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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (March 21, 2020)
La La Grande Grande Pride School District www.lagrandesd.org • March 2020 Volume 4, Issue 1 • March 2020 www.lagrandesd.org 1 La Grande Pride Love, Care, Serve La Grande High School, La Grande Middle School, Central Elementary, Greenwood Elementary, Island City Elementary CALENDAR OF EVENTS BOARD MEETINGS May 13, 2020 7:00 p.m. La Grande High School Commons June 10, 2020 7:00 p.m., District Office Conference Room MIDDLE SCHOOL EVENTS May 4th - 8th Tentative dates for LMS Greenhouse Sale May 5th 2:00-6:30 p.m. Home Track Meet May 6th 7:00-8:00 p.m. Parent Night for Incoming 6th Grade May 13th - 15th 6th Grade Outdoor School May 21st :00 p.m. Choir Concert at LHS CENTRAL ELEMENTARY EVENTS April 30 Scholastic Book Fair May 6 & 7 5th grades to OMSI May 9 PTO yard sale SUPPORTING MUSICAL TRADITIONS La Grande goes to State Solo and Ensemble competition By Trish Yerges Music director Kevin Durfee is happy to announce that he has two ensemble groups that have qualified to compete at the State Solo and Ensemble competition on May 2 at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. This isn’t their first year partici- pating in the State competitions, but it is the first year that the school dis- trict has dedicated a class period and classroom for the ensembles class to meet and rehearse. It is an exciting change for the high school’s music department. “Over past years, the students have been practicing their ensembles and solo work almost exclusively on their own time, during lunches and after and before school,” said LHS Principal Brett Baxter. “But now, this small ensemble class really helps capture and give a place and time designated for that.” The new class has been met with great enthusiasm by the ensemble students. “We have about 15 kids that have committed to take a class that starts at 7:00 in the morning, so that’s what they’ve been doing, com- ing in and rehearsing,” said Durfee. “It’s made a big difference in their preparedness.” At any given time in the new ensemble classroom, there are be- tween two to four ensembles working independently and concurrently. Just being able to get together like this allows the ensembles to train and prepare regularly. Durfee has no- ticed the refinement in the quality of their performances. Baxter is very impressed with the small ensembles. “I can’t say enough- --Mr. Durfee prepares these kids so well, and the kids, to some extent, self-select their groups, and just find those groups that gel really well and harmonize for the ensembles.” Students involved in the small ensembles have performed locally at school choir concerts and other community events. “They are incred- ible,” said Baxter. “We’re proud of the kids. It’s not all about sports despite all our other successes at sports. We have a strong tradition in music at both the university and the high school, and it’s well supported by the community. To see these kids do well just reflects on the support from the community.” One of La Grande’s qualifying ensembles is a large treble ensemble called “Oto Bella Voce” meaning eight beautiful voices in Italian. These are eight girls, singing four part music with two on a part. Sometimes it’s six-part music, and sometimes they are singing a part all by themselves. Each member of the ensemble must therefore be a strong, independent voice that knows how to harmonize with the others. “The reason it’s called an ensem- ble contest,” said Durfee, “is because that’s what the test is, to see how well you can sing and blend with each other without a director in front of you. They get their starting pitch and go to work.” The second qualifying ensemble group from La Grande is called “A Choired Taste.” That group is made up of five guys and four girls, a large mixed ensemble. “The ensemble groups only have 10 minute slots to perform, so they’ll be going with two pieces each,” said Durfee. “It’s a chamber ensemble so continued on page 2 The word on Enrollment... enrollment numbers as of March 4, 2020 Central Elementary 477 students Greenwood Elementary 294 students Island City Elementary 313 students La Grande Learning Aca. 92 students Middle School 544 students High School 676 students Total Elementary Enrollment 1,084 students LGSD Total Enrollment 2,416 students
