SHOWCASE TONIGHT!

Well, we have reached the end of another school year- almost.  Tonight selected students from grades 1-8 will receive awards and all students will perform a selection of music learned during this past year.  Everyone has worked very hard to put together a wonderful night.  Grades 1-4 will be performing pieces from the musicals they prepared with their classroom teachers.  And grades 5-7 have each prepared a special song for the night.

I hope to see everyone there!

On another note, the final family mass will be this coming Sunday at 11:30 (arrive at 11:20).  Choir, join me to sing in the loft one last time during this 2012-13 school year!

  

Choir at 11:30 Mass tomorrow!

Tomorrow is a very special day for mass (11:30) at St. Sylvester Church.  It is not only Mother's Day, but also time for the crowning of Mary, as well as the day to celebrate the Ascension.  I am hoping that choir members will make it and let the church hear the songs they've prepared this past week.  Third graders can come up to the choir loft, and then I will send them down after communion to prepare for the crowning.  

I'd also like to congratulate those who had their First Communion today!  Everyone looked so nice and behaved so respectfully in the "spotlight"--- it was a proud day to be a St. Sylvester teacher.

Happy Mother's Day in advance to all you fantastic St. Sylvester school mothers!  I hope you have a lovely day and that hearing your choir student sing might be part of it.

Great Job, Choir!

I apologize for not sooner recognizing the choir's fantastic performance at Father Sam's installation mass back on February 17th.  They did a wonderful job, both singing up in the loft and dancing on the main floor in front of hundreds of people.  I was so proud of them-- we had never done anything like that before, and I think it was a great step forward.

Our next Family Mass will be on Sunday, March 17th, beginning at 11:30.

Both the younger and older choirs are currently working on pieces appropriate for this season of Lent.  We've most recently been challenging ourselves to sing a Latin hymn in a round.  This is a great exercise for their ears, as well as their voices.

Now and then we check out other choirs' performances online.  One video that has stuck with me is the excellent PS22 5th grade chorus singing "So Small" with Carrie Underwood.  Here is the link:

http://youtu.be/LrOYKV2x_TM

Really, there are so many wonderful videos posted by the PS22 Chorus that you can take your pick-- all of them will put a smile on your face, and you'll probably find yourself checking out many more that one.  I have put a link to their blog on this page in the lower right-hand corner.

CHOIRS WILL SING AT 1:00 TOMORROW FOR SPECIAL MASS

Dear Choir Members and Families,

This Sunday, February 17^th, our Family Mass has been moved to 1:00pm, so that our school families can be a part of Father Sam’s special installation mass.  Choir members have been working on a special song in Swahili to sing as part of a warm welcome to our community.  They will be singing, as usual, in the choir loft with some added voices from our adult choir.  And during the presentation of the gifts, they will be singing and doing a little dancing down the aisles of church.  I am hoping you will be able to make it to this special mass at 1:00 this Sunday.

Family Mass Today Kicks off Catholic Schools Week

Today is January's Family Mass at 11:30.  It was moved from our usual 3rd Sunday of the month to this, the fourth Sunday, in order to align with the start of Catholic Schools Week.  If you happen to arrive late to mass, please still send your choir members up to sing.  We will be happy to have them!

St. Sylvester School's Christmas Concert Success

Congratulations to our students for their beautiful concert!  Last Sunday, each grade performed multiple songs-- singing and playing instruments-- for a standing-room only crowd.  I was very impressed with the work many students put in so that they could give their very best up on stage.  And I was very proud of everyone.  Thank you to those parents who gave extra help with set-up and programs.  The whole experience reminded me I am so fortunate to be a part of St. Sylvester School, and I look forward to more musical adventures to come.  May you, your families and friends have a wonderful Christmas!

Family Mass this Sunday, December 16th

Hello choir!  We will sing at mass this coming Sunday.  We will start right at 11:30a.m.  This is the 3rd Sunday of Advent and so our songs will be:

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel [http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/c/ocomocom.htm]

People Look East! [http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/people_look_east.htm click on MIDI to hear how the song goes]

Like a Shepherd [http://www.ocp.org/compositions/6943 click on the play button under the picture of sheet music]

Comfort, Comfort O my People [http://www.ignatianspirituality.com/14794/best-ignatian-songs-comfort-comfort-o-my-people/]

Can't wait to see you there!