Thanksgiving Break and More Hope Academy Schedule for Nov and Dec

Next week is Thanksgiving and then we launch into December and the end of the fall term... so a lot is happening at Hope Academy. 

THANKSGIVING BREAK. No private lessons or classes from Sunday, Nov 22 to Monday, Nov 30. Please note: the building will be closed on Thursday, Nov 26; Friday, Nov 27; and Monday, Nov 30.

  
This Saturday, Nov 21 is picture day for dancers in PBT creative movement, pre-ballet and ballet. You will get a copies of your class pictures during open classes (when families and friends can come to observe) on Saturday, Dec 5, the final day of PBT dance classes for the fall term at Hope Academy.

EL CEO has two rehearsals before the winter concert. This week, Nov 21, and then Dec 5 (Saturdays from 3:00 to 4:30 pm). You will play the Mozart piece and Joy to the World (see the post below for a link to the new music). Your final session for the fall term will be Saturday, Dec 12. 

Musical Theater and HAT Co also have two rehearsals before the winter concert.This week, Nov 21, and then Dec 5 during regular class time. See the post below for mp3s of songs you can practice with at home. Your final Saturday classes for the fall term will be Saturday, Dec 12. The winter term Saturday theater classes switch over from Musical Theater to Shakespeare Workshop (Saturday afternoons from 12 noon to 3:00 pm).

Voices of Hope Vocal and Percussion Ensembles have one rehearsal on Wednesday,  Dec 3 before the winter concert. (The select choir will be asked to come to an extra rehearsal with HAT Co. on Saturday, Dec 5 -- if they are available). Final Wednesday classes for the fall term are on December 9.

Winter Concert - EL CEO's Music and Elder's Mp3s

Joy to the World, Coventry Carol & Carol of the Bells, My Favorite Things and Don't Stop Believing

Hope Academy's Winter Concert will take place in the Sanctuary of East Liberty Presbyterian Church on Sunday, December 6 at 3 pm (there will be an earlier rehearsal for some of the performers, but we will update you on this next week).

Students performing include those in Musical Theater Workshop, HAT Co, EL CEO, Voices of Hope (all Wednesday vocal groups), Ryan Socrates' drumming ensemble, Anna Elder's and Carly Riley's private voice students, and a few other private instrument students (organ and violin). The dress code is all red on top and black on the bottom with black shoes. Girls may wear all red, if they would like.

The concert is only a few weeks away, so you should be practicing your songs and music at home. Here are some things to help you:

EL CEO 

Music for Joy to the World (click for a pdf of music for all parts on scribd)

HAT Co, Musical Theater and Voices of Hope Select Choir

Sing-a-long with Anna Elder to learn your parts!

Coventry Carol & Carol of the Bells

My Favorite Things



Don't Stop Believing

FREE Squonk Opera Performances Nov 20 & 21 You Can Be a Squonker, Too!

Squonk Opera's Mostly Mayhem in Workshop

Fri. November 20 and Sat. November 21 @ 8 pm

The Kelly-Strayhorn Theater

on Penn Avenue across the street from East Liberty Presbyterian Church

Hope Academy students and their families are invited to a behind the scenes look at the making of a new show, Mostly Mayhem, by Squonk Opera.  With ten new songs in the works, the Squonkers are eager for feedback leading up to their World Premiere in March 2010. This is all part of Squonk Opera's year in residency at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater. Following each FREE show will be a talkback with the audience and the company.

We will get to know some of the folks at Squonk Opera better during our winter term when they join us on Wednesdays after school to work with us on an animation and music project. This weekend's workshop will be your introduction to them and their work, and your chance to be part of their creative process... yes, you can be a Squonker too!

While there is no way to describe Squonk Opera in words, this video should give you some idea of what to expect; and as you can see, what you can expect is the unexpected.

FREE Percussion ConcertBernard Woma with Devin Flynt's Ensemble

Internationally renowned Ghanaian xylophonist and drummer, Bernard Woma, will be featured as a soloist in a concert with the Duquesne University Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of Hope Academy teaching artist, Devin Flynt, on Monday, Nov 23 at 8:00 pm in room 322 of the Mary Pappert School of Music. The concert is FREE and open to the public. Devin Flynt suggests that all of his percussion students attend! For directions to Duquesne University and a campus map, showing the Mary Pappert School of Music, click here.

Hope Academy Dance Teacher Michael WalshPerforming This Weekend

Alloy on Alloy! @ Dance Alloy Theater

The 2nd installment of dancer-as-choreographer 

featuring Hope Academy dance teacher, Michael Walsh

Friday, Nov 20 and Saturday, Nov 21 @ 7:00 pm

In his piece, Post It, Michael Walsh finds beautiful movements in the most mundane of activities. Filled with repetition, intense eye contact, and actual post-it notes, the work is engaging in its familiarity. Michael Walsh is also dancing in Michael Bandy’s piece, entitled When You're Not Strong. Inspired by the talents and real-life working relationship of Maribeth Maxa and Michael Walsh, it is a highly physical duet in which the dancers demonstrate various nonverbal communications, all the way from subtle glances to intimate balancing acts.

(Pictured above, L-R) Christopher Bandy and Michael Walsh

Tickets are $10 each

Seating is limited, call now to reserve your ticket: 412-363-4321

A Bug and a Wish, a Walk and a Wave Keeping the Peace at Hope Academy

If you've heard your children talking about "bugs" and "wishes" and are wondering what that's all about, this posting will give you the details about a conflict resolution technique that we use at Hope Academy called A Bug and a Wish, a Walk and a Wave. Click on "Read More" for the whole story.

This Week at Hope Academy PSO Concert and EL CEO Performance

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Resident Conductor, Lawrence Loh, will conduct a string orchestra from the PSO this Saturday at 7:00 pm.  Tickets are $10 in advance ($15 at the door) for adults; and $5 for students and seniors. It will be a great concert featuring music by Bach, Grieg and Mozart in ELPC's beautiful sanctuary (see the event listing to the right for a map and directions to ELPC)

A free pre-concert student recital will take place from 6:00-6:45 pm, featuring students from Dilworth Elementary's World Drummers, CAPA's Brass Ensembles and Hope Academy's new East Liberty Community Engagement Orchestra (EL CEO); then a post-concert celebration featuring International Baccalaureate’s Steel Drummers and a bake sale from 8:30-9:00 

For information call Norma Meyer at 412-441-3800 x11.

BAKE SALE DONATIONS WANTED! If you would like to help support music education programs for students in the East Liberty community (at Dilworth, International Baccalaureate, CAPA Middle School and Hope Academy of Music and the Arts) please consider donating baked goods for the bake sale following the PSO concert. Your donations can be dropped off at the Highland Avenue hospitality desk on Saturday, November 14.

BACH, MOZART AND GRIEG The Saturday, Nov 14 PSO Program

Here is the program for this Saturday's PSO Community Engagement Concert:

DVARD GRIEG Holberg Suite, Op. 40

• I. Prelude
• IV. Air
• V. Rigaudon 

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH Concerto in C minor for Oboe, Violin

and String Orchestra, BWV 1060

• I. Allegro
• II. Adagio
• III. Allegro

WOLFGANG AMADÉUS MOZART Symphony No. 29 in A major, K. 186a [201]

• I. Allegro moderato
• II. Andante
• III. Menuetto
• IV. Allegro con spirito 

Get Ready: Store at the Kelly-Strayhorn on Friday, Nov 6 @ 9 pm

Those who have RSVP'd for tomorrow night - watch this video and then meet at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater at 8:45 pm. "Store" lasts 60 minutes. You will be out of the theater by 10:00 pm so that you can get a good night's rest for Saturday classes at Hope Academy!

Halloween Photo Slideshow - Enjoy!

Thanks to the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater and Squonk Opera for a wonderful Halloween Mayhem!

Photo of Hope Academy students performing "Thriller" at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater. Video photo slideshow of creative movement and pre-ballet students in their costumes; and HAT Co kids preparing for and performing at Halloween Mayhem.