West Branch Choir Blog moving to Wiggio

I am moving the West Branch Choir blog to http://www.wiggio.com/ . This will be less flashy but will allow parents and students to receive updates via e-mail or text messaging. Click on the post heading. This will take you to the wiggio group West Branch Choirs (same title) to join the group. Use the password wbsing to join. Then you will have access to postings, documents, etc. Wiggio has quite a bit to offer for communication. You can adjust your own account settings so you can decide whether you want to be notified by e-mail or cell phone. You are also allowed to post on this group as well. Best of luck and I hope this works well for communication.

Choir Trip Contract Posted

Either click on the Choir Trip to San Diego page to find the contract link or click on the heading of this posting. $30 deposit due July 15, 2010. Deposits can be turned into the high school office or central office.

2011 Choir Trip Deposit DUE

$30 Deposit to participate in the 2011 Choir Trip to San Diego, CA is due by July 15, 2011. Deposit and signed contract can be turned into the high school office or central office.

2011 Choir Trip to San Diego, CA Information

Thanks to all the parents who attended last night's parent meeting to discuss our trip to San Diego, California. I really enjoyed meeting with you and getting feedback regarding the trip and fundraising ideas. I have almost finished the Choir Trip Contract. I will post it tomorrow after adminstration has okayed its format. I will post it under the page labled "Choir Trip to San Diego" under the show choir picture. I will post all documents under this page. In the mean time, Nancy Slach has purchased 100 of the Hy-Vee Coupon Booklets. If your son/daughter is interested in selling those to begin their fundraising, please contact Nancy at
nancy-slach@uiowa.edu; cell phone: 319-331-4091; home phone: 643-2081. I want to thank Nancy for managing this fundraiser for us. This is a great fundraiser and students should take advantage of this opportunity. Students will receive $4 for each one sold (total selling cost per booklet is $5) which is great return. I have some additional parents working on other fundraising ideas. I will post each fundraising event on our blog. If you have any questions don't hesitate to contact me at creed@west-branch.k12.ia.us

2010-2011 Show Choir Show Selected

I am excited to announce that I have finally selected the 2010-2011 show choir show. I think everyone will truly enjoy this show and the many challenges we face putting it together. It will push you to a higher standard of performance and contains the fun and excitement generated by show choirs like Pella. I look forward to introducing our show to you and beginning the process. See you soon!

Show Choir Parents

Show Choir Members should have brought home an information sheet a couple weeks ago asking for parents to help provide food for our summer camp. 15 parents responded. However, with 70 students present at camp, that will not be enough food for our students. If you click on this posting title, you will access the link of who is bring what on which day. If you would like to bring something, please contact me at creed@west-branch.k12.ia.us Thanks!

2011 Choir Trip to San Diego, CA

Parent/Guardian Meeting on Wednesday, June 23 at 7pm in the HS Auditorium. Due to the busy month of May and now with summer schedules of softball and baseball, the 23rd of June was the only date that worked. I do know that there is a baseball doubleheader that evening. However, it is at home so if parents are able to stop down between games to gather information, that would be great. If you cannot make this meeting, please let me know so we may set up another time to meet. Thanks and thanks for your cooperation.

Congratulations Middle School Choirs

Great performance last night! What a great way to end the year. Thanks for all of your hard work and have a great summer.

Middle School Choir Concert

This Thursday, May 27, 2010, middle school students, along with some high school drummers, will present their spring concert in the High School Auditorium at 7pm. 6th Grade General Music should be wearing their required concert dress (black dress shoes, black dress socks/nylons, black dress pants/skirt, and white dress shirt/blouse). 7th and 8th Grade Chorus will be dressing up in disco style clothing, which is school appropriate. In addition to the middle school groups, the new high school World Music Drumming Ensemble will present a short introductory performance at the beginning of the concert.

Congratulations West Branch Choirs

Congratulations on three awesome performances at State Large Group Contest yesterday. The Concert Choir and Men's Chorus received Superior I ratings while the Women's Chorus received an Excellent II rating. Surprisingly, I felt the Women's Chorus had the best performance of the day. You never know with judges. In addition, I felt that this was the most professional and most well behaved group I have ever taken to contest. I was so proud to see them self-monitor themselves and act like superb young adults. What a blessing it is to work with these West Branch students.

Spring Choir Concert Location Changed

The auditorium will not be available for the Spring Choir Concert on Thursday, May 6, 2010. The concert is therefore being held at Bethany Lutheran Churches' fellowship hall. The concert will be held at the same time, 7:30pm. We thank you for your understanding and cooperation. We also would like to extend a great deal of thanks to Marty Jacobson and Bethany Lutheran Church for allowing us to use their facilities at such short notice.

State Large Group Contest Bus Departures

Men's Chorus will leave at 9:45am. The Women's Chorus will leave at 12pm. All buses should be back to West Branch around 3:30pm.

State Large Group Contest

We just received performance times for State Large Group Contest. Contest is held in Tipton on May 8, 2010. The choirs perform at the United Church of Christ, which is by Tipton High School. Admission to this event has changed from previous years. Adults $5 and Children of school age is now $3. The Men's Chorus will perform at 11am, Concert Choir at 1:15pm, and Women's Chorus is at 2pm. We are still in the process of planning transportation to Tipton. Once the departure times are decided, I will post them.

Show Choir Band and Crew

Instrumentalists and crew members are needed for the 2010-2011 show choir. Instruments needed are trumpets, saxophones, trombones, drums, percussion, synthesizer, and any student can join the crew. Please talk to Mr. Reed in the next month to schedule an audition time.

Show Choir Auditions 2010-2011

Show Choir Auditions will be held the first two weeks of May for the 2010-2011 group. Please click on the post title to access specific audition times and locations. If you have any questions, please let me know by e-mail or phone.

Large Group Contest

State Large Group Contest will be held on Saturday, May 8, 2010, at Tipton High School. This will include the Concert Choir, Men's Chorus, and Women's Chorus. Performance times are yet to be determined by the state office. Contest runs from 8am-5pm. All choir members are required to attend. The Women's Chorus will be performing "Sea Witch", "Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening", and "Ev'ry Time I Feel The Spirit". The Men's Chorus will be performing "Wait For The Wagon", "I'm Bound Away", and "Sing Me A Song of a Lad That is Gone". The Concert Choir will be performing Vivaldi's "Gloria" and "The Pasture".

Congratulations to Solos at State Contest

Congratulations to Isaac DeJong, Gabe Watson, and Annie Whiteside on their Superior I rating at State Solo and Ensemble Contest held at West Liberty on Saturday, April 10.

State Solo & Ensemble Contest Schedule

On Saturday, April 10th, high school vocal students will be traveling to West Liberty High School for the Iowa High School Music Association Solo and Ensemble Contest. The contest runs from 8am until 5pm. Our morning bus will leave at 7:15am, taking over students performing in the morning session. Another bus will leave WBHS at 11am for students only performing in the afternoon. The 11am bus will bring back any students who are only performing in the morning session. The final bus will return between 5 and 5:30pm. By clicking on the above post title, you will be transferred to the schedule link.

Congratulations Performing Arts

Congratulations to the Middle School and High School Jazz Bands, Christopher Jive and the Uptown 45 show choir, and soloists who performed so well at our annual Swing Show last weekend. We had 3 sell out shows and you all performed very well.

Swing Show Adds 3rd Show

The Annual Swing Show has added a 3rd show on Sunday, March 28 at 2:30pm due to selling out the Friday and Saturday shows this week. Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for students.