give him/her another year before attempting this activity.
Third, all selected singers will perform each piece of music regardless of religious preference or ethnic background. The 2009 Honor Choir repertoire is mixed, including sacred and secular music from all periods. It is quality choral music, and was chosen for its beauty and suitability for the student voices participating.

Accompanying the CD’s will be a letter from Paige Short about the music. It is emphasized that music must be memorized before the meeting in Madrid. The first rehearsal will be without the book. It is not fair to expect, nor is it possible for, a student to learn the music in Lisbon.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION:
Each participating school will send to MAIS a school registration fee of Euros100 or US dollars 146. This will reserve the school’s participation in the event and help cover the cost of the photocopied music pack and practice CDs. Each school will then send to the MAIS office a complete list of participating singers and all accompanying adults, along with their registration forms and a US dollar check for registration fees (Euros 85 per person). Payments of individual registration fees should be received by February 15th
2009.

The individual registration fee of Euros 85 includes the Choir 2008 Gala Dinner; internal ground transportation; other meals; snacks and water for rehearsal; MAIS Honor Choir 2009 t-shirt, sightseeing tours; other entertainment.

How the event works:
1. Each school reserves its participation with the payment Euros 100 to MAIS. Individual registration fees for students and all accompanying adults (chaperones and music teachers included) will be Euros 85/person. Send checks to the MAIS office along with registration forms. Bank transfer information available upon request.
2. Each school selects singers, begins rehearsals, and sends a list of singers to the MAIS office. Each participating school will receive copies of selected music along with a CD for each vocal part and the piano part. The music teacher must copy these for each student participating, for rehearsal at home.
3. All students will meet for the first time in Madrid, rehearse Wednesday evening, as well as on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday as needed, and perform a final concert in Madrid. There are breaks between rehearsals and for lunch. When not rehearsing, students must participate in-group activities such as historic sight seeing, visits to great cathedrals, museums, etc., even if they are local residents. Evening activities will be organized, but the focus is on the singing, not on the entertainment. Quiet activities in the evening will be more appropriate in light of the full day’s activities in which singers participate and get tired.

Transportation:
It is the responsibility of each participating school to organize and pay for the transportation of participating students/chaperones to and from Madrid. Please check with your embassies about Visa requirements. In addition, it is the responsibility of each school to organize and pay for the ground transportation from the airport to the hotel and from the hotel to the airport. The MAIS Office will be contacting you with more information about transportation options available from the airport. Singers’ arrival must be timed in order to attend all rehearsals; schools that arrive after rehearsals have begun to place themselves at a disadvantage, and hinder the progress of the entire group. As in previous years, there will be an initial rehearsal and get-together on the first evening, with rehearsals continuing up through the day of the concert. A complete itinerary will be provided with rehearsal/performance venues and times.

Housing:
We will be staying at a hotel in Madrid. Final arrangements are in process
And you will be informed as soon as they are concluded.

Chaperones:
Each school must provide adequate chaperone coverage for the number of singers they bring. We suggest at least one chaperone per six students. It would be best if music teachers did not count themselves as chaperones, as they will be attending all rehearsals and working with the entire group. Chaperones are especially important during afternoon excursions and evening/night hours at the hotel. There will be a rotating schedule of chaperones so that no one is always on duty, and a specific list of chaperone guidelines will be sent to all schools. It is important to emphasize that a chaperone’s first priority is taking care of students, and that all chaperones are for the students, not just for those singers from their own schools. All accompanying adults will pay the individual registration fee.

Thank you to all directors and music teachers for giving this activity such enthusiastic support. We appreciate your time and effort in preparation for this event. We look forward to seeing all of you in Madrid for additional planning and for the Choir. Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. Please direct musical questions to Paige, and any other questions about logistics, reservations, chaperones, payment, etc., to the MAIS office.

Warmest regards,

Paige Short Reina O’Hale
MAIS Honors Choir Director MAIS Executive Director