ZPS Orchestra

Elizabeth Knoll-Bowman, Director

Margaret Hawley-Lowry, Director

Email at eknoll@zps.org; mhawley@zps.org

Cityside Middle School Orchestra office: 748-4777 x2026

Creekside Middle School Orchestra office: 748-4777 x2446

ZHS Orchestra office: 748-4777 x2442

An email message is the quickest way to contact us since email is easily accessible throughout the day.
We will return a phone call as soon as we are able.

Each January, the Holland Symphony Orchestra hosts the Norbert Mueller Young Artist Competition for students in West Michigan with a connection to the Holland Symphony Orchestra. The goal is to celebrate the musical achievements of our area high school students in a recital format. The top three students, as determined by a panel of three outside judges, were awarded monetary prizes.

Congratulations to this year’s Norbert Mueller Memorial Young Artist Competition winner, Eli Zheng, a freshman at Zeeland West! Eli’s winning performance “Intermezzo” from the Lalo, Symphonie Espagnole earned him a substantial prize and community recognition. CONGRATULATIONS, Eli!

Kay Walvoord, the president and CEO of the Holland Symphony Orchestra, remarked, “It was a wonderful event where I wish we had had more awards. It was that close and tough to decide. Wow, what talent! I am so grateful for the leadership of [the staff] to work through the revisions to breathe new life into the competition. It was perhaps one of the best we have had!”

CONGRATULATIONS to these middle school students who represented the ZPS Orchestra program on Saturday, February 3 at the MSBOA District 10 Middle School HONORS Orchestra event. The Honors Orchestra included 82 students in 7th or 8th grade from 22 area middle schools. The students rehearsed in sectionals in the morning and had two full rehearsals in preparation for the afternoon concert. From L-R: Isabella Munoz, Emry Wyngarden, Taylor Shoemaker, Drue Davis, Jocelyn Knowlton, Mady Greene and Aneliece Yin.

DEcember 14

High School Orchestra and Choirs concert. 7pm DeWitt Auditorium

DEcember 18

Middle School Orchestras concert. 7pm DeWitt Auditorium

DEcember 21

Talsma Benefit concert 6:30pm DeWitt Auditorium $10 suggested donation

Got a costume? Like music? Do mouth-watering pancakes & sausage make you hungry? The ZHS Orchestra students invite YOU to their third annual Timely Tunes pancake brunch on SATURDAY, October 21 at the Colonial Clock Building in Zeeland from 10am-1pm. Buttermilk & gluten free pancakes, sausage links, fruit juice and coffee will be served.

Browse the venue. Hear blues and jazz tunes. Wear a costume, buy a ticket for the themed gift baskets. Walk the cakewalk for a prize. Purchase baked goods. Participate in a scavenger hunt bingo!

Tickets for Individual and Family packages are tailored to your Saturday morning schedule and interests. Visit https://zpsarts.ludus.com/20981 to pre-order tickets. This is a super fun event for all ages. Grab your family and friends for a hearty fall breakfast and light-hearted fun!

2023.Timely Tunes.poster.pdf

These students. WOW. Thank you to the students who memorized “God Bless America”, attended the ‘walk through’ rehearsal and sweated through the heat to play for the opening ceremonies of the Zeeland Community Kick-off (August 24) before being sent home due to the severe weather! What a Night!! While some may say it was for naught, it was an important learning experience. Behind the scenes were parents (THANK YOU!) and students willing to transport the equipment, learn how to set-up the electric instruments in this venue, work with sound checks and be prepared to take cover in the case of rain! The orchestra program added another important dimension to its many opportunities!

The ZPS SUmmer Orchestra 'mini' Camp students performed in the Lawrence Street Bowl on July 28. These students met for three 2-hour sessions. Games and sectionals and full rehearsals filled the six hours. The students learned five selections which varied in difficulty and in styles. Thank you students for your efforts! Thank you parents and grandparents for supporting your young musician and this Camp, another 'first' for the Zeeland Orchestra Program!

Zeelmania "Christmas in July". More music. More fun. More making memories! Use the QR Code below to support us MORE!

These students performed at Zeelmania on July 10. They (and their peers) are setting their sights on a trip to NYC in the spring of 2025!

How will you support the efforts of the ZHS Orchestra students?

Use this link or the QR Code to donate today. Thank you!

2023-2024 Events

Zeelmania

July 10 "Celebration"

July 24 "Christmas in July"

July 31 "Heroes"

Orchestra “Mini” Summer Camp

July 26, 27 & 28

https://forms.gle/bVGTTbbDMWjJK1zn6

These National Association for Music Education (2014) standards for PERFORM & RESPOND will be addressed during the learning process, at the performance and as an evaluation of the performances.

Select varied musical works to present based on interest, knowledge, technical skill, and context.
Analyze the structure and context of varied musical works and their implications for performance
Support an interpretation of a musical work that reflects the creators’/performers’ expressive intent
Evaluate and refine personal and ensemble performances, individually or in collaboration with others.
Perform expressively, with appropriate interpretation and technical accuracy, and in a manner appropriate to the audience and context.
Demonstrate appropriate audience behavior

Cityside Collage Concert

October 6, 2023 (7th &8th) De Witt Auditorium 7:30pm

Creekside Collage Concert

October 9, 2023 (7th &8th) De Witt Auditorium 7:30pm

Orchestra Pancake Brunch

October 21, 2023 (ZHS) Colonial Clock Building 10:00am - 1:00pm

6th grade Demonstration Concert

November 6, 2023 @ Cityside Parent Teacher Conferences 5:30pm

6th grade Demonstration Concert

November 8, 2023 @ Creekside Parent Teacher Conferences 5:30pm

Middle Schools Concert

December 14, 2023 (6-8) De Witt Auditorium 7:00pm

High School Orchestra and Choir Concert

December 18, 2023 (ZHSO) De Witt Auditorium 7:00pm

Jukebox Jingles

March 1, 2024 (all grades) Cityside Middle School 6:15 - 8:30pm

Advanced String Chamber Ensemble & Varsity Voices

April 16, 2024 (ZHSO) De Witt Auditorium 7:00pm

Orchestra “Finale” Concert

May 16, 2024 (all grades) De Witt Auditorium 7:00pm

2022-2023 ORCHESTRA concerts & events

As a performing art, orchestra students are instructed on how to play their instrument so they can play them well. A natural extension of this ability is to blend our skills into a harmonious ensemble. Frequent playing assessments in class are like a quiz. The concert is a 'test' to see how well students perform and practice proper concert etiquette. Concert performances are an important part of the orchestra curriculum and therefore, students are required to perform at assigned concerts.

October 4, 2022

CITYSIDE 7th/8th grade COLLAGE (7 & 8) 7:30pm DeWitt Auditorium

October 6, 2022

CREEKSIDE 7th/8th grade COLLAGE (7 & 8) 7:30pm DeWitt Auditorium

October 22, 2022

ZHS Orchestra Timely Tunes BRUNCH (fundraiser) 10am-1pm Colonial Clock Building

November 7, 2022 (tentative plans)

6th grade Demonstration concert @ Cityside Parent Teacher Conferences 5:30pm

November 9, 2022 (tentative plans)

6th grade Demonstration concert @ Creekside Parent Teacher Conferences 6:30pm

December 15, 2022

Middle School Holiday Concert (grades 6-8) 7:00pm DeWitt Auditorium

December 16, 2022

ZHS Choirs/Orchestra Holiday Concert 7:00pm DeWitt Auditorium

February 24, 2023

Jukebox Jingles (grades 6-12) 6:00-8:30pm Cityside Middle School

April 18, 2023

ZHS Senior Recital (HS Orchestra) 7:00pm DeWitt Auditorium

May 16, 2023

ZPS Orchestras FINALE (grades 6-12) 7:00pm DeWitt Auditorium

2021-2022 5th grade ENROLLMENT

Every spring the current 5th grade students are invited to choose a performing art class for their 6th grade year. In addition to their core academic classes, all 6th grade students will have clases in the elective areas, which include Art, P.E and Computers. The majority of 6th grade students in Zeeland also elect to take a music class, which would be band, choir or orchestra. This is the best time to begin a new skill!

The 6th grade ensembles meet everyday of the school year and perform several times throughout the year. Every 5th grade student is invited to join our outstanding band, choir and orchestra programs! Many students discover strengths in music class that carry through in all other areas of school.

In order to prepare enrollment for the next school year, we are asking you to fill out ONE of the forms below. Your child may still change his or her mind by calling either middle school throughout the spring, but early enrollment will help us establish class sizes and scheduling. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact any of the teachers involved:

Cityside BAND: Mr. Good at agood@zps.org Creekside BAND: Ms. Nichole Bier at nbier@zps.org Cityside CHOIR: Ms. Taryn Roels at troels@zps.org Creekside CHOIR: Ms. Rachel Xydis at rxydis@zps.org Cityside ORCHESTRA: Mrs. Ten Elshof at mtenelsh@zps.org Creekside ORCHESTRA: Mrs. Ten Elshof at mtenelsh@zps.org

Please use the form from the middle school your 5th grade student will attend for their 2021-2022 school year. CITYSIDE students/parents sign up for elective classes using this form: CITYSIDE 2021-2022 elective form. CREEKSIDE student/parents sign-up for elective classes using this form: CREEKSIDE 2021-2022 elective form.

We look forward to meeting your young musician!

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