^{Congratulations to Junior Max Fenwick (Wind Symphony and Jazz 1), who earned the title Midwest Amateur Grade 2 Snare Drumming Champion at the Winter Storm Pipes and Drums Event in Kansas City Missouri, on January 15th-18th. This is Max’s second year competing in this event and he placed 5th in 2025. Read more about Max HERE and HERE!} 

^{Members of EWHS Jazz bands and community members jam together at Romeo’s Jazz Night. This is a monthly event at Romeo’s in Edmonds. Jazz Night takes place each month; usually the third or fourth Wednesday. Please reference the calendar for exact date, and join us for great music, food and drinks.}

MUSIC IN THE NEWS & COMMUNITY

The EWHS Jazz I Ensemble has been selected to play in Starbucks Annual Hot Java, Cool Jazz concert at The Paramount Theatre on Friday, March 27th at 7:00 pm! Click the button below for more information and ticket sales

Another upcoming event you do not want to miss is The 50th Annual DeMiero Jazz Fest Thursday, March 12th, 2026. The EWHS Choirs will be participating as well as EW Band Director, Jake Bergevin and the Jazz Punishments along with the New York Voices. Don’t sleep on this lively showcase of musical talent.

MUSIC TRIVIA

Which African-American singer was known as the “First Lady of Song” and “The Queen of Jazz”, known particularly for her scat singing?

*Answer at end of newsletter

MUSICIAN OF THE MONTH

Nominated by Orchestra Director, Ashley Giri

Anna Stewart plays the upright bass in Orchestra.

The talented Senior has been playing the upright bass for four years at EWHS. Anna’s favorite song to play is Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4. The annual music event that she looks forward to most each year, is Masterworks! You can see Anna play next at the Orchestra Quad concert on Wednesday, February 11th.

MUSIC TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: The wonderful Ella Fitzgerald!
Learn more about her storied life, HERE and listen to her interview with Brian Linehan, HERE

Thank you for reading our monthly newsletter and supporting Edmonds-Woodway student musicians! We look forward to seeing you at our events.

“Through music, students learn the power of patience, diligence, and creativity.” – Timothy Rhodes

*If you wish to opt-out of receiving our monthly newsletter, please EMAIL us at EWHSMusicBoosters at gmail dot com INSTEAD of unsubscribing, as it negatively impacts our marketing metrics

• Leadership Transition
• Band Calendar Updates
• ESD Foundation 5-K Fun-Run
• Winter Benefit Concert Planning
• Dawn Clement Quintet
• Jazz Jams at Romeo’s
• Music Advocacy
• Ryan Keberle & Catharsis Concert with EWHS Jazz
• Latin Grooves Orchestra Dance Night
• Holiday Craft Fair
• Help Wanted!!

LEADERSHIP TRANSITION
On behalf of the EWHS Music Boosters, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to Jen Castle for her dedicated service as President. While we understand that she is stepping down because her son will not be continuing with music, we are incredibly grateful that she will remain on the Board to continue her advocacy for Music and the Arts. Her passion and commitment have made a lasting impact, and we look forward to continuing our important work together.

Jen’s resignation is effective October 2nd. The Executive Board is working to ensure all of the President’s duties are covered and will develop a plan for filling the role. We are deeply appreciative that Jen will continue to volunteer with the Boosters and ensure a smooth transition.

BAND CALENDAR UPDATES
There are two date changes to the Band Calendar sent out in Week 1:

• Football Game originally scheduled for 10/4/24 has been moved to 10/3/24: 6:30pm arrival for band members, 7:30pm kick-off.
• Big Band Dance originally scheduled for 3/14/25 has been moved to 3/21/25.

ESD FOUNDATION 5K FUN RUN
10/5/2024 from 9:00am to 12:00pm at Lake Ballinger Ball Field; Drumline performs at 10:30am
https://secure.qgiv.com/event/monstermaddash5k
The 16th Annual Monster Mad Dash benefiting the Foundation for Edmonds School District will be held on Saturday, October 5. EWHS Music families, let’s walk/run together to support music. You can register to join our MUSIC FAMILIES OF THE ESD Team at https://secure.qgiv.com/event/monstermaddash5k/ or sign up in person at 8:00am on the day of the race. Be sure to catch the EWHS Drumline in a Battle of the Bands Style performance at 10:30am, too.

WINTER BENEFIT CONCERT PLANNING MEETING ON 10/7
10/7 at 7pm via Zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82697044437?pwd=7j4zeZTuBqct1Klhv8khFEoo2STW8x.1
Meeting ID: 826 9704 4437  Passcode: 421461
We are in the planning phase of our Winter Concert scheduled for December 3rd and need to get a team together to work on a variety of activities to make the event successful. This event is expected to be our largest fundraiser of the year. You are invited to a zoom call on Monday 10/7 at 7pm (link above) night to kick off the planning for this event. New ideas and strategies are welcome.

DAWN CLEMENT QUINTET
10/11 at 12:45-2:00pm, EWHS Band Room
EWHS Jazz is proud to be hosting the Dawn Clement Quintet on Friday October 11 in the band room at 12:45 PM until 2. This event is co-sponsored by JazzClubsNW.

JAZZ JAMS AT ROMEO’S
10/20 at 3pm and 10/30 at 7pm, Romeo’s Pizza Kitchen, 2110 76th Ave W, Edmonds
Romeo’s Pizza Kitchen routinely hosts jazz jam sessions and are a great opportunity for jazz students to play with jazzers from the community. In October, mark your calendars for:

• 10/20/24 at 3:00pm for a jam session hosted by Jazz Clubs NW
• 10/30/24 7:00pm for EWHS Jazz night

MUSIC ADVOCACY
10/23, 6-7:30pm; Town Hall Meeting in EWHS Gym
https://ewhsmusic.com/advocacy/ and sign up to attend Town Hall Meeting
An Important Budget Session begins in January 2025. We need ALL parents to help support FULLY FUNDING EDUCATION. Please sign up and ATTEND an important Town Hall Meeting.This collaborative effort is hosted by District and Union leaders of the Edmonds, Shoreline and Northshore districts. Legislatures representing all areas will be there to talk about EDUCATION FUNDING specifically.

In addition to attending this meeting, there will be many small ways you can show the legislature that we expect action to get more funding to schools. Please check our advocacy page at https://ewhsmusic.com/advocacy/ regularly for updates.

RYAN KEBERLE & CATHARSIS CONCERT WITH EWHS JAZZ
11/1/24 at 7:30pm in the EWHS Little Theater
https://www.earshot.org/event/ryan-keberle-catharsis-w-edmonds-woodway-high-school-jazz-band/
Join us for a special evening of world-class jazz featuring Ryan Keberle & Catharsis, hailed by the Los Angeles Times for their “potent blend of cinematic sweep and lush, ear-grabbing melodies.” This incredible ensemble, featuring renowned musicians like guitarist/vocalist Camila Meza and trumpet player Mike Rodriguez, will also be collaborating with our very own EWHS Jazz Band for a workshop earlier in the day, followed by a public performance at 7:30pm. Tickets are available for $12-20. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to witness the magic of jazz while supporting our talented EWHS musicians.

LATIN GROOVES ORCHESTRA DANCE NIGHT
11/8/24 from 6:30pm to 9:30pm in the EWHS Great Hall
https://ewhsmusic.com/latin-dance-night/
Featuring performances by our string orchestras, EWHS Jazz Bands, and the Edmonds Community College Salsa Band, the night will be filled with salsa and tango performances, fresh homemade treats, and a silent auction fundraiser. If you have community contacts for authentic Latin culture or special skills to contribute, let us know. Your involvement makes this event special and supports an amazing learning experience for our students. Parents of freshmen – we’d love to meet you!

HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR
12/8/24 from 10am to 3pm in the EWHS Great Hall
https://ewhsmusic.com/2024-craft-fair/
The EWHS Music Boosters is once again hosting our beloved annual Holiday Craft Fair for crafters and vendors of homemade items. Last year’s event was a rousing success with over 60 vendors and hundreds of shoppers, and we hope you will be able to join us again.

The Craft Fair raises funds for EWHS Music from vendor registration fees, a raffle of handcrafted items donated from our vendors, and a concessions booth. Our student musicians play throughout the day and provide a truly fun and festive atmosphere. You can help by spreading the word and inviting friends and family, or signing up as a volunteer or vendor.

VENDORS: If you or someone you know are interested in being a vendor, information is available at https://ewhsmusic.com/2024-craft-fair/. Tables are filling fast!

HELP WANTED!
Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator Rachael Garrett at “ewhsmbvolunteers at gmail dot com” or the noted contacts if you can help with any of the events listed below.

• 10/18 – Homecoming Parent Support Needed in Stands
  We will need additional parent support on homecoming evening in the stands at the football game. Please contact Mr. Bergevin at “bergevinj at edmonds dot wednet dot edu”
  
  
• Latin Grooves Orchestra Dance Night on 11/8
  Come dance the night to Latin grooves! Please visit https://ewhsmusic.com/latin-dance-night/ to sign up to help with this enormously fun evening.
  
  
• Fundraising Committee – Sign up by 10/5
  Seeking members to help generate this year’s fundraising plan. This committee will meet by zoom 1-2 times during October to generate new ideas to add to our ongoing fundraisers. Sign up by 10/5 at https://forms.gle/9RjGj9Zhqd4B4Zvg9
  
  
• Craft Fair Lead-in-Training
  Please consider helping keep this terrific fundraiser going this year and in the future. We are looking for a volunteer Craft Fair Lead-in-Training. This person works with this year’s lead to learn the ropes and commit to leading the planning for 2025 event. Contact Shannon Alyea at “ewhsmbvp at gmail dot com” to find out more or to volunteer.
  
  
• Uniform Parents
  Volunteers are needed to help with outfitting our student musicians in their performance uniforms for the band, choir and orchestra. Contact Shannon Alyea at “ewhsmbvp at gmail dot com” to find out more or to volunteer. Volunteer during the school day to help with measuring and assigning uniforms to students AND/OR share your sewing skills to do basic repairs and help with hemming

PLEASE NOTE: If you no longer want to receive the EWHS monthly newsletter, please let us know by replying to the email message you received, rather than unsubscribing. We are a trusted sender with our mail management system and our reputation will be negatively affected if we have a large number of folks unsubscribing at once.

Dear EWHS Music Families and Supporters:

Hard as it is to believe, summer break is almost at an end and we are gearing up for another incredible year in the EWHS Music Program. Our teachers, students and volunteers have been active all summer with all kinds of music events and planning activities.

Please visit the EWHS Music website front page and our EWHS Music Calendar for all the latest musical news, events and happenings at EWHS. Here are some highlights:

8/27 3-6pm: Back-to-School BBQ at EWHS
8/29 9am-12pm: EWHS ExtravaBANDza
9/12 7pm: EWHS Music Open House & Ice Cream Social
9/13: Pep Band playing at First Football Game

Warmest regards,
The EWHS Music Boosters team

Please take a look below at some of the events we have coming up soon. We could also use a little help with some of them, including our Awards Concert on 6/4, our Second Spring Concert on 6/11, our annual Music Department BBQ for students in 6/7, and possibly becoming part of Boosters leadership.

Please note that we will be posting periodic updates on social media during the summer, but no official newsletters. Please stop by our Facebook page at  https://m.facebook.com/ewhsmusic/ and Instagram account at https://www.instagram.com/ewhs_music/. You can also refer to our EWHS Music Calendar for a current list of events.

Warmest regards
The EWHS Music Boosters

EWHS JAZZ COLONY SUMMER CAMP
Tuesday nights, starting 7/9, 6-8pm, EWHS Band Room
https://ewhsmusic.com/jazz-colony/
Only $175 for 8 weekly sessions with professional coaches, plus final performance – best value summer camp you will find anywhere! PLEASE NOTE: this camp is open to current EWHS students going into 10th, 11th, and 12th grade ONLY. Registration formally closes on 6/5, but spots run out fast so register ASAP. Take a look at some of our great camps from previous years at https://jazzcolony.blogspot.com

2024-2025 BOOSTERS BOARD ELECTIONS
UPDATE: Elections took place on 6/12 at 6:30pm via Zoom
More info and results at https://ewhsmusic.com/boosters/board-and-volunteers/

EWHS MUSIC ANNUAL AWARDS CONCERT
Tues 6/4 at 7pm, EWHS Great Hall
Please join us on Tuesday evening 6/4 at 7pm for our very special annual spring awards concert. The evening will feature students from all our ensembles, performing works by Gershwin, Gordon Jacob, Leroy Anderson, and many more. We will conclude the festivities with a cake reception after the concert. Please contact us asap if you can help with cake cutting etc.

MELLO-AIRES VOCAL JAZZ SOLOS
Sat 6/8, 1-3pm at Salish Sea Boathouse in Edmonds
Come enjoy an afternoon of fabulous vocal jazz and a tasty menu of beverages and food at the Salish Sea Boathouse on 6/8 1-3pm.

3RD ANNUAL EDMONDS JAZZ WALK
Sat 6/8 from 5pm-midnight, Downtown Edmonds
https://www.edmondsjazzwalk.com/
3rd Annual Edmonds Jazz Walk sponsored by Jazz Clubs NW and our own Jazz Colony organization. Please note that Jazz 1 is playing at 5pm at the Edmonds Movie Theater. Performing students will be receiving free admission wrist bands. Tickets available at https://tickets.jazzclubsnw.org/event/2024-edmonds-jazz-walk.

HELP NEEDED WITH YEAR-END BBQ
Fri 6/7 at Edmonds City Park – starting as soon as school gets out
Our students are very excited for the annual end of the year BBQ. On the menu – burgers, hot dogs, sides, beverages and treats. Organizer Shannon Alyea could really use some parent help with this event – grilling, supply runs, setup, cleanup, etc. Many hands make light work!! Please sign up >>link expired<<

SPRING CONCERT 2
Tues 6/11 at 7pm, EWHS Great Hall
Our second Spring Concert will feature our Concert Symphonic Band, Concert Symphonic Orchestra, and Jazz Ensemble 2. This is another very special evening and our students have been working hard all year. We look forward to seeing you there!

SIGN UP FOR OUR MONTHLY MUSIC NEWSLETTER
Newsletter Mailing List Signup
No spam or drama – just lots of really useful information. Unsubscribe at any time.

As the year marches on, EWHS Music is still going strong with many fun events and concerts. Our seniors are writing final exams and we are gearing up for our year-end celebrations in June. Please review the opportunities below for helping out, including our annual Music Department BBQ on 6/7, buying Jazz Connection raffle tickets, and possibly becoming part of Boosters leadership. We have also added more information about the cuts to music programs in our school and our district, so please don’t forget to look at Jen’s Advocacy Blog and our Take Action page to see how you can help.

BEL CANTO SOLO PROJECT CONCERT
Tues 5/7, 7pm in the Edmonds-Woodway Theater, 7600 212^th St SW, Edmonds
Please join us for a very special evening featuring a selection of singers from the EWHS Bel Canto Choir and College Place Middle School.

MUSIC DEPARTMENT YEAR-END BBQ
6/7 after school gets out, Edmonds City Park
Please contact Shannon Alyea to help out with our annual year-end barbecue. This is always a really fun event and nothing too difficult, but many hands make light work. You can sign up to help with tasks like supply runs, grilling, salads, snacks, drinks, setup, cleanup, and more.

EWHS MUSIC SENIOR KEEPSAKE POSTERS
Parents of Music Seniors: We are putting individualized posters together for all Choir, Orchestra and Band students in our graduating music class. Please have your student send us their high quality photos ASAP (with or without instrument) or DM via Instagram @ewhs_music.

JAZZ CONNECTION RAFFLE TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE THROUGH MAY 9
Through 5/9, $5 each at https://square.link/u/NoiualW5. EVENT is on 5/18 and Jazz 1 & 2 are both playing.
Your ticket purchase enters you into a drawing to win $1000 during the Edmonds Jazz Connection on Saturday, May 18th. You do not need to be present to win. The EWHS Music Boosters also receive a portion of the ticket sale proceeds. Your raffle tickets will be mailed to the address you provide at check out.

JAZZ 1 AND WIND SYMPHONY AT LEAVENWORTH JAZZ FESTIVAL
5/10-5/12, Leavenworth, WA, https://www.leavenworthjazzfestival.org/
The EWHS Big Band will be playing at the festival Swing Dance on 5/10 and many more events over the weekend. Tickets are still available. Free to students and under 18s.

HELP NEEDED FOR JAZZ CONNECTION RAFFLE SALES
5/11, outside Edmonds QFC, 22828 100th Ave W, Edmonds
https://m.signupgenius.com/#/showSignUp/10C084BACAF28ABF9C52-49439543-raffle
Please consider signing up to help the Edmonds Rotary Club sell raffle tickets in support of the 2024 Jazz Connection Festival. This event is a premier annual community fundraiser for our district music programs.

MAY BOOSTERS MEETING
Weds 5/15 at 7:30 pm in the EWHS Orchestra Room A111
All music parents are invited. Come find out about the fun events we have planned for the rest of the school year, as well as the various Boosters positions opening up soon.

UPCOMING BOOSTERS BOARD ELECTIONS
Executive Board – President, Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer
Elections in early June. Nominations due 5/31. Appointed positions also open e.g. Communications, Gig Coordinator, Program Liaisons, and many more. More information at https://ewhsmusic.com/boosters/board-and-volunteers/. Please contact us with questions and nominations.

SUMMER MUSIC CAMPS AND PROGRAMS
https://ewhsmusic.com/summer-camps/
Visit our 2024 Summer Camps web page to find out more about some of the best opportunities for students to build their musical skills over the summer. There are options at every price point and many camps offer need-based scholarships.

You will notice that we are experimenting with a new format for our monthly newsletter. Instead of one long email, we are trying out a dynamic website page with news snippets and links to further information. Please us the contact form to let us know what you think or if you notice any issues.

Upcoming Events
Selected Recent Events
Boosters Board Openings & Elections
District Budget Challenges & Jen’s New Advocacy Blog

Instagram Linktree

UPCOMING EVENTS

EWHS Talent Show
4/10, 7pm, EWHS Theatre, $5 at the door
Come support our students showing off their talents and our Mello Aires jazz choir at the same time. This special fundraiser is a fun event for everyone in the family and an opportunity to see friends show up for each other.

Special Engagement: Dawn Clement with EWHS Jazz
4/12/24 at 7:30pm, EWHS Theater, tickets $15 at door
https://ewhsmusic.com/dawn-clement/

The Edmonds-Woodway Music Boosters are excited to welcome renowned jazz pianist, vocalist, and composer Dawn Clement to the Edmonds-Woodway stage. Ms. Clement will be joined by Michael Glynn on bass and Milo Petersen on drums. The program will also include performances by EWHS Jazz for an unforgettable evening of music and community.

Columbia Basin College Choir Festival
4/18-4/20, departing 1:30pm, Columbia Basin College
Ms. Reese and the choir students will be participating in the CBC Choir Festival in Pasco WA. Best of luck to all!!

EWHS Music Department Masterworks Concert
4/29 at 7:30pm (doors open 7pm), Shorewood High School Theatre, 17300 Fremont Ave N. Shoreline, WA

Please join us for a very special evening at the Shorewood HS Theatre. A few of our EWHS senior students will be interpreting various works ranging from traditional Spanish bullfighting music to notable pieces by Haydn, Stamitz and Bruch. The second half of the concert will be a performance of Faure’s Requiem by members of the EWHS Full Orchestra alongside the EWHS Bel Canto Choir and The Edmonds Community College Chorale. The evening will conclude with a cake reception after the concert.

SELECTED RECENT EVENTS

Time for Three Concert at ECA on 3/15
Diana Ortega, Director of Education and Community Engagement at the Edmonds Center for the Arts, invited EWHS orchestra students to play side by side with well-known performing artists ‘Time For Three’. Students from the EWHS Symphony and Concert Orchestras participated and joined forces with students and staff from the World Youth Orchestra, playing the song “Joy” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-HYvPnkF_Y.

W-ASTA/WWU Orchestra Festival on 3/16
EWHS students recently participated in the W-ASTA/WWU Orchestra Festival in Bellingham on the beautiful WWU campus. Our Full Orchestra won first place in their category and all our groups performed exceptionally well. Thank you also to Mrs. Malacari and her team of chaperones for helping make this a very special outing. Full Orchestra with their FIRST PLACE winning performance. COPYRIGHT NOTICE: This video was taken by the owner EWHS Music Boosters on 3/16/24

DeMiero Vocal Jazz Festival 3/9
Our fabulous Mello-Aires participated in the DeMiero Jazz Festival the weekend of 3/9 and they rocked it!! Ms. Reese also knocked it out of the park with her group Last Call and joint performances with other incredible guest artists on 3/8. Link to MyEdmondsNews article https://myedmondsnews.com/…/edmonds-woodway-meadowdale…/.

Big Band Swing Dance 3/22
The EWHS Swing Dance 2024 on 3/22/24 at the Edmonds Waterfront Center was a blast!! A heartfelt and huge thank you to everyone who made this event such a success, particularly organizer Kristina Jipson. She has graciously agreed to take the lead on this event again next year, so please let us know if you would like to get involved.

Hot Java Cool Jazz 3/29

Participating in the 27th Annual Starbucks Hot Java Cool Jazz concert at the Paramount was the realization of life-long dream for many of our students. It was such an incredible experience to be part of an event like this, alongside four other top high school jazz bands in Puget Sound, including Mountlake Terrace, Garfield, Roosevelt, and Mount Si. This concert was also a significant fundraising opportunity for all participating schools as 100% of the proceeds are donated back by event sponsor Starbucks. Here is what they had to say about Hot Java and the Value of the Arts. https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2024/starbucks-hot-java-cool-jazz-is-a-testament-to-the-value-of-the-arts/ (Those are our students in the lead photo).

2024-2025 BOOSTERS BOARD OPENINGS
Executive Board – President, Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer
Elections will take place in early June. Please submit interest and nominations by May 31. There are also several appointed positions open for the coming school year, such as Communications, Gig Coordinator, Program Liaisons, and many more. More information at https://ewhsmusic.com/boosters/board-and-volunteers/.

DISTRICT BUDGET CHALLENGES & JEN’S NEW ADVOCACY BLOG
https://ewhsmusic.com/take-action/.
https://ewhsmusic.com/2024/03/27/advocacy-blog/
It is time to TAKE ACTION. We already know that 5^th and 6^th grade ensemble music is being looked at for a district wide cut. In a few weeks, each school Principal will develop their staffing plan and courses that will be offered for next year. They will also be given their budget for teaching (called FTE, 1.0 FTE means one full-time equivalent position). This is the time that individual school classes can be cut. You will also learn more from our Boosters President Jennifer Castle through her new Advocacy Blog.

Additional Resources
EWHS Music Take Action page
MTHS Save the Music Page

Please show up in support of Music at the next School Board Meeting until the final July 2024 vote. Their schedule can be found at https://www.edmonds.wednet.edu/our-district/school-board/schedule-of-board-meetings

May 5, 2024
Please continue to SPEAK, EMAIL and ADVOCATE!

Many music supporters spoke at the 4/23 School Board meeting in support of fully funding district music programs. Among the speakers were brave elementary students, alumni from our Band program, a community member (Billy Kennelly) and several music parents.

The next Board meeting is Tuesday May 14 at 6:30PM; please sign up to speak beginning at 6:10pm. Continue to send letters to your legislatures, school board, and administration. See the Take Action page for a full list of email addresses.

Remember this process is very dynamic until the budget is signed in July. Many discussions are happening within the schools and district and FTE is in play.

Building Level Cuts
We are slowly learning about the proposed building level cuts. Here is what is currently slated for cut at EWHS. We are very grateful to be basically FTE (head count) Neutral.
Cut: Jazz 2 Added: Symphonic Orchestra

If these cuts stay in place, the only Jazz class will be Jazz 1. This will reduce access to the many jazz students currently enrolled in Jazz 2, and the full class of incoming 8th graders.

Other schools in the district have similar proposed cuts to jazz and other programs:
Meadowdale Middle: Jazz Band
Madrona K-8: currently there is no FTE for any electives including band or jazz or orchestra or art
College Place Middle: Jazz Band, Concert Band combined 7th and 8th grade combined
Meadowdale High School: was just successful in restoring their jazz choir and is the process of advocating for Jazz 2. See this Facebook post from the Meadowdale MAMBO

Core ensembles are slated for cuts, beginning with 5th grade orchestra and band. The proposed building cuts for middle schools shows a similar trend of combining or cutting ensembles all together. This plan will crumble the foundations of our music programs, especially in the area of Jazz ensembles.

PLEASE ADVOCATE FOR OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY ENSEMBLE PROGRAMS TO THE ADMINISTRATION AS WELL AS THE SCHOOL BOARD

Here are a few good recent posts on the music situation at other schools:

Facebook post May 2, 2024 from the Meadowdale Arts & Music Booster Organization (MAMBO)
An open letter from Brett Holt, Madrona/Mountlake Terrace Music parent

Please bookmark the link below in addition to ours for regularly updated information about the budget situation as it pertains to music – https://mthsmusic.org/save/

April 10, 2024
The news from district music departments coming out of Spring Break is not good. In addition to the proposed 5^th and/or 6^th grade district wide ensemble cuts, there additional cuts in the 7-12 programs:

Current Proposal for a few district schools:
College Place Middle: 3 classes cut: Jazz, 7^th grade Band (combining into 8^th), Orchestra(?)
Madrona: 3 classes cut: Band, Orchestra and Jazz
Meadowdale: 3 classes cut: Jazz Band, Jazz Choirs, Guitar

At this writing ALL of the cuts, and specifically the proposal for EWHS and Mountlake Terrace is unknown.

All School Board meetings and work sessions are open to the public, for the most up-to-date schedule scroll to the calendar mid-page https://www.edmonds.wednet.edu/

4/16, 6:30-8:00pm – Special Session first reading of RIF Resolution
4/23, 5-6pm – Work Session first reading of Budget
4/23, 6:30pm – Regular meeting with public comment

WHAT CAN YOU DO? RELEVANT EMAIL LISTS BELOW

1. Please WRITE to your School Board members with a cc to Dr. Miner, stating that the budget should NOT be accepted with these severe cuts to the Music Program. Ask them NOT to vote to approve it in the 4/16 & 4/23 meetings.

The Balancing Act showed that the budget CAN be balanced, with NO cuts to music.

2. Write to your building Principal and let them know how important music is to your family.

3. SHOW UP at the 4/16 meeting to observe the budget discussion. Make signs to hold up stating that you do NOT want music cut.

Lastly, you can write to your elected officials that serve in Olympia and let them know that the chronic under funding of schools is placing important foundational programs at risk.

School District email addresses:
Nancy Katims (katimsn@edmonds.wednet.edu)
Hawk Cramer (cramerha@edmonds.wednet.edu)
Carin Chase (chaseca@edmonds.wednet.edu)
Keith Smith (smithk382@edmonds.wednet.edu)
Deborah Kilgore (kilgored952@edmonds.wednet.edu)
Superintendent Rebecca Miner (minerr@edmonds.wednet.edu)
Assistant Superintendent Greg Schwab (schwabg@edmonds.wednet.edu)

Legislative emails can be found on the “Take Action” page on our website.

Go Back

March 27, 2024
The nitty gritty about 5th and 6th grade music as I understand it…

-Students currently get two periods of music in 5th and 6th grade – General Music, which is a currently offered K-6, and if students choose, band or orchestra

-When students are in General Music, their homeroom teacher gets a prep period. Ensemble students are pulled out of their instructional program to play, which some teachers are not in support of.

-At the 3/26 Board meeting, Dr. Katims reported that the General Music classes are “locked”, meaning that there is a “contractual issue” in the district with making changes to the general music offering.

The Concern

Eliminating 5th/6th grade ensembles would certainly reduce access to instrumental music for many students. This is because students only have one elective choice in middle school; music, language or STEM. The 5th and 6th grade program is available to all students, and without scheduling constraints for them. Data supports the fact that 5th grade is the optimal time to begin ensemble training.

Even more concerning is the future of the 7th-12th grade ensemble programs, if elementary music is cut. With students only being able to opt for one elective; STEM, World Language or Music, there could be less students registering to try music. This would result in more combining of classes across grades and skill levels and further reduction of the program. “Lock” Ensemble Music

It might be important to ask the district what role they see music programs playing in the future of the district? Our award- winning programs have been the cornerstone of our schools for decades. Thousands of students have thrived, learned, and succeeded with the strong foundation of music thru their lives. Hundreds have been inspired to become music teachers or musicians themselves. Even the casual ensemble participant benefits from the collaboration, communication and commitment needed to be part of a musical group. These are major life skills that compliment and augment the regular academic curriculum. We also know that music students are more likely to have better attendance and higher graduation rates than non-music students. These metrics are the topic of many School Board discussions.

The recent Balancing Act exercise has certain spending categories locked. This means they are protected from budget cuts. I propose that ensemble music be locked-at all grades 5-12. I encourage the district to look elsewhere for funding cuts and not dismantle this robust foundational experience that took years to develop.

Jennifer Castle
EWHS Music Booster President

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The EWHS Music Program is as busy as ever, with some major events ahead in the next few weeks – Hot Java Cool Jazz, our Annual Swing Dance, SKMEA & other Festivals, to name just a few. It takes many helpers to make these events a success for our students and their families. Please take a look further below and see where you can sign up to chaperone or volunteer. And be sure to get your Hot Java Cool Jazz tickets http://ewhsmusic.ludus.com/ before we sell out.

EVENTS IN MARCH AND EARLY APRIL
More detailed information further below

3/4 – UW Guitar Instructor, Michael Partington, at EWHS
3/5 – March Boosters Meeting, 7:30pm Via Zoom
3/8 – DeMiero Evening Concert at ECA; Ms. Reese performing with “Last Call”; Mello Aires attending
3/9 – DeMiero Jazz Festival for Vocal Jazz; Mello Aires attending 8:30am-5:30pm (volunteers needed)
3/9 – Jazz 1 Combo with Mr. Bergevin at SODO Starbucks for Hot Java Cool Jazz pre-performance
3/15 – SKMEA Choir Festival (volunteers needed)
3/15 – World Music and percussion expert Jeff Busch; in Band Room
3/15 – Symphony Students side by side concert with “Time for Three”, at ECA (volunteers needed)
3/16 – WWU/ASTA Orchestra Festival in Bellingham; Full Orchestra (volunteers needed)
3/17 – Jazz Clubs NW Jam at Romeo’s; Hot Java Cool Jazz tickets available
3/20 – SKMEA High School Orchestra Festival; All Orchestra Students (volunteers needed)
3/20– Jean Cheaumant, Guitar
3/21 – SKMEA Large Ensemble festival at Kamiak High School (volunteers needed)
3/22 – FINAL DEADLINE to register for Music Classes; PLEASE ENROLL even if not sure about class preference (more info below)
3/22 – Big Band/Swing Dance, Edmonds Waterfront Center (volunteer signup)
3/26 – Talent Show Auditions After School in the Band Room. (Audition Signup)
3/27 – Romeo’s Jazz Night; Hot Java Cool Jazz tickets available
3/28 – Jazz Ensemble I 2024-25 audition videos due to Mr. Bergevin
3/28 – Talent Show Auditions After School in the Band Room. (Audition Signup)
3/29 – Hot Java Cool Jazz Concert at Paramount Theatre, Seattle
4/1-5 – SPRING BREAK
4/8 – Philharmonic Auditions due week after Spring Break
4/10 – Talent Show: Mello Aires Fundraiser; 7pm in EWHS Theater
4/12 – Jazz Masterclass with Dawn Clement
4/12 – Special Engagement: Dawn Clement & EWHS Jazz, 7:30pm in EWHS Theater

VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR ALL CURRENT AND FUTURE MUSIC STUDENTS
ALL music students should enroll for music classes even if they are not yet sure which class would be the perfect fit. Our district budget will be even tighter next year so getting the maximum number of students to enroll for ensembles and classes is critical for our whole program. The final deadline for registration is March 22. PLEASE NOTE: Mr. Bergevin has been teaching guitar and piano. These are very popular classes and piano could accommodate more students, especially serious, self-directed band students hoping to get a jump on their keyboard familiarity before college.

3/5 – MARCH BOOSTERS MEETING
3/5/24, 7:30pm via Zoom
Come find out about all the great events and concerts we have planned for the next few weeks.
Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 824 6771 8153 Passcode: 847562

3/29 – 27TH ANNUAL STARBUCKS HOT JAVA COOL JAZZ CONCERT
3/29/24 at 7pm, Paramount Theatre, Seattle, $25 per ticket. Sponsored by Starbucks.
https://ewhsmusic.com/hot-java-cool-jazz/
This incredible concert features five of the very best high school jazz bands in the Seattle area, including OURS. Buy your tickets directly from the Music Boosters https://ewhsmusic.ludus.com/ with NO PROCESSING FEES, and ALL proceeds go directly into our Music Program. PLEASE NOTE: The Boosters are sponsoring our performing Jazz 1 musicians, but families and supporters will need to purchase their own tickets. There are a limited number of sponsored tickets available for families as well – please contact Toni Bosman at ewhsmusicboosters2@gmail.com for more info.

3/22 – 2024 SWING DANCE COMING SOON; VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
3/22 at 6:30pm, Edmonds Waterfront Center, $10 suggested donation at door
https://ewhsmusic.com/event-spotlight/2024-swing-dance/
Planning and organizing for our 2024 Swing Dance are well underway, and we are anticipating a great night of music, dancing, and community building. We will need several more volunteers to make this fun event a success. Please take a look at our volunteer sign up page for opportunities for both parents and students to help out, and feel free to email Kristina Jipson at kristina.jipson@gmail.com with any questions.

3/8 & 3/9 – DEMIERO JAZZ FESTIVAL – VOCAL JAZZ
Mello Aires Performance 3/9, 3:10pm (FREE), at Community Christian Fellowship behind ECA, 615 Glen St, Edmonds
DeMiero Evening Concert 3/8, 7-9:30pm, at ECA (Last Call and other renowned artists, tickets at https://demierojazzfest.org/
Our fabulous vocal jazz ensemble the Mello Aires will be taking part in the annual DeMiero Jazz Festival in Edmonds on 3/9 at 3:10pm. Admittance is free. The night before on 3/8 at 7pm, the festival is hosting an Evening Concert with “Last Call” including our very own Ms. Charlotte Reese. Tickets available through the Edmonds Center for the Arts website.

3/15 – PERCUSSION SPECIALIST JEFF BUSCH
3/15, 12:45-2pm in EWHS Band Room
We have a percussion specialist coming to visit EWHS. Jeff Busch is a world-renowned World Music expert and this session is open to all students who want to learn more about this style.

3/15 – EWHS ORCHESTRA PERFORMING WITH GRAMMY WINNERS “TIME FOR THREE”
3/15, 7:30-9:30pm, Edmonds Center for the Arts (Parent volunteers needed)
20 students from the EWHS Orchestra Program have been invited to perform alongside the Grammy and Emmy-winning ensemble “Time For Three”. They will playing in the beautiful piece “Joy” (preview on YouTube) . More information at the ECA website Time for Three event page.

3/26 & 3/28 – EWHS TALENT SHOW AUDITIONS
Auditions on 3/26 and 3/28 in Band Room A112; Show on 4/10 at 7pm in EWHS Theater
It’s time to get your act together: singers, bands, dancers, comics…jugglers. The EWHS Talent Show will take place April 10th. Participating acts will be selected by audition March 26th and 28th after school in the band room A112. Talent Show Audition Signup

3/28 – JAZZ AUDITIONS DUE MARCH 28, 2024
Please note that Auditions for our Jazz Program are due 3/28. Download the instructions here.

EVENT VOLUNTEER SIGNUPS
Please consider signing up to help at one or more of our events. Many hands are needed to help our program succeed.

Big Band Swing Dance Volunteering (adults and students):
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084BACAF28ABF9C52-48118766-bigband

Orchestra Chaperoning:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084BACAF28ABF9C52-48222506-orchestra

Band Chaperoning:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084BACAF28ABF9C52-48280005-skmea

Choir Chaperoning:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084BACAF28ABF9C52-48283264-choir

Welcome to Semester 2 of the 2023/2024 school year. Please review the Boosters Advocacy Page ASAP as your input is needed by 2/3 to help redirect more State funds to our School District. We also have a lot of events and activities planned for the second half of the year and hope to see you and your students there.

E2/2 – Last Basketball game for 2024 and Celebrate Seniors
2/3 – SKMEA Solo & Ensemble Competition at Lynnwood HS
2/6 – Advisory rehearsal for Quad Concert
2/6, 7:15-8:30pm – Booster Board Meeting, EWHS Orchestra Room
2/8 – University of Washington Orchestra Festival; Full Orchestra
2/13, 7pm – Choir Quad Concert, EWHS Gym
2/14, 7pm – Band Quad Concert, EWHS Gym
2/15, 7pm – Orchestra Quad Concert, EWHS Gym
2/18 – Third Sunday Jam at Romeo’s with Reuel Lubag and Michael Glynn (sponsored by Jazz Clubs NW)
2/21 – Jazz Ensemble I with Jazz Punishments at Aurora Borealis
3/7 – Jazz Ensemble I 2024-25 audition videos due to Mr. B
3/9 – Jazz Combo -SODO Reserve – Hot Java Combo performance 3pm
3/14 – SKMEA – large ensemble festival at ECA – CHAPERONES NEEDED!
3/15 – Symphony Orchestra Sophomores; side by side concert with TF3 at ECA (5:45pm sound check, 7pm concert)
3/16 – EW Jazz Combo 1 to Edmonds Waterfront Center for Edmonds Foundation Fundraiser event
3/16 – WWU/ASTA Orchestra Festival Bellingham; Full Orchestra, 6:30am to 5:00pm
3/19 – SKMEA High School Orchestra Festival Times TBA; All Orchestra Students
3/20 – SKMEA HS Orchestra Festival
3/22, 6:30pm – Annual Swing Dance, Edmonds Waterfront Center
3/29 – EWHS Jazz 1 at Hot Java Cool Jazz at the Paramount; buy tickets online – $25 NO FEES!!

URGENT ADVOCACY MESSAGE FROM THE MUSIC BOOSTERS
Act by 2/3 to help get more money for our School District!
Last year our district families were hit by a $15M budget cut that severely impacted music and many other important programs. This year we are facing at least another $11M in cuts. It is clear that our district has to appeal directly to lawmakers in Olympia for more funding.

The legislature is meeting right now for a short session. We need YOU to support time sensitive bills and requests that can redirect $$ to our schools. The process is simple and quick – go to our Advocacy Page today to learn more and get started. https://ewhsmusic.com/advocacy/

FEBRUARY BOOSTERS BOARD MEETING
Tuesday 2/6, 7:15-8:30pm in Orchestra Room
Please consider participating, particularly if you can help with the Swing Dance planning and other events. All music program parents and guardians are automatically Boosters members and there are no dues.

HOT JAVA COOL JAZZ CONCERT!!
3/29/24 at 7pm (doors open 6pm), Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine Street, Seattle, $25 per ticket
https://ewhsmusic.com/hot-java-cool-jazz/

TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE at https://ewhsmusic.ludus.com/ for $25 per person
The Starbucks Hot Java Cool Jazz concert is a premier showcase for our school’s jazz musicians and also a fantastic fundraising opportunity for our Music Program due to the generosity of the event sponsor Starbucks. 100% of the proceeds from tickets bought directly from the Boosters go to the EWHS Music Program. You also pay ZERO processing fees, whether you purchase online or in person. All tickets are General Admission, so please plan to get to the event early. Doors open at 6pm on the night.

PLEASE NOTE: The Boosters are sponsoring our performing Jazz 1 musicians, but families and supporters will need to purchase their own tickets.

2024 SWING DANCE COMMITTEE
3/22/24 at 6:30pm, Edmonds Waterfront Center
Our 2023 Swing Dance was a huge success and we had incredible student, family and community engagement. We are looking for volunteers to head up the planning and organization for our 2024 dance under the guidance of Jennifer Castle. Please contact us to get involved – we can guarantee you will have a blast. And if you happen to have a student needing volunteer hours, there will be many opportunities to sign up for all kinds of help.

PR/COMMUNICATIONS HELP NEEDED
We are looking for a few volunteers who can help out the Boosters with PR/Communications tasks like website updates via WordPress, social media posts, graphic design on Canva, press releases, and more. Training can be provided. More info on our website at https://ewhsmusic.com/boosters/communications.

TEACHER UPDATES

From Mrs. Malacari – Orchestra Updates and News
Orchestra has had some amazing coaches come in to help with coaching and sectionals this month including Dan Wing, Annie Center, Steve Creswell, Erin Adams, Dr. Bren Plummer and Dr. Anna Edwards. Students are sounding great for Solo and Ensemble Festival this weekend.

Also some congratulations to our Orchestral pianist, arranger and composer, Nathan Zhao who was awarded 1st Place in the Washington State National Music Teachers Association Student Performance Competition and who will be heading off to perform in a National Competition on March 16. Also Nathan is the recipient of this year’s Commissioned Sonatina Award. Nathan’s composition, Sonatina: Sources of Light: I: The Sun, II: Candles, III: Sparklers, for violin, cello, double bass, and piano will be featured at the Marsha Wright Sonatina Festival on April 28th with Sophia McCann, Lucy Finnell and Anna Tra performing. You can hear Nathan’s composition this weekend at Solo and Ensemble Festival.

The Symphonic Orchestra Sophomores have been invited to perform along the Grammy and Emmy-winning ensemble, Time For Three (TF3). This concert will be held at the Edmonds Center for the Arts on Friday, March 15.  For more information visit https://www.edmondscenterforthearts.org/events/detail/611/time-for-three/4276

From Mr. Bergevin – Bands Updates & News
Mr. Bergevin will begin teaching piano class for second semester. Jazz 2 becomes a 2 day per week zero period class for .25 credit. This is a reduction due to the district budget cuts of last year.

January 27/28 – Jazz Ensemble 2 had a great trip to the 60th Annual Clark College Jazz Festival in Vancouver Washington. Students were fantastic and we all learned a bunch. Special thanks to trip coordinator Mrs. Rachael Garrett, and also to Mrs. Dillow and Mr. Wadud for chaperone duty.

Booster support for EW Band Students is making a difference. Mr. Greenblatt (jazz coach) and Mr. Drumm (percussion) have been excellent as usual. Other wonderful ensemble coaches this past semester include Dr. Joey Scott (Pierce College), Paul Bain (WWU), John Karschney (Seattle Symphony horn), Connor Eisenmenger (trombone), Josie Wells (clarinet), Joel Steinke (saxophone), Andrew Fox (bassoon) and many more. Big thanks to Matt Jorgensen from Shoreline CC for helping with Jazz 1 recording for Hot Java. Big thanks to Mrs. Jennifer Coons who chaperoned for the annual recording studio trip to Studio X as the band prepares for Essentially Ellington Contest submission.

January 31 – Monthly Jam session at Romeo’s was a rousing success. House Combo was Kian Halstadt, Tetsu Wadud, Logan Ignatenko, Mateo Mahoney, Liana Munoz and Max Fenwick. Special thanks to some great professional players Reuel Lubag (piano), Scott Swanson (bass) and Joel Steinke (sax) for coming out and adding sophistication and experience to our event.

The Music Boosters would like to wish you a very happy New Year. We are excited about the events and opportunities that lie ahead for our students, as we also get ready to make our voices heard. Be sure to note the information about the Yes for Our Kids campaign and ESD Bond/Levy below.

ON THE CALENDAR
1/9 – Boosters Meeting CANCELLED (see meeting info on next line)
1/9, 7-8:15pm – Community PTSA Meeting at Chase Lake Elementary to discuss Yes for Kids Campaign and critical ESD Bond/Levy
1/14 – Jazz 1 EE recording at Studio X in Capital Hill
2/3 – SKMEA Solo & Ensemble
3/22, 6:30pm – Annual Swing Dance, Edmonds Waterfront Center

YES FOR KIDS CAMPAIGN and ESD BOND/LEVY
Our January Music Boosters Meeting has been postponed as we are inviting our members to attend the Community PTSA meeting about the critical upcoming ESD bond/levy instead. We have also included more information and links on our website at https://ewhsmusic.com/advocacy/. Please note that there are signup opportunities for our families to directly support the Yes for Kids Campaign through phone banking and sign waving.

Community PTSA Meeting
Tue 1/9/24, 7:00-8:15pm, Chase Lake Elementary, 21603 84th Ave W, Edmonds, WA

Attendees will be hearing from two different groups about the upcoming bond/levy and have opportunities to ask questions:

• Edmonds School District
• Yes for Our Kids! committee member

Meeting info
https://allevents.in/edmonds/community-ptsa-meeting-on-the-esd-bond-levy/200025964865926

ESD Bond/Levy Information
https://www.edmonds.wednet.edu/community/bonds-levies/2024-bond-and-replacement-technologycapital-levy/2024-school-construction-bond

Yes for Kids Campaign
https://www.yesforesdkids.org

HOT JAVA COOL JAZZ TICKETS
3/29/24 at 7pm (doors open 6pm), Paramount Theater Seattle, $25 per ticket

As a participant school we will be allowed to purchase a block of tickets for our music families. Getting your tickets from us will benefit our program directly and also save you the hefty online processing fees. This event sells out completely every year, so please purchase your tickets right away at https://ewhsmusic.ludus.com/ $25. We will update you via email re distribution of the paper tickets.

2023 SEASON OF GIVING FUNDRAISER RECAP
Thank you so much to everyone who donated to our 2023 Season of Giving fundraiser. We ended up raising just over $16,500 through various channels, including GoFundMe, PayPal, Venmo, and others.

We would also like to express our gratitude to our Premier Sponsor, Reece Homes, and our Contributing Sponsors, including Ewing Electric, Kennelly Keys, Covery Wellness Spa, and CommandLink. Please stop by and let them know how much we appreciate them if you are in the neighborhood.

Your generosity has made it possible for us to continue bridging the gap between the needs of our music program and the funding provided by the school district. As always, our program remains deeply committed to equity and inclusivity for ALL our young musicians, and we couldn’t do it without you!

2024 SWING DANCE COMMITTEE
3/22/24 at 6:30pm, Edmonds Waterfront Center

Our 2023 Swing Dance was a huge success and we had incredible student, family and community engagement. We are looking for volunteers to head up the planning and organization for our 2024 dance under the guidance of Jennifer Castle. Please use the contact form to get involved – we can guarantee you will have a blast. And if you happen to have a student needing volunteer hours, there will be many opportunities to sign up for all kinds of help.