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Young Musicians Competition

If you presently are studying a musical instrument, you may qualify for the Phoenix Youth Symphony’s Young Musicians’ Competition.  This is for string players, pianists, wind players, and any young person who is able to perform a movement from memory of a standard concerto for solo instrument and orchestra.

Last year, our own Thomas Menefee won a scholarship through this competition to attend Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan for 5 weeks over the summer (valued over $6000)!

Winners will perform their concertos with The Phoenix Symphony at the annual Side-by-Side Concert on Sunday, March 10 at Symphony Hall. Winners in the junior division will receive a $500 cash prize.

The application deadline is Wednesday, November 7.

Applications postmarked after November 7 require a $25 late fee. Applications postmarked after November 14 will not be accepted.

For more information about the competition, click here.

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Cantamus Auditions: Habanera and Jazz

We will continue the auditions next week for solos for the Winter Concert.  If you wish to audition for any of the following solos, you may:

  • Major General
  • One Day More
  • Sunrise, Sunset
  • When a Felon’s Not Engaged
  • Poor Wandering One
  • All Good Things
  • Habanera

Because I was still in the process of scripting it when the last round of auditions happened, I have not heard anyone for Carmen’s solos in “Habanera.”

I will hold solo auditions for Habanera and any other solos on Monday, October 29, 7-8am in Room 302.  If you are unable to come Monday, please make arrangements with me to do your audition at another time, probably during lunch next week.

If you are interested in auditioning for Cantamus Jazz, reserve Wednesday morning, October 31, 7am-8am in Room 302.  This likely will be the rehears al time for the group.  Audition materials are on the Cantamus Downloads page.  The page is password protected.  If you need the password, please contact me and I’ll send it to you.  You will need to learn the audition material on your own prior to the audition on Wednesday.

I expect to schedule Cantamus Jazz to sing the “Westside Story” suite for the Winter Concert on January 12.  The other piece I’ve selected for it to perform is “L-O-V-E” (click to listen) which we may want to perform for Solo and Ensemble or for the May concert.

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Another Concert for Review

10th and 11th grade music students may use the following concert to review if they like:

Fine Arts Recital

Music of Bach, Beethoven, Classical Choral Music

  • When: Sunday October 21st
  • Time: 3 PM
  • Place: Arizona Community Church 9325 S. Rural Road Tempe, AZ 85284 NE Corner Rural Road and Knox)
  • Admission: Free (Donations to cover expenses are welcome).
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Cantamus Anthem at Game!

Rosalie directs on Friday night as Cantamus performs the National Anthem before hundreds (hopefully) of fans at the football game at 6:45 p.m. The Knights play against Arizona Lutheran Academy at Arizona Lutheran Academy, 6036 S 27th Avenue, Phoenix. The directions are on the online calendar.

Singers wear red Cantamus T-Shirt (available tomorrow at rehearsal for those who don’t yet have it; please bring check for $10 payable to Tempe Preparatory Academy).

Singers are responsible for their own transportation.

Traffic often is hideous at this time of night, so singers are advised to leave early.

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Cantamus Parents: Cantamus Needs You!

If you are a parent of a Cantamus singer, I could really use your help tomorrow during rehearsal, 7am – 8am in the Zelman Center.  I will be distributing new music and also the red T-Shirts. If you can help, please let me know. T-Shirts are $10 this semester (the price went up so they’ll be a bit more next semester for new students). Ties also will be available tomorrow morning for $15.

Other volunteer needs and opportunities

If you are available early afternoons or during the day, we sometimes get new music in that needs to be prepared for rehearsal. If you ever think you might be available on a Monday or Wednesday afternoon, please let me know.

If you are available any time during the day, we have music that needs to be sorted, counted, and filed. If you can help with this kind of general availability, please let me know.

Pickup: if you are ever available to pick up something we might need (such as for the January 12 event), please let me know your cross streets.

Thank you so much for your willingness to volunteer your help.

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Cantamus Week (briefly)

Rehearsals begin again on Thursday (not Tuesday as previously announced).  See you at 7am in Zelman

Parent Council meeting is Wednesday, 7:00 p.m. Our main points of discussion will be the spring trip date and the January 12 event. More on these in a subsequent email.

National Anthem Friday evening at 6:45 p.m. I’ll get more detail and directions this week. Rosalie conducts. Wear your red Cantamus t-shirts, which should all be in by that time. Check at rehearsal on Thursday.

In further news, I finished Bizet’s “Habañera” with English paraphrase (we could perform it in French, although there are a lot of words, hence the English paraphrase). The piece features a soprano soloist, so we’ll need another round of auditions for that song.

We’ll have more auditions this week. Look for an announcement in a subsequent email or check this blog.