XWO

View and download our Final Trip Packet (including packing list and spending money suggestions), an updated Chicago Final Itinerary, and the Crosswinds required Medical Information Form now. This and more information is also available on our Chicago page.

Note that the new itinerary has a much earlier departure time. Students must be at Crosswinds to load the bus at 6:00 a.m. on our departure day (Thursday, May 17th).

We are looking forward to a great trip next week.

Crosswinds Orchestra will perform early Monday morning (May 7th) at the Minnesota Department of Education as part of the “It’s About Time” conference. The conference will engage school administrators and superintendents from across the state in sessions examining alternative school calendars.

The conference kicks off with a welcome by our former superintendent and current Commissioner of Education, Dr. Brenda Casslius at 8:15. Crosswinds will perform following her welcome address, and we are immediately followed by St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman.

All students must be at Crosswinds by 7:00 a.m. Monday morning. Our bus leaves for MDE at 7:20.

Students should not forget to bring wire folding stands if they have them!

Congratulations everyone on a great concert.

I thought all there orchestras played a great show. Definitely something to feel proud of. Thanks to all of you for all of your hard work.

The complete concert is now streaming on XWOR. You can find the stream anytime by clicking on the XWOR tab at the top of any page.

Or go directly to the music here: XWOR – Crosswinds Music Stream

I will keep the stream up for a week or two. Apologies if it is down at any point.

Enjoy!

Crosswinds Orchestra Spring Concert is this Tuesday, May 1st at 7:30 at Crosswinds.

All three orchestras will perform. The show will kick off with Beginning Orchestra, when concertmaster Eli sounds the “A” promptly at 7:30. Beginning Orchestra will perform selections by Francis Feese, and “Old Rocking Chair,” by Jeremy Woolstenhulme. Orchestra I follows, led by concertmaster Victor in a performance highlighted by Deborah Baker Monday’s “Conquistador.” Finally, Orchestra II finishes the show with it’s set, including one of Crosswinds’ Orchestras all-time favorites: “Idylls of Pegasus.” Awards for outstanding Practice-a-thon participation will be announced at the show.

All students must arrive by 7:00 p.m. in the orchestra room for tuning. Dress is concert black and white.

A dessert reception follows the show. Bring something for the reception if you can.

Complete concert details can be downloaded or viewed here: Spring Concert Information.

A new page has been added to the blog with updated information about the trip to Chicago.

Keep an eye on it for the latest information.

Chicago Trip Info

Crosswinds Advanced Orchestra appears at Orchestra Hall this coming Monday as part of the MNSOTA Tier II Concert, based on our Superior with Distinction rankings earned at the Tier I competition. The orchestra will travel to Orchestra Hall in the afternoon for rehearsal and master classes with Minnesota Orchestra string players.

The concert takes place in Orchestra Hall at 6:00, this Monday, March 26th. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students, available at the door. Doors open at 5:00 p.m.

IMPORTANT: We still need chaperones! We must have at least four chaperones for the afternoon schedule in order to accompany groups to the Minnesota Orchestra master classes. Please contact Mr. Marget ASAP if you are interested. Chaperones will receive free admission to the concert. Mr. Marget:(651) 216-6621

Download our Schedule, Directions to Orchestra Hall, and Permission Slips here:

Tier II Schedule and Permission Form

Here is our schedule for the day:

MNSOTA Tier II Concert: Monday, March 26th

12:45   Bus from Crosswinds to Orchestra Hall
(Students should be in concert dress before leaving Crosswinds)
1:40      Orchestra Hall – Master Classes with Minnesota Orchestra
2:20      Crosswinds Orchestra Hall Rehearsal
3:00-5:00 Skyway walk and dinner. We will depart Orchestra Hall and take a stroll through the skyway. We will have dinner in the Skyway – Exact location TBD. If you would like to join us, meet us at the Orchestra Hall Skyway entrance at 3:10. Students may bring money for dinner or can choose to bring a bag lunch for themselves for this.
5:00      Orchestra Hall Lobby opens
(Tickets available at the door – $10 adults, $5 students)
5:30      Orchestra Hall Auditorium opens
6:00      MNSOTA Tier II Concert (students must stay for entire show)
8:00      Pick-up from Orchestra Hall – all students must be picked up from Orchestra Hall at the end of the show. The 8:00 time is a best estimate.

Practie-a-thon begins this week, as we start the process of collecting pledges for our annual fundraising practice drive. A week of pledge gathering will lead up to the two-week practice-a-thon push. This year’s practice-a-thon drive begins on Monday, March 19th and runs through April 1st.

For the first time, the complete Band program will participate along with all three orchestras in the practice-a-thon. Proceeds will go towards travel expenses, festival costs, and special events buses for the music program. In addition to our upcoming Chicago trip, the fundraising will help pay for Fall retreats, scholarships for students to attend festivals, and for summer special event trips the orchestra and band plan together.

Prizes will be awarded in all orchestras and bands for the top performances during the two week period and will be awarded based on a point system. Students will earn 1 point for every 10 dollars they raise, 1 point for every sponser they find to commit, and 2 points for every hour practiced during the two-week practice-a-thon. Prizes for each group will be announced shortly. Prizes will be awarded at the end of the quarter concerts.

Good luck everyone!

Students can download additional practice-a-thon pledge sheets and information to hand to potential sponsors here:

Practice-a-thon Info and Pledge Sheets

Practice-a-thon Sponsor Info Slips

Practice-a-thon Prizes and Points

Congratulations to the winners of the Advanced Orchestra auditions on Thursday. Eleven players auditioned, which is the largest number of auditions ever, and six players succeeded in advancing to full-fledged Dorqhood. Six is the second highest total ever admitted at one time. The most was eight in the Spring of 2009.

Players who succeeded in this audition will have the opportunity to travel with the group to Chicago and compete in the Windy City Music Classic. However, they will not be playing at the Tier II Concert at Orchestra Hall on March 26th. Only students who competed at Tier I in Monticello are eligible to perform at Tier II.

Congratulations to everyone who auditioned. This may have been the best prepared set of auditions ever.