BMS Choir Newsletter

Another great week in the classroom and the end of the 1st Quarter!

All the choirs have been singing and learning new concepts in the classroom. I am very proud of all the students and the work they are doing! Most of the choirs have begun some of their music for the December Concert. The biggest news this week it is the end of the first marking period and the 8th grade concert on Tuesday. I can not believe how fast that this quarter has past, but I guess time flies when you are really enjoying what you doing.

Again, thank you to all the parents that have communicated with us about the concert concerns. We will do are best to work with you to make this a positive experience for all stakeholders. Please remember that concerts are mandatory and will be graded as a content mastery grade of 90%. The December 9th concert will be one of several content mastery grades in the 2nd quarter. Times have been updated. Please see below.

Lastly, conferences! Conferences will be held Tuesday, November 7th from 10 am until 6 pm. Please sign up for a conference. Make sure you sign up for the right music teacher. There is a signup genius link below to all the music teachers conference slots. There are five of us here at BMS and we want to make sure that there is no double booking of slots. Please take the time to scroll through the signup and pick the correct teacher.

Make it another great week!

8th Grade Choir Reminder

Who: 8th Grade Choir

What: Fall Concert

Where: BMS PAC

When: 6:00 PM Student Call Time, 6:15 PM dress rehearsal begins, 6:30 Doors Open,

7 PM Concert Begins

Dear Parents:

This is a reminder that the 8th-grade choir has a mandatory concert performance at the BMS Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, October 24th at 7 PM. Students must be in the BMS choir room at 6:00 PM and stay for the entire concert. The entire show should last about 30 minutes and conclude by 8:00 PM.

Concert attire needs to be worn for all participants. Brunswick Spirit Wear on top and dark bottoms. Jeans are permissible but please no wholes. Proper footwear is a must!

There will be a raffle for some awesome-looking Mums. Very Big! Please see the booster table at the concert to purchase tickets for the raffle. All monies raised will go to support the choir program.

The prices are:

6 tickets for $5

20 tickets for $10

$1 each

Concert Schedule

Tuesday, October 24th 8th grade & HS Choir Concert @ BMS PAC 7PM

Wednesday, November 8th School Veterans Program during school. (7th grade choir only)

Saturday, December 9th Time TBA @ BMS PAC (All Choirs) Click Here For Times

Saturday, May 11th Times TBA @ BMS PAC (All Choirs)

Click Here to see the full BMS Music Concert Schedule.

Your child should have recently shown an e-letter. This letter is just explaining some expectations and guidelines for the choir classroom. Below is a link to the form. Please complete this form if you have not.

Please contact Mrs. Wank, Mr. Albrecht, or Mr. Albright if you have any questions.

Click Here to read the Choir Expectation Sheet.

Click Here for the Parent Form.

Please make sure that both you and your student are checking Progress Book on a weekly basis. This helps everyone know what is missing and what can be done to complete assignments in a timely manner. Communication is key and sometimes students are not always truthful. Please remind your student to fall into this good habit.

All Choirs use a 90/10 grading scale. Due dates will be used more frequently to help students to stay up to date with their assignments. We will also be offering extra credit incentives for those who turn in assignments on time. Our goal this year is to promote a positive spin on completing assignments. Another goal is to not have any homework assigned for the choir classroom. We feel strongly about this and we will always give class time for assignments to be completed. Additionally, students can come down during Pride time to work and receive extra help. We just ask that they request & receive a pass from us first.

Be on the look out for more information about the night. Over 130 of us will be seeing this very funny show. Mrs. Higgins and I can not wait.

We will be having a Choir Spirit Wear Fundraiser. This is a great way to order choir swag and support the choir as well. Be on the lookout for more information in the next newsletter.

The Choir Boosters are looking for volunteers.

The choir boosters is a great organization that helps with many things behind the scenes for both the middle and high school choir groups. They organize the fundraising efforts, decorate the PACs for shows, provide treats to the choirs, and help with any other general needs that Mrs. Higgins and myself need help with during the school year.

They are in need to have people to help with events. This is a great way to meet new people and foster more positive relationships with other choir parents. The time commitment is not much and you will have a blast. There are only 4 meetings per year.

So why not give it a try and look us up?

Please contact Roybn Vavrek if interested. rvavrek3@gmail.com

Mr. Adam Albright is in his 22nd year of teaching and directs 6th, 7th and 8th-grade choirs at Brunswick Middle School. Mr. Albright holds degrees from the University of Mount Union (B.A in Voice), Cleveland State University (M.A in Teaching), and from Case Western University (M.A. in Music Education). He has taught all levels of music from kindergarten to college around Northeast Ohio. Mr. Albright's choirs regularly perform around the community and make regular appearances at Ohio Music Education Association events throughout the year. Mr. Albright is an active performer and clinician around the area and sings regularly with the Baldwin Wallace Men's Chorus. Mr. Albright also is an active member of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), American Choral Director's Association (ACDA), IMC: The Tenor-Bass Choral Consortium (IMC) and he is the Northeast Regional Treasurer Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA).

Additionally, Mr. Albright is an active member of the Brunswick community, is the Director of the Brunswick Middle School Drama Club, and is a BMS 8th-grade football coach. Mr. Albright resides in Brunswick with his wife Stefanie, daughter Gracie and son Wyatt.

Email: aalbright@bcsoh.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brunswicksouthchoirs
Twitter: @BMS_Choirs

Michelle Wank is a music teacher in Brunswick City Schools and has degrees in Music Education from Baldwin Wallace University (B.M.E) and The University of Michigan (M.M. Ed.). Most recently she has taught middle school choir and band in Brunswick, but in her 14 years there she has also taught high school and elementary band, K-5 general music, and beginning orchestra. Previous teaching assignments include North Royalton and Elyria City Schools. In August of 2019, Michelle was hired to fill a one-year position as Associate Professor of Music Education at Baldwin Wallace University where she was responsible for teaching courses in Choral Music Methods, General Music Methods, Vocal Technique, and Culturally Responsive Teaching. Michelle is a member of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) and the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA).

Email: mwank@bcsoh.org

Mr. Albrecht is in his 12th year of teaching in public schools. He has a degree in Music Education from Cleveland State University (B.M.E) This is Mr. Albrecht’s first year back in Brunswick schools and he will be teaching three 6th-grade choirs, one 7th-grade orchestra, one general music class and is assisting with the high school marching band. Previous teaching assignments include choir, band and general music in Copley-Fairlawn City Schools, choir and general music in Buckeye Local Schools Schools, and general music in Brunswick City Schools (2000-2003).

Email: malbrecht@bcsoh.org