Hingham Music

If you have not already submitted your volunteer form, please do so as soon as possible. We really need parent drivers! If you would like to drive, but you do not have a group of 2 or 4 students, please contact Robin or Johanna anyway. They may be able to find a group for you.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR A JOB!

Band, Orchestra, and Mixed Chorus will travel to Washington D.C. next April 2-5, 2009 to perform and compete in the Heritage Festivals during Cherry Blossom season! Students and parents should start thinking seriously about committing to the trip. The total cost has not been determined, but it will likely be $500-750. Many variables still need to be worked out, and we'll update that estimate as best we can.

A non-refundable $100 deposit is due to your music director no later than October 1, 2008 to secure your place on the trip. Checks are payable to HMPA. Half of the remaining cost will be due December 1, and the final balance (less fundraising credits) will be due February 1, 2009.

Parents may find a complete list of HHS music events for 2008-09 posted on the HMPA tab. Updates will be made by changing the list and posting a notice on this website. Parents are strongly encouraged to put all relevant dates in your calendars as soon as possible.

Parents and students are enthusiastically invited to attend two exciting recitals resulting from the Solo & Ensemble Festival this weekend. On Thursday, February 7, outstanding performances representing all instruments and grade levels will be featured in a free recital at 7:30 p.m. at South Shore Conservatory. The very best one or two ensembles will also be selected to perform in a ticketed Chamber Music Recital on Sunday, February 10 at 4:00 p.m. at the House of Prayer Lutheran Church. These student ensembles will have the special honor performing alongside musicians of the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra and South Shore Conservatory. A reception for audience and musicians will follow the performance, sponsored by Derby Street Shoppes. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students. Support our music students with your attendance!

The student performers will have a unique opportunity to deepen their understanding and experience of performing the Requiem, as Jin Kim, conductor of the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, will present a clinic on November 30 at HHS. Mr. Kim will work with the chorus and orchestra on their final preparations for the concerts, offering his insights and suggestions to our fortunate music students. Mr. Kim appears free of charge thanks to a new relationship between the Hingham Public Schools, Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, and South Shore Conservatory. The music department is very grateful to the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra and Mr. Kim for their generosity.

We wish to extend our sincerest thanks to the teachers, parents, students, and siblings who worked so hard to make this year's Coffee Sale such a success. We sold a total of 3,269 pounds of coffee, 224 pounds more than last year. With donations, our gross proceeds were $17,629. What a terrific show of support for the wonderful HHS music program!

Thank you all!

Johanna Seelen and Robin Daniels

The music department of Hingham High School presented a beautiful collaborative concert on October 23 to a full house.

The Orchestra opened the program with a difficult but beautifully played pair of pieces by Schumann and Dvorak. The Freshman Orchestra followed with some Mozart and Beatles, and impressed the audience with their polish and poise. The Symphony ended the orchestral portion of the program with a rich, sweeping performance of Grieg's Norwegian Dances.

The Chorus ensembles presented a set of six American folk songs. The Women's and Men's Choruses gave touching and rousing performances, followed by a confident Freshman Spectrum, accompanied by Alex Chin, cello. The Freshman Girls Chorus then presented a flirtatious setting of 'Reuben, Reuben'. Choral Spectrum and Mixed Chorus sang with fullness and sensitivity and featured excellent solos by Cindy Crowley, Lauren Arcement, Michael O'Neill, and Julie Caplain.

The Band closed the concert with three stirring pieces: a Sousa march performed with precision, clarity and energy; a touching arrangement of a hymn by Holsinger; and a dramatic and compelling performance of 'The Great Locomotive Chase'. The final selection brought down the house and provided a fitting conclusion to an evening of terrific musical performances.

Thanks to all students for their hard work, and thanks to the parents and community members for their attendance and support!

A message from Robin Daniels and Johanna Seelen: A HUGE thank you to all of the parents and students who participated this weekend in the Coffee Sale!!  While we ended up a bit short of our goal of 2000 pounds, it was a very strong start.  As of the half-way point:

Saturday:        1,244 pounds of coffee sold
Sunday:             618 pounds of coffee sold
Total:              1,862 pounds of coffee sold

Gross Coffee Profit:  1,862 pounds x $4 per pound = $7,448

Donations:  $2,556 

Gross Total Profit:  $10,004*

Our goal for next weekend is 2,000 pounds of coffee.  We are going to need to push if we are going to achieve this.  The PLAN test (sophomores) and PSAT test (juniors) are scheduled for Saturday morning, so we are reaching out to parents of  freshmen and seniors to please make sure your students are signed up to sell on Saturday morning while the sophomores and juniors are taking their tests.  Parents of sophomores and juniors should make sure their students are signed up to sell on Saturday afternoon.  All students need to make every effort to sell on Sunday.   Less than one-half of the students involved in the music program have participated thus far in the Coffee Sale.  Full student participation will make it easy to achieve our goal!

We will confirm parent driving assignments later this week once we have a better idea as to the number of students who will be selling.  In the meantime, please email if you have questions or concerns.  Suggestions are always welcome too!

Thanks again for all of your help and we look forward to seeing you next weekend!

*gross profit does not include miscellaneous expenses not yet calculated such as photocopying, supplies, etc.

Please click HERE to get information about how to sell coffee, and lots of it!