Concert Page!

Dates, Dress Code, and Behavior Code below:



HOPKINTON MIDDLE SCHOOL PERFORMANCE


CALENDAR

2019-2020


Please add these dates to your family calendar to avoid as many scheduling conflicts as

possible. Thank you! For all evening performances, please plan to arrive 30 minutes

prior for warm-up.


December 12**** (Changed date) – Monday, GRADE 6 CONCERT 7 PM, MS Aud.

December 17 – Tuesday, GRADE 7 Band and Chorus only CONCERT 7 PM, MS Aud.

December 18 – Wednesday, GRADE 8 CONCERT as well as 7th and 8th grade combined orchestra: 7 PM, MS Aud. ***

December 19 – Thursday, December SNOW DATE 7 PM, MS Aud.

*more info will follow if these dates are needed*


February 1 – Saturday, Junior District Auditions, Grafton HS Time TBD

(**Optional** for grades 7 & 8 only. Snow date February 8)


March 17– Tuesday, GRADE 6 CONCERT, 7 PM, MS Aud.

March 18 – Wednesday, GRADE 7 CONCERT Band and Chorus only, 7 PM, MS Aud.

March 24 - Tuesday, Grade 8 CONCERT as well as 7th and 8th grade combined orchestra:, 7 PM, MS Aud. ***

MARCH 25 - Wednesday, MS CONCERT SNOW DATE, 7PM, MS Aud.


MICCA!

April 3 - April 5 -- Friday - Sunday MICCA Festival. Grade 8 only. More info in

January!

April 6 – Monday, JrHS District rehearsal 3 - 9 PM. Bromfield School, Harvard, MA.


(Only for students accepted by audition)

April 15 – Wednesday, JAZZ NIGHT 7 PM, HS Aud.


(Only for members of Jazz Band, SNOW DATE April 16)

April 29 – Wednesday, JrHS District rehearsal 3 - 9 PM. Bromfield School, Harvard,

MA. (Only for students accepted by audition)

May 2 – Saturday, JrHS District rehearsal and CONCERT 9 AM, Franklin HS.


(Only for students accepted by audition)

May 16 – Saturday, MICCA Solo and Small Ensemble Festival

(not all students involved, more info will be provided)


June 2 – Tuesday, GRADE 8 CONCERT as well as 7th and 8th grade combined orchestra: 7 PM, MS Aud. ***

June 9 – Tuesday, GRADE 6 CONCERT 7 PM, MS Aud.

June 10 – Wednesday, GRADE 7 CONCERT Band and Chorus only 7 PM, MS Aud.

(Please note the grade / order change)

Penultimate day of school – Grade 7 band performance at the 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony (Currently June 15- Monday. Will change with any snow days)

      • Concert Dress:

The Hopkinton Music Department is always striving to instill professional attitudes and habits in the performing ensembles. Part of that is taking pride in one’s appearance for a concert. We are fully in favor of students expressing their individuality. However, a choral concert is not the forum in which to do this. Concerts are to showcase the ensemble. No individual should ever draw attention to him or herself through behavior or dress during an ensemble performance. This draws attention away from the ensemble as a whole and focuses it upon an individual student. This is unfair to the ensemble, to which the student is one of many members. For this reason, each chorus member must obtain the following articles of clothing to be used during all concert performances:

Option 1:

Black Skirt, Dress, or Dress Pants.

Options may include an ankle length skirt, dress, or pants OR ankle length THICK black leggings with a knee-length skirt or dress. If you want to wear leggings as pants, please wear a long and loose sweater/top/dress over the leggins so they are more formal.

  • A Black blouse that is conservative and professional in design. No spaghetti straps or
  • bare midriffs. Please adhere to a three finger strap width or more for stage performance.
  • Shoes and stockings should be appropriate to the outfit and dark in color. No sneakers,

flip flops, or other extremes of footwear.

Option 2:

  • Black dress pants (no jeans or sports pants)
  • Black dress shirt with collar with long or short sleeves. (Polo shirts are fine)
  • Necktie: The necktie may be colored or holiday appropriate, but not distracting.
  • Black socks
  • Dark dress shoes (no sneakers)

All genders should look professional, dressy, and have black clothing from shoulders to ankles. Please follow the code for which you identify. Again, no individual should ever draw attention to themselves through behavior or dress during an ensemble performance.

This dress code applies to ALL concerts (except occasionally in June due to the heat. We will inform you through email of any changes well in advance. Any student who fails to comply with the guidelines above will not be allowed to perform in the concert and will not be given credit for the performance. If a students wishes to wear attire that is “questionable”, he or she should get the outfit approved from the director in advance of the performance.


Concert Etiquette:

Students: When performing, you are representing your chorus, your school, and yourself. Give it your best at all times!


***While these rules are immensely important, my main goal is to make beautiful music on stage for the audience. My hope is that you will enjoy that along with me!


  1. Every time you sing, think of how you can add to our choir’s outstanding reputation and sound, not take away from it.
  2. Stand with proper alignment and keep your hands at your sides.
  3. NEVER talk during any performance!
  4. NO GUM!
  5. Keep your eyes on the director and always concentrate. Your face should reflect the meaning of the text; decide what the music should communicate to the audience.
  6. Sustain the mood of the song until the director drops her hands.
  7. Enjoy yourself and think of what joy you can give to the audience.
  8. Remember to smile during the applause. Show the audience that you are proud of your accomplishments and want to be making music.
  9. Be a complete and well behaved audience.


Audience as well as performers: Adhering to a few concert etiquette rules will make the performance more enjoyable for all who attend the concerts.


1. Observe performances quietly and attentively. Talking, tapping,

whispering, or making other noises is inappropriate and distracting.

2. Applaud at the appropriate times. This includes at the beginning

and end of the performances.

3. Recognize excellent performances with dignity. Concert halls are

not the place for yelling out, or other inappropriate behaviors.

4. Wait until performers have completed the current piece before

moving into or out of your seat.

5. Enter or leave the auditorium on applause only. Move quickly

and quietly to and from your seat.

6. Please power down all lit screens, pagers, and cell phones. If you are caught with a device that is on, (students) your parents will be required to come get it at the end of the concert and it will lower your concert grade.

7. Take crying children out of the performance hall.

8. Stay until the end of the concert to show your support and learn from the other ensembles.

9. Drink water and eat (avoiding dairy and much sugar) so that you are healthy on stage


MICCA: Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association:


*****There is a very important weekend I will need all 8th grade chorus students and Honors Chorus students to block off for the Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors’ Association Choral Festival and Competition. This festival is the culmination of 3-5 years of hard work in the music department for these 8th grade students and has been known to be a very meaningful experience. We will know later in the school year which day in this weekend we will go.

The weekend is APRIL 5th through APRIL 7th, 2019. This concert is mandatory for the 8th grade chorus and Honors Chorus. Failure to attend for 8th graders may result in removal from the Music trip later in the year as well as a zero for the concert. A severe illness, death in the family, or something as serious are the only excused absences we allow in the music department. please speak with me as early as possible if something drastic becomes a conflict. Please inform coaches of these dates now as well, so that they can plan games and try-outs to the best of their ability.