Oil City Middle and High School Choirs

Congratulations to our 2014 Award Winners: National Choral Award: Jenny Williams John Phillip Sousa Award: Jenny Williams Semper Fidelis Music Award: Amber Culver Music Department Award: Clinton Ames C. Frank Puleo Scholarship Award: Alex King Swing Out King and Queen: Bradley Rodgers and Jenny Williams

Music Department Picnic  5:00 PM OCMS Picnic Pavillion Fried Chicken, Drinks, and Tablewear Provided Last Name A-M: Bring Salad, Casserole or Side Dish Last Name N-Z: Bring a Dessert SENIOR RECOGNITION FOLLOWING DINNER!!! Open for all MS and HS Band and Choir Members AND Families! Come Join Us!!!

The Oil City High School Rhapsody in Blues and Quartets are in need of the following voice parts:   RIBs - All Voice Parts (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass) Women's Quartet - All Voice Parts (Tenor, Lead, Baritone, Bass) 4Ward On! - Tenor Auditions will take place the week of May 27 th .  Students auditioning for RIBs are asked to prepare a piece that they can sing well a cappella (no limitation on style of music.  School appropriate, please).  Consideration will be made for those who can hold pitch well throughout their audition, and sing in a strong, healthy voice. Prospective quartet members will be asked to prepare all voice parts to the following pieces: Women: I Love to Sing 'Em Tag Men: Ring, Ring the Banjo Parts will be up on the website this week. All current students in grades 8-11 are eligible to audition. YOU MUST BE SCHEDULED FOR A CHOIR (CONCERT CHOIR, WOMEN’S CHOIR, A CAPPELLA CHOIR) TO PARTICIPATE IN R.I.B.’S AND QUARTETS ...

Music Department Events this Week: Tuesday:  Senior Choir - Periods 4 and 9 Part Checks/RIB Auditions - 8th Grade Chorus, Concert Choir, Women's Choir Puleo Scholarship Selection - Band and Choir Officers - Period 4 Women's Quartet - Meeting for prospective members - 2:40 to 3:15 (ANYONE PLANNING ON AUDITIONING FOR WOMEN'S QUARTET FOR 2014-2015 SHOULD PLAN TO ATTEND) SENIOR WRITING PROMPTS FOR VIDEO OF THE WEEK DUE BY MIDNIGHT!!! Wednesday: Senior Choir - Periods 4 and 9 Part Checks/RIB Auditions - 8th Grade Chorus, Concert Choir, Women's Choir Puleo Scholarship Voting - Band and Choir Seniors - All Day Radical Rhythm Performance for Venango Christian Women's Association - 12:15 Performance at Cross Creek Men's Quartet - Meeting for Prospective Members - 2:40 to 3:15 (ANYONE PLANNING ON AUDITIONING FOR THE TENOR POSITION IN 4WARD ON! SHOULD PLAN TO ATTEND!) Music Department Picnic - 5:00 OCMS Picnic Pavillion (Last Name A-M, bring salad/side/...

This week, we look at one of the possible pieces for next year's Swing Out.  In Remembrance is a mixed choir piece, and comes from a larger Requiem Mass (Mass for the dead).  This text is from a famous anonymous poem that discusses thoughts on the soul. This is a possible selection for Swing Out theme  War and Peace,  encompassing songs of patriotism, battle, and the hope for lasting peace. BASED OFF OF THE PMEA RUBRIC, EVALUATE THE CHOIR'S PERFORMANCE This piece is being performed by The Bucknell Chapel Choir. What do you notice about their posture, their sound, and their accuracy?  Even though the room echos a lot, can you understand their words? Why or why not? What story is the piece telling? What do you think of the piece? Is this something that fits the style of what we do? If you are a middle school chorus member, is this something that we can accomplish within the course of a concert season?  Be sure to answer the questions ...

This week, we look at one of the possible pieces for next year's Swing Out.   Cloudburst  is a mixed choir (SATB) piece.  The text is sung in Spanish.  This is a possible selection for Swing Out theme  The Elements , encompassing songs about Earth, Water, Wind, and Fire. BASED OFF OF THE PMEA RUBRIC, EVALUATE THE CHOIR'S PERFORMANCE This piece is performed by a mixed adult/student choral ensemble, with the composer conducting.  What do you notice about their posture, their sound, and their accuracy?  Can you understand their words?  Why or why not? What do you think of the piece?  Is this something that fits the style of what we do?  If you are a middle school chorus member, is this something that we can accomplish within the course of a concert season? Be sure to answer the questions using some of the terminology on the adjudication form provided to you in class. A Copy of the PMEA Assessment Rubric can be found here:...

This week, we look at one of the possible pieces for next year's Swing Out. In Flander's Fields  is either a men's or mixed choir piece.  We will probably perform the mixed chorus version.  This text is from a famous poem that discusses the aftermath of war. This is a possible selection for Swing Out theme  War and Peace,  encompassing songs of patriotism, battle, and the hope for lasting peace. BASED OFF OF THE PMEA RUBRIC, EVALUATE THE CHOIR'S PERFORMANCE This piece is being performed by a middle school choir. What do you notice about their posture, their sound, and their accuracy?  Even though the room echos a lot, can you understand their words? Why or why not? What story is the piece telling? What do you think of the piece? Is this something that fits the style of what we do? If you are a middle school chorus member, is this something that we can accomplish within the course of a concert season?  Be sure to answer the quest...

This week, we look at one of the possible pieces for next year's Swing Out.   O Sifuni Mungu  is a mixed choir (SATB) piece.  The text is sung in swahili, then in English by the soloists.  This is a possible selection for Swing Out theme  The Elements , encompassing songs about Earth, Water, Wind, and Fire. BASED OFF OF THE PMEA RUBRIC, EVALUATE THE CHOIR'S PERFORMANCE This is performed by a high school choral ensemble.  What do you notice about their posture, their sound, and their accuracy? Can you understand their words.  Why or why not? What do you think of the piece?  Is this something that fits the style of what we do?  If you are a middle school chorus member, is this something that we can accomplish within the course of a concert season? Be sure to answer the questions using some of the terminology on the adjudication form provided to you in class. A Copy of the PMEA Assessment Rubric can be found here:  PMEA Asses...

This week, we look at one of the possible pieces for next year's Swing Out. Soldier's Cry is either a men's or mixed choir piece.  We will perform whichever one is available from the composer/arranger.  This piece is a song of remembrance for the Canadian/British holiday Remembrance Day, similar to our Memorial Day. This is a possible selection for Swing Out theme War and Peace, encompassing songs of patriotism, battle, and the hope for lasting peace. BASED OFF OF THE PMEA RUBRIC, EVALUATE THE CHOIR'S PERFORMANCE The Amabile Men's Choir is a middle/high school aged youth choir from Ontario, Canada. What do you notice about their posture, their sound, and their accuracy that might lead you to believe that they are all professional musicians?  Even though the room echos a lot, can you understand their words. Why or why not? What story is the piece telling? What do you think of the piece? Is this something that fits the style of what we do? If you a...

This week, we look at one of the possible pieces for next year's Swing Out. I Will Be Earth  is a mixed choir piece (SATB). This is a possible selection for Swing Out theme  The Elements , encompassing songs about Earth, Water, Wind, and Fire. BASED OFF OF THE PMEA RUBRIC, EVALUATE THE CHOIR'S PERFORMANCE This video was recorded as part of the Los Angeles Master Chorale High School Choir Festival, including over 2,000 high school singers from across the country. What do you notice about their posture, their sound, and their accuracy that might lead you to believe that they are all professional musicians?  The piece was recorded in the Walt Disney Theatre in Los Angeles. Even though the room echos a lot, can you understand their words. Why or why not?   What are the challenges of trying to conduct over 2,000 singers in one ensemble? What do you think of the piece? Is this something that fits the style of what we do? If you are a middle school ch...

This week, we look at one of the possible pieces for next year's Swing Out. The Mansions of the Lord is a Men's Piece (TTBB - in this recording, female altos are being used to cover the high tenor part. We would do something similar) that was originally performed by the West Point Cadet Glee Club as part of the closing credits for the movie We Were Soldiers . Of the piece, the creator of the video clip wrote the following: "During the closing credits of the movie "We Were Soldiers", I heard this hymn sung by the Cadet Glee Club of West Point. After listening to it over and over, moved by its reverent lyrics sung to a melody that healed a generation of soldiers so unjustly held in scorn and, at the same time, conveying a comforting eternal Truth, I contacted the Glee Club Director Constance Chase and proposed the production. Many of the Glee Club's followers consider this hymn to be the signature performance of the Glee Club. The opportunity to cr...

This week, we look at one of the possible pieces for next year's Swing Out.   Let the River Run  is a mixed choir (SATB) that was originally released as a pop song by artist Carly Simon in 1992 for the movie Working Girl .  This is a possible selection for Swing Out theme The Elements , encompassing songs about Earth, Water, Wind, and Fire. BASED OFF OF THE PMEA RUBRIC, EVALUATE THE CHOIR'S PERFORMANCE Conspirare (meaning breath) is a professional choral ensemble from Austin, Texas.  What do you notice about their posture, their sound, and their accuracy that might lead you to believe that they are all professional musicians? The piece was recorded in a concert hall in Austin for a televised event for PBS.  Even though the room echos a lot, can you understand their words.  Why or why not? What do you think of the piece?  Is this something that fits the style of what we do?  If you are a middle school chorus member, is this something tha...

Congratulations to all of the Middle and High School Choir members for two outstanding concerts this past week!  Much to be proud of and a job well done!  Also, congratulations to Jenny Williams for being the recipient of the 2014 National Choral Award, and to Jenny and Brad Rodgers for being crowned 2014 Swing Out King and Queen! Concert Footage from both events can be found at www.youtube.com/oilernews .

The Oil City Middle School Yearbook is in need of Concert Photos from the Spring MS Chorus Concert.  If you have any to share, please email them to sluxbacher@mail.ocasd.org   ASAP!

The Double Bloom Flower Shop is excited to offer Presentation Floral Bouquets at the 67 th Annual OCHS Swing-Out May 16 th  2014 at Oil City High School. Pre orders can be made by calling: The Double Bloom Flower Shop 814-677-2973 Business hours are: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9 a.m. to 4 P.M. Wednesday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Orders can be picked up in the lobby beginning at 6:00 p.m. We will also be in the lobby with a variety of pre-made presentation bouquets and individual carnations.

Tonight's MS Chorus Concert and Friday Night's Swing Out will be live streamed at the Oiler News YouTube page.  Go to: www.youtube.com/oilernews to view.

It was very hard this year to determine just 4 soloists for this concert.  We are actually overbooked on songs, but the quality of all of the auditions was enough to warrant the extra tunes.  Everyone did extremely well in auditions, and I have decided to go with the following 4 songs: Clinton Ames - If Heaven Amber Culver - Go the Distance Anne Marie Hutchinson - I'm Not Afraid Leisel Kober and Jennifer Williams - For Good Thank you to all who auditioned!

Congratulations to the 2014 Swing Out Court! King Candidates:  Wes Lang, Zeb Lewis, Quinton Reed, Bradley Rodgers, Jon Saxman, and Dan Staub Queen Candidates: Nicole Boocks, Amber Culver, Anne Marie Hutchinson, Leisel Kober, Hanna Stucke, Jennifer Williams The 2014 Swing Out King and Queen will be crowned this Friday night at the 67th Annual Swing Out.  7:30 pm in the High School Auditorium.  $2 Admission.

Thanks to all who helped organize the sale, and for everyone for picking up their orders.  If you are missing something, or have something wrong in your order, do not make substitutions.  Bring into Mr.  Luxbacher in the morning.