Thank you to everyone who attended our Fall Concert in October. The students and I always have a lot of fun putting on our annual theme concert and I think this was one of our best fall concerts in many years! We will have some photos and video from our concert coming soon after we get it all organized. We have a quick turnaround to our next performance in November, our big annual picture day coming up, as well as some celebrations to share. Thank you for looking over the information below about our upcoming events and as always, please let Ms. Harvey know of any questions.

~ Ms. Harvey

Orchestra Picture Day - Wednesday, November 13

On Wednesday 11/13, all orchestras will be taking their official group photos. All students received an order form for purchasing group and/or individual photos. Purchasing photos is optional. The official group photo we take on this day will appear in the yearbook at the end of the year as well. Individual photos are a professional portrait taken of the student by our photographer with their instrument in front of a professional backdrop. Only students who order individual phtos will be photographed individually. Our order forms are color coded to ensure the student receives the correct group photo. If your child has lost their order form they will need to ask Ms. Harvey for a new one on Monday (Ms. Harvey is out 11/6-8 at a conference).

Order Forms: 

All student planning to purchase photos should turn their order form and money in to Ms. Harvey by Tuesday 11/12 to ensure we have a roster prepared of individual photos. The letter attached to the order form states for students to bring their forms on picture day but this can be chaotic to turn in while students are changing clothes and getting organized so it is incredibly helpful for students to turn this in at least one day in advance.

Attire:

6th grade orchestra will wear their orchestra t-shirt (will be passed out next week) and jeans. Students may wear their jeans all day or pack them and they will be given a chance to change into them before the photo. Students taking an individual photo are welcome to pack a more formal outfit for their professional portrait and they will have a chance to change before this.

Philharmonic and Chamber will wear their formal orchestra uniforms. All 7-8th grade students are asked to bring their uniform up to the orchestra room no later than Tuesday 11/12 to ensure we can get everyone's belongings organized for them to change into the next day. Please don't forget your black dress shoes!

Schedule:

All photos will be done during the school day but not all students will be doing their photo during their normal orchestra class period. Our current plan is:

Prelude Orchestra: Taking individual photos during their normal orchestra class period. All students taking their group photo during 8th period (3rd period students will be called out of class)

Philharmonic: Will be taking individuals during their normal class periods. Group photo to be taken in 6th period (5th period students will be staying into 6th period for this)

Chamber: Will be called up during 3rd period to take group photo and individuals to work around the cross country meet many students will be leaving for that afternoon.

All-Region Orchestra Results

All-Region auditions took place on Saturday, October 26. Crownover had over 20 students participate in the auditions and 7 selected. We had the most students from DISD selected from any one school (the next closest campus had 3!). Congratulations to ALL of our students for their incredibly hard work preparing these advanced audition packets. ALL of our students are better, stronger musicians for their hard work preparing for this event. Special congratulations for our 7th grade selections - students audition in a blind audition against each other regardless of grade level, which means 7th graders excelled in competition against many 8th graders. AND extra congratulations to Victor C. for his #1 ranking. This is the 2nd year in a row Crownover has secured the bass section principal position with the #1 bass ranking in the region! Students who were selected will represent Crownover at the All-Region Clinic and Concert on December 13-14.

All-Region Program Sponsorship Opportunity

At the All-Region Clinic and Concert in December, all attendees will have access to a professional digital concert program. Our region offers the opportunity for businesses and individuals to purchase the display of a logo or advertisement in the program. Sponsorship helps our region keep costs down for our students who participation in region activities such as All-Region Auditions. If you or someone you know may be interested in purchasing a spot in our program, sponsorship sign-up is due November 22 and you can view instructions on our Sponsor Information Letter.

All-District Orchestra Results

This year, Denton ISD will be organizing an all-district orchestra clinic/concert opportunity for the first time in many years. In response to the increasing competitiveness of our region, this will ensure that more of our advanced students from across our district have an opportunity to participate in an honor group. The all-district orchestra will be filled based on all-region audition rankings to allow our students to not have to attend a separate audition date.

Students who were selected will represent Crownover in an All-District Clinic and Concert on Saturday, January 18. At this time I do not have any other information to give to students, but these students will receive more detailed info soon. If any of these students already know they will be unavailable on 1/18, please notify Ms. Harvey immediately.

Please congratulate the following Crownover students for placement in the DISD all-district orchestra:

Violin:

Grace Yoon (7th grade)

Merida del Carpio (7th grade)

Jacob Summers (8th grade)

Daniela Silva (7th grade)

Anthony Navarro (8th grade)

Victoria Verboonen (8th grade)

Joanna Anoop (7th grade)

Opshori Haider (7th grade)

Nolan Bonham (8th grade).

Viola:

Ashley Bird (8th grade)

Cello (Crownover secured 6 out of 10 placement spots in the all-district cello section!):

Paola Rivera Caratachea (8th grade) - Principal (1st chair) due to being #1 ranked DISD cello

Jeremiah Wells (8th grade)

Jude Smith (8th grade)

Vedant Ganpule (7th grade)

Finn Parson (6th grade)

Sloan McGinnis (8th grade).

Bass:

Victor Columna (8th grade)

High School All-Region Placements

Crownover had 10 former orchestra students place into the 2024-2025 high school All-Region Orchestra.

All-State Placement

Crownover is thrilled to announce that former RCMS Orchestra member and current Guyer HS 9th grader Mark Eads has been selected by competitive audition into the 2024-2025 All-State Orchestra. Texas is by far the hardest state to achieve all-state placement in and earning a placement as a 9th grader is even more exceptional! 

Mark's success is also a huge success for Crownover in that his first 2 private teachers who played a huge role in his preparation for this level of playing have been former Crownover orchestra members. Christian Luevano was also a 9th grade (and 4-year) All-Stater who ranked #1 in the state as a 9th grader. After Christian moved from the area to attend the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Mark Eads began studying with former RCMS student Ian Grems. Ian was a high school all-stater, holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in bass performance from UNT, and recently won a position in the prestigious New World Symphony in Miami.

Crownover is so proud of all of our alumni doing great things in the music world!

You can view a clip from Mark playing the Dragonetti Bass Concerto with our Chamber Orchestra last year when he was in 8th grade below