Ballard Performing Arts News

January 17, 2023

Upcoming Events

Jan 25 | Pizza and Pep for Band to welcome 8th graders

Jan 26 | Serious Pie Dine Out to support BPA

Jan 27-28 | Jazz Band to Clark College field trip

Feb 4 | EBMEA Regional Solo & Ensemble Contest

Feb 5 | Mattress Fundraiser

Feb 7 | BPA Booster Meeting

Feb 11 | Spaghetti Dinner, 5:30-8:30 pm


See our BPA Calendar for more details.

Contact the Directors


Band: Jay Gillespie

Choir: Courtney Rowley

Orchestra: Daniel Valdez

Theatre Shawn Riley

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Featured News

January 10 Meeting Summary

Thank you to all who came out last Tuesday night to our family meeting! Due to confidentiality, no specific information was shared regarding the staff on leave; however, updates were given by Ms. Hunt, BPAB board members, directors, substitutes, support staff, and volunteers regarding the multi-layered support that has been put in place for students.


For those unable to make it, the biggest takeaway from the meeting is that, due to the strength of our community, we are able to move forward with all upcoming events as planned. While not perfect, our community has worked together to find enough qualified and certificated adults necessary to support the students in all previously scheduled BPA activites. For more specific details, and for a QR code to use for questions, please click the link to the google slide deck from the meeting and read the program updates in the newsletter below: Jan. 10 BPA Meeting Slides

Breaking News: Performance Order for the 64th Annual Spaghetti Dinner - Sat. Feb 11

The 64th Annual Spaghetti Dinner is coming up on Saturday, February 11 from 5:30-8:30 pm. The theme this year is One Hit Wonders, featuring memorable tunes performed by every Ballard Performing Arts group. 


Admission is free, but make it a special night by buying dinner to enjoy along with the live entertainment here!

Buy Dinner Tickets

Here is the much-anticipated performance schedule:


5:40    Jazz 2

5:50    Treble Choir

6:00    Symphonic Orchestra

6:10    Jazz 1

6:20    Fiddlers

6:30    Concert Choir

6:40    Concert Band

6:55    Tenor/Bass Ensemble

7:05    Brass Band

7:15    Chamber Choir

7:25    Symphonic Band

7:40    Vocal Jazz

7:50    Chamber Orchestra

8:00    Wind Ensemble/Chamber Orchestra (with guest vocalists)

8:10    Advanced Chorale

8:20    Secret Garden Cast

8:30    Start clean-up 


Students should arrive 20 minutes before their performance time. Students need to buy a ticket to enjoy the Spaghetti Dinner and are encouraged to sign up for a volunteer shift after their performances. 


This is truly a community event. We need LOTS of volunteers (before, during, and after) to make it a successful night. Students, family members, alums…all are encouraged to help out! Sign up here!

Solo and Ensemble Competition Update for all Choir, Band, and Orchestra

The solo and ensemble competition will take place February 4 at Roosevelt High School.  The schedule will come out approximately one week prior. The deadline for application and payment was January 11, so if you have an outstanding balance, please submit your payment asap ($22/entry, check made to BPAB).  


For choir students: Accompanists will need to be paid separately at a rate of $75. Please work with your accompanist to determine the best form of payment (check, Venmo, Paypal, etc.).


All payments can be turned into the BPAB mailbox in the black box. Please make sure to clearly label your payment.

Program Updates

Band

Solo and Ensemble Festival - Feb 4 @Roosevelt High School


Solo and Ensemble Festival will take place on Saturday, Feb 4 at Roosevelt High School. All students in Wind Ensemble have registered with an ensemble (a few students may also be doing solo competition). The performance schedule should be out before the end of this week (Jan 20). Students are responsible for their own transportation. If you have not yet submitted a check for fees, please do so at your earliest convenience ($22 for a solo, $32 per ensemble payable to Ballard Performing Arts). 


Jan 25 is Pizza and Pep Night


Pizza and Pep Night is required for all band students. Call time is 5 pm. 

This event showcases the pep band to current 8th graders considering attending Ballard High School and is a great way to promote the band program with rising freshmen. Students will meet at 5 pm and teach a few of the pep band standards to 8th grade students. They will then have a break for a pizza supper before performing at Wednesday’s Girls Varsity Basketball Game and celebration of Title IX. If you know of 8th grade band students who are considering Ballard, please encourage them to join in on the fun.


Schedule:

5 pm - Call time

5:30 pm - Rehearsal

6:30 pm - PIZZA

7:30 pm - Game Time

 

Jazz Updates


1/22/23 Jazz 1 Ellington Recording

 

Our Jazz 1 students will have the opportunity to record at Avast Studio for our Ellington recording! (Recording is at 11 am). All Jazz 1 kids need to be ready to record in the studio that day (Sunday). This should be really fun and a great experience!


1/27-1/28 Jazz Trip to Clark College

 

BHS Jazz will be performing at Clark College!


This will be an overnight trip, departing on Friday Jan 27 and coming back late on the 28th. Hotels have been confirmed and the cost of the trip is $150.00 per person. Students will receive permission forms and they are due back on Tuesday Jan 17, along with the check to cover costs.

 

Proposed Itinerary: 

  • Leave from Ballard High at 8:00 am on Friday Jan 27th.
  • Participate in various clinics at the college the afternoon of the 27th.
  • Stay the night at the Springfield Suites by Marriott in Vancouver.
  • Perform the afternoon of the 28th between 12-5 pm.
  • Return time on the 28th will depend on whether Ballard will be playing in the showcase. 


March 3 Central WA University event with Wind Ensemble


Mark your calendars for this new adventure to Central Washington University’s Wind Festival. Wind Ensemble and selected percussionists will be traveling for the day, with an early morning departure, to perform at Wind Fest in Ellensburg. Parent chaperones will be needed. Please contact the band rep if you are available to assist. 

Choir


Note: the current choir substitute teacher is Hunter Troyer (they/them). Reach them here if you have any questions email khtroyer@seattleschools.org.


Hello Choir Families!  Here's an update from our amazing guest teacher Hunter outlining what students have been working on post-Winter Break:

  • Vocal Jazz is working on music for Solo and Ensemble and the Spaghetti Dinner.
  • Concert Choir started working on works for our Festival concert in March, as well as continuing our work on the piece for Spaghetti Dinner.
  • Advanced Chorale is moving steadily through their Spaghetti Dinner piece and will begin looking at music for Festival next week.
  • Treble Choir is working diligently on the music for Spaghetti Dinner, and looking forward to beginning their Festival piece. 

Orchestra


Symphonic Orchestra Wintergrass Performance February 25th


The Symphonic Orchestra will be performing at the Wintergrass Festival in Bellevue on Sunday, February 26th! Important date/times:


Saturday, 2/25 - Arrive/check in at Lake Washington Room at Bellevue Westin by 9:45 am, End of day at 4:00 pm (bring a lunch).


Sunday, 2/26 – Arrive at Grand Ballroom by 8:00 am, concert at 10:45am, end of concert ~12:15 pm.


Students/families will need to provide their own travel. Mr. Valdez can help facilitate carpools if necessary.


Chamber Orchestra Trip to Central Washington University Orchestra Festival March 11th


Chamber Orchestra has been accepted to the Central Washington University Orchestra Festival! The orchestra will perform, work with a clinician, listen to other high school orchestras, and listen to the CWU Orchestra perform.


When: Saturday, March 11 – time TBD

Where: Central Washington University (Ellensburg, WA)


More details coming soon!

Theatre


Meet The Secret Garden Production team


Huge thank you to these individuals who have rallied together to make sure the show goes on! Read more about the production here. Most of the crew has been involved with musicals at Ballard High School for several years. 


Eia Waltzer: Director & Choreographer

Indira Rampersad: Assistant Director, Dialect Coach, Dramaturg

Zoe Janavice: Costumes Director

Lisa Holmberg: Vocal Music

Jay Gillespie: Orchestra

Elijah Lancey: Set Design

Max Moses: Stage Manager


Students and the crew are staying in touch via GroupMe and the cast calendar. 

For questions contact director Eia Waltzer at eiaradio@yahoo.com.


Tickets are on sale now!

Buy Tickets

How Theatre Families Can Help Support the Musical


The director and production team for the musical will reach out soon to families of theatre students with a list of ways that the BPA Boosters can support the musical. Stay tuned for more news on this next week. Until then, please sell advertisements and sponsorships for the program. Payments for advertisements and sponsorships should be in the form of a check to Ballard Performing Arts and handed in to the payment box at school for BPAB treasurer, Jill Hansen. 


Download the sponsorship form.

Download the advertising form.


Completed forms can to handed to stage manager, Max, or emailed to bpabevents@gmail.com.

Help Fund Our Programs

The district only pays for teachers’ salaries; everything else we have to raise or donate.

Mattress Sale is February 5 - One Day Only!


Is it time to get a new mattress? Buying one couldn’t be easier than shopping for one at the same place your kid goes to school.


We know, it’s odd. But on Sunday, February 5 we will be hosting our 4th annual Mattress Fundraiser right here at the BHS gym from 10 am to 5 pm. This one-day sale features top brand mattresses, pillows, sheets, and more from Simmons Beautyrest, Therapedic, Englander, and more. The prices are well below retail because they order directly from the manufacturer, there is no retail space overhead, and advertising expenses are minimal. Plus, they deliver! (Or you can pick up your mattress for free three weeks after the event, at school).


This event has raised $5,000-$7,000 to help support BPA’s coaching, scholarships, and more for Ballard High School’s Performing Arts programs, so this is an important event to our bottom line – please help spread the word!


Our fundraising partner (CFS Beds) does all the hard work for us, turning the Ballard gym into a mattress showroom for the day! People will find all the same products they would find at a traditional mattress store. 30 different floor models will be on display for customers to try. All models are available in all sizes, are made to order, and come with full factory warranties just like a store, and are comfort-guaranteed. Adjustable power bases, pillows, sheets, frames, and mattress protectors will also be available.  


Delivery and haul away are available. All forms of payment are accepted and financing and free layaway are available to anyone who needs it.  


Best of all – the Ballard Performing Arts Boosters makes money on each purchase, earning roughly 50% of the net profits from the event! If you are buying through a BPA student, make sure they get credit for the sale by providing their name at the time of sale. For mattresses, each student gets $50.00. (If you have more than one student in the BPA program, this amount would be split.) 


What we need from ALL BALLARD PERFORMING ARTS FAMILIES:


We are asking every Ballard Performing Arts family to find one person in the market for a new mattress and get them to come check out this event. 10% of the population will buy a new mattress this year; why shouldn't they at least come see what's available through this event? If they find what they are looking for, the chances are they'll save money or get a better product, get better service than at a store, and they'll support Ballard Performing Arts in the process!!!  


Please talk to everyone you know!


Here’s how you can help spread the word:

  • Watch this short video: CFS Mattress Fundraiser.mp4 on Vimeo
  • Check out the company's website: www.CFSBeds.com
  • Click the Facebook event: https://bit.ly/Beds4Ballard23
  • Indicate that you're going to the event - we earn extra $$ through the fundraising company if we get over 250 people to join!
  • Invite all of your friends so they can help us hit our goal!
  • Share on your newsfeed and ask people to do the same! 
  • Hand out this form and ask people to fill it out if they plan to attend so your student can get credit for the sale.


Have other questions? Email cfsteamseattle@gmail.com or contact Kris Bulson at bpabfundraising@gmail.com.

Serious Pie Ballard Dine Out 1/26


Dine Out to support Ballard Performing Arts on January 26th at Serious Pie Ballard - order online, in-person, or by phone and 20% of your total will be donated to support BPA programs. Add the $0 BPA card to your cart if ordering online, and if calling in your order or ordering in person, don’t forget to say “Ballard Performing Arts”.

Save the Date: Dine out at Duke’s on February 16!


More details to come.


Buy Your Dinner Tickets! 


The 64th Annual Spaghetti Dinner is coming up on Saturday, February 11, 2023, 5:30-8:30 pm. The theme this year is… One Hit Wonders! 


Our very own Ballard Performing Arts groups will provide us with a magical night of live entertainment. You won’t want to miss it! Admission is free, but you can buy dinner tickets here!

Help Wanted

Spaghetti Dinner Help Wanted


Many volunteer positions are needed to make this event a success, from ticket sellers and takers to spaghetti makers, and more! Students, family members, alums…all are welcome!



Sign up here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F084FA9A92CAAF85-2023


Social Media Help Wanted


With all of our programs, there are a lot of opportunities to post about our performances, upcoming events, and fundraising. If you have a knack for writing and an eye for what the cool kids are doing on the socials, please reach out to Jeannette Chen at bpabsocial@gmail.com.

Featured Video

Check out this epic moment from the Spaghetti Dinner two years ago when Chamber Orchestra and soloist Ian McGregor (Class of 2020) performed Pearl Jam’s "Alive."

Check out past performances any time on our YouTube and Vimeo channels.

Passive Giving

Give While You Do Your Everyday Shopping!


Did you know that every time you shop at Amazon or Fred Meyer you can be giving back to Ballard Performing Arts without spending any extra money? Check out the details here: https://www.ballardperformingarts.org/passive-fundraising

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Thank You to Our Sponsors

Interested in becoming a BPA Sponsor?

Contact Cynthia Kemp at bpabsponsorships@gmail.com.

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