Brunswick MS Orchestra Update

Electrify Your Symphony Information
April 10, 2025
On Wednesday, April 9th during class all student's received a colorful sheet of concert information along with an Emergency Medical Form. Please return this form by April 25th.
We are just over a month away from our exciting opportunity to work with a guest artist, Greg Byers, from the Electrify Your Symphony (EYS) program. Due to this unique concert we will be selling tickets for this performance. Tickets will be $10 for general admission and $15 for reserved seating. (Student performers do not need a ticket) Ticket links can be found below, please make sure you are purchasing for the correct evening! 7th Grade will perform on Monday, May 12th and 6th/8th Grades will perform on Tuesday, May 13th.
In order to make this event a success we need parent volunteers to chaperone students, help with dinner, scan tickets, etc.! All parents who sign-up to volunteer should email Mrs. Erdman to receive a code for a discounted ticket. See the link below to sign up!
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Mrs. Erdman serdman@bcsoh.org
Parent Volunteers- Help Needed
Join Us on April 10th to get involved with EYS!
EYS Performance Information
May 12th - 7th Grade Concert Information
Here is some information about the two orchestra concerts featuring Electrify Your Symphony with guest artist Greg Byers on May 12th and 13th:
May 12th Concert
Location: Brunswick High School PACTime: 7:00 pm
Program: The concert will feature a dynamic blend of classical and contemporary music, with arrangements that highlight the unique sound of Electrify Your Symphony. Greg Byers, known for his eclectic style and versatility on both cello and bass, will join the orchestra to perform a selection of energetic pieces. This concert will feature orchestra students from the following groups: 7th Grade, 9th Grade, and Philharmonia Orchestras
Highlights: Expect performances of popular rock and pop arrangements, such as "Immigrant Song" or "Blinding Lights
At BMS
Dismissed from 8th period via announcement
Go to locker to get backpack and everything for the evening
Get instrument/music from your Orchestra Room
Load busses to BHS depart by 1:30pm
At BHS
1:45-2:20 Arrive at BHS and listen to High School Rehearsal in the PAC
2:20-2:45 QUIETLY Leave the auditorium and unpack instruments
3:00-3:30 Practice High Hopes on stage with Greg Byers and BHS students
3:30-3:55 Pack up instrument/gather belongings from PAC and unpack in the BHS Student Center. 7th grade will receive a quick snack/small water bottle.
4:00-4:55 On stage to Practice Arizona Sun and Paint It Black on stage.
5:00 Put instruments away in Student Center and walk to West Cafeteria
5:15-6:00 Pizza dinner/HW in West Cafeteria
6:10-6:40 Walk back to Student Center to finish HW, warm up/tune for concert
6:40 Line up to go to PAC Stage, final tuning before concert begins at 7:00.
After the performance, 7th graders will return to BHS Student Center to watch the rest of the concert on a live feed. At the end of the concert, we will line up to go back to PAC during the last HS song for the High Hopes finale.
Post Concert
After the concert, students are invited to wait in line to get a picture with/autograph from Greg Byers. To do this, middle school students MUST go get all their belongings from their homeroom first. Students will walk with a teacher/chaperone down to get their belongings, and we will walk back together as a group. When we return to the PAC with your belongings, you may leave with your parents or get in line to meet Greg Byers. The line for autographs and pictures will be against the far wall of the PAC.
Parents may wait for their student in their seats at the PAC, in the lobby, or outside the doors of the PAC. Merchandise will be sold in the lobby before, in between groups, and after the concert.
Need another copy of the student form? Click here
May 13th - 6th & 8th Grade Concert Information
May 13th Concert
Location: Brunswick High School PAC
Time: 7:00 pm
Program: The concert will feature a dynamic blend of classical and contemporary music, with arrangements that highlight the unique sound of Electrify Your Symphony. Greg Byers, known for his eclectic style and versatility on both cello and bass, will join the orchestra to perform a selection of energetic pieces. This concert will feature orchestra students from the following groups: 6th Grade, 8th Grade, and Camerata Orchestras
Highlights: Expect performances of popular rock and pop arrangements, such as "Strings Will Rock You" or "Africa"!
All Students
At BMS
Dismissed from 8th period via announcement
Go to locker to get backpack and everything for the evening
Get instrument/music from your Orchestra Room
Load busses to BHS depart by 1:30pm
At BHS
1:45-2:20 Arrive at BHS and listen to High School Rehearsal in the PAC
2:20-2:45 QUIETLY Leave the auditorium and unpack instruments
3:00-3:30 Practice High Hopes on stage with Greg Byers and BHS students
6th Grade Schedule:
3:30-3:55 Pack up instrument/gather belongings from PAC and unpack in the BHS Student Center. You will receive a quick snack/small water bottle at this time.
4:00-4:55 Practice Arizona Sun and Strings Will Rock You with Greg Byers on stage!
5:00 Put instruments away in Student Center and walk to West Cafeteria
5:15-6:00 Pizza dinner/HW in West Cafeteria
6:10-6:40 Walk back to Student Center to finish HW, warm up/tune for concert
6:40 Line up to go to PAC Stage, final tuning before concert begins at 7:00.
After 6th grade performance, students will return to Student Center to watch rest of concert on live feed, will line up to go back to PAC during last HS song for High Hopes finale.
8th Grade Schedule:
3:30-4:00 Pack up instrument and travel from PAC to West Gym to unpack for the evening
4:00-4:50 Pizza dinner and homework in West Cafeteria
5:00-6:00 Practice Smells Like Teen Spirit & Paint it Black on stage with Greg Byers
6:10-7:15 Return to West Gym where you will receive snack/water; do homework and watch live feed of concert in the West Gym. Around 7:00 should get out instrument and tune/warm up. Listen for the beginning of last 6th Grade song and start to head down to PAC together (w/chaperones).
After 8th grade performance, students will return to West Gym to watch HS performance, then line up to return to PAC for High Hopes finale.
Post Concert
After the concert, students are invited to wait in line to get a picture with/autograph from Greg Byers. To do this, middle school students MUST go get all their belongings from their homeroom first. Students will walk with a teacher/chaperone down to get their belongings, and we will walk back together as a group. When we return to the PAC with your belongings, you may leave with your parents or get in line to meet Greg Byers. The line for autographs and pictures will be against the far wall of the PAC.
Parents may wait for their student in their seats at the PAC, in the lobby, or outside the doors of the PAC. Merchandise will be sold in the lobby before, in between groups, and after the concert.
Need another copy of the student form? Click here
Guest Performer and Program Information
About Greg Byers
Greg Byers brings such a positive and powerful punch to the EYS team of Artist Mentors. Throughout his lifelong pursuit of music, Greg has overcome countless obstacles to become an idiosyncratic performer, composer, educator, and producer.
Greg started playing cello at The Family Suzuki School of Rochester, NY at the uncharacteristically young age of 2 1/2. By age sixteen, he was a talented cellist, but was frustrated with the lack of personal expression found in youth orchestras.
Thanks to several mentors, Greg began to explore the possibilities of the cello in a jazz context. After beginning the undergraduate program at University of Miami, Greg wanted to officially switch his major to Studio Music & Jazz, which was initially denied because he was a cellist. Shelly Berg, the current Dean of the Frost School of Music, took over in 2007 and saw Greg’s perseverance. In the end Greg became the first person to double major in Instrumental Performance/Studio Music & Jazz on cello and bass, Summa Cum Laude.
Learn more about Greg here: https://www.cellogreg.com/ or https://www.electrifyyoursymphony.com/greg-byers
Follow Greg on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cellogreg/
About Electrify Your Symphony
Electrify Your Symphony is a program founded by Mark Wood that aims to energize music education by integrating rock and roll elements into traditional orchestral settings. The program has been featured on major networks like The Today Show and CBS Evening News, and it visits numerous schools annually to promote music education and raise funds for local programs. They are celebrating their 25th year in 2025.
Click here to learn more about the Electrify Your Symphony (EYS) Program: https://www.electrifyyoursymphony.com/
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Meet The Teachers!
Mrs. Erdman
Email: serdman@bcsoh.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/s.bcsoh.org/brunswick-orchestras/home
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrunwickOrchestras/
Twitter: @MrsErdman_Orch
Mrs. Neubauer
Mrs. Michelle Neubauer teaches 6th and 7th Grade Band and 7th Grade Orchestra at Brunswick Middle School.
Email: mneubauer@bcsoh.org