Welcome 8th Graders!

The 8th Graders of the WLA Association visited WLA on Friday, January 30, 2009 and got a taste of what it would be like to be a high school student. They went on a mini schedule to all the areas of the building, learned what Freshman classes would be like, worshiped together in chapel, saw a snake in Biology, played games, and sang the school songs.

We hope that all of these students will consider spending their high school years at WLA.



9:26 Block 1 ends
9:37 Block 2 ends
9:49 Block 3 ends
10:01 Block 4 ends
10:13 Block 5 ends
10:17-10:33 Chapel
10:45 Block 6 ends
10:57 Block 7 ends
11:09 Block 8 ends
11:26 Block 9 ends
11:30 Lunch begins

Entertainment followed lunch

WLS Chorus to Perform Twice in FDL

The Chorus of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, the WELS pastor training school, will be in Fond du Lac on Sunday, March 1. At 7:45 and 10:15 a.m. they will guide the congregation of St. Paul's, North Fond du Lac (1010 Adams Ave, North Fond du Lac) through worship. At 2:30 p.m. they will present a sacred concert at St. Peter's (1600 South Main Street, Fond du Lac). The Chorus is directed by Prof. James P. Tiefel, Professor of Worship and Dean of Chapel at WLS. All are invited to take advantage of the opportunity to be edified with God's Word brought to us through song. A free-will offering will be gathered in support of the Seminary Chorus.

Importance of Arts in Sharp Focus

Like many of you, I watched the inauguration of President Barak Obama with a sense of history. As one of my Music Technology classes and I we listened to "The President's Own" Marine Band playing Sousa marches and other music while we watched the parade of dignitaries entering the US Captiol and coming onto the inauguration deck. We heard how they introduced the Vice President of the United States with music that was played for no one else. I was able to teach them about the unique music which is played only for the President of the United States as Flourishes and Fanfares and Hail to the Chief were first played as outgoing president George W. Bush walked onto the inaguration platform, and then, after being sworn into office, 44th President of the United States of America Barak H. Obama they were played again, musically marking the beginning of the next presidency.

Traveling Choir and I stopped dead in our tracks during warmups to listen on the edge of our seats as a new John Williams piece, "Air and Simple Gifts", was "performed" by Itzhak Perlman, (violin), Yo-Yo Ma (cello), Gabriela Montero (piano) and Anthony McGill (clarinet) . I got goose bumps as I listened and almost was brought to tears by the confluence of history: a new piece by my favorite composer of all time (John Williams) being played live at the US Capitol where I had just been last spring on the WLA Washington DC trip. It made me wonder how long before the inauguration John Williams was commissioned to write the piece.



Then this morning I read this email:

Dear choral community,

Given that we often are looking for ways to promote our programs, I offer this letter to the editor of the Orlando Sentinel about our recent inauguration ceremony. It is a simple and eloquent observation on the importance our society seems to place on the arts by all the vocal and instrumental music, poetry, art and dance used to express the event. The url of the letter is:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/letters/orl-le24_109jan24,0,2573330.story


Steven Szalaj
Music Director
Voices in Harmony
(815) 455-4879
szjsings@mac.com
voices-in-harmony.org

When you read the Orlando Sentiel article (it appears to be a letter to the editor), you will hopefully be struck, as I was, about the widespread use of music and the arts in the inauguration ceremony. The author, Jennifer Erickson of Orlando, hits the nail on the head when she says "imagine Inauguration Day without the arts." I'll add a couple other thoughts to that:

• imagine worship without music
• imagine a movie without a soundstrack
• imagine a lifetime without hearing or making music

I can't. This is just one reason why I teach music: to unlock the mysteries of music for my students. Here are two more:

Music to Your Ears? Music for Your Heart, Too

Music's Affect on Mind, Soul, Nearly Beyond Words

LCD 2009 Schedule

All WLA musical ensembles will be singing and entertaining the crowds who come to WLA's 2009 Let's Celebrate Day (Sunday, Jan. 25, 2009). The doors open at 11:30. Entertainment starts at noon. All choirs should report for warmups in the choir room 30 minutes before their performance time.

12:00 PM WLA Concert Band
12:15 PM WLA Freshman Choir
12:25 PM Grade School Explorer Band
12:40 PM St. Peter’s, FDL – Inspiration
12:55 PM Auction
1:10 PM Grade School Cadet Band
1:25 PM WLA Traveling Choir – Church Music
1:55 PM WLA Handbells (chapel)
1:55 PM Forensics (gym)
2:10 PM Faith, FDL – Youth Praise
2:25 PM WLA Jazz Band
2:40 PM WLA Academy Kids
2:55 PM Drama Preview
3:10 PM WLA Viking Choir
3:25 PM Grade School Jazz Band
3:40 PM WLA Traveling Choir – Secular Music
4:05 PM Combined WLA Choirs
4:15 PM 2008-2009 Association Theme Song & Closing Prayer

TC Performance at St. Peter, Theresa **Cancelled**

Due to the vacancy at St. Peter's, Theresa and other circumstances, the Traveling Choir's performance there on Sunday, January 18, 2009 has been canceled. If it is possible, the performance will be rescheduled sometime later this semester, otherwise early next school year.

Brownsville and Kekoskee TC Dates Switched

At the request of Pastor Bratz from St. Peter's, Kekoskee, I have switched two Traveling Choir performance dates:

Feb. 1, 2009 will now be St. Peter's, Kekoskee
Feb 15, 2009 will now be St. Paul's, Brownsville

The dates will work out better for both congregations. The 2008-2009 WLA Singing Schedule (listed under Quick Links on the right side of this page) has also been updated to reflect this change.

FINAL Entertainment Schedule for LCD 2009

On Sunday, January 25, 2009, WLA will again open its doors for the 14th annual Let's Celebrate Day open house. All the WLA musical ensembles entertain the crowds during the afternoon. Below is the FINAL draft of the schedule. Choir students should be in the choir room 30 minutes before their performance time(s) for warmups.

12:00 PM WLA Concert Band
A Disney Super Time (Mary Poppins medley)
A Symphony of Sit-coms
National Emblem March

12:15 PM WLA Freshman Choir
Medley from The Lion King
I’m a Believer from Shrek

12:25 PM Grade School Explorer Band
Aunt Rhodie’s Appetite
Popcorn Prelude

12:40 PM St. Peter’s, FDL – Inspiration
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
Under the Waves

12:55 PM Auction

1:10 PM Grade School Cadet Band
All Shook Up (Elvis medley)
Highlights from Annie
Music from CARS

1:25 PM WLA Traveling Choir – Church Music
Praise His Holy Name
Speak , O Lord
Lord, Let at Last Thine Angels Come
Precious Lord, Take My Hand
Alleluia
He is Not Here!

1:55 PM WLA Handbells (chapel)
Fanfare & Alleluia
In Christ Alone
Joy & Elation

1:55 PM Forensics (gym)

2:10 PM Faith, FDL – Youth Praise
Flix are For Kids
Bubble Trouble
Take Me Out to the Ballgame

2:25 PM WLA Jazz Band
Copacabana (At the Copa)
Mambo No. 5
Car Wash

2:40 PM WLA Academy Kids
I’ve Got the Music in Me
Only Hope
Words
And So It Goes
Thriller

2:55 PM Drama Preview
Much Ado About Nothing (Mar. 6-8, 2009)

3:10 PM WLA Viking Choir
Dancing Queen
Hopelessly Devoted to You from Grease
Popular from Wicked
Build Me Up Buttercup

3:25 PM Grade School Jazz Band
Cruella De Vil
Mambo Jambo
Livin On A Prayer

3:40 PM WLA Traveling Choir – Secular Music
West Side Story Medley
Defying Gravity from Wicked
Baba Yetu from Civilization IV
One Day More from Les Misérables

4:05 PM Combined WLA Choirs
Homeward Bound
Battle Hymn of the Republic

4:15 PM 2008-2009 Association Theme Song & Closing Prayer
I Watch in Hope for the Lord

Traveling Choir to Sing at Faith, Oshkosh 1/11/09

The WLA Traveling Choir will sing at Faith, Oshkosh on Sunday, January 11, 2009 in the 10 AM service. Students riding the bus should be at WLA by 8:15 AM. The bus will leave at 8:30 AM. Students driving to the church by car should be there at 9 AM.

The Traveling Choir will sing the following selections:

1. The Dream Isaiah Saw
2. Midnight Clear
3. Betelehemu
----
4. Speak, O Lord
5. Precious Lord, Take My Hand
6. He is Not Here!

WLA Traveling Choir to Sing for Christian Funeral of Eric Schumacher

Eric Schumacher, a sophomore at Winnebago Lutheran Academy, was called home by His Savior, Jesus Christ, to live with Him in eternity on Tuesday evening, December 30, 2008.

The WLA Traveling Choir has been asked by the Schumacher family to sing words of comfort and hope at the Christian funeral. The Traveling Choir will sing two songs: and In Christ Alone, and God Be With You till We Meet Again (CW 327). The choir will rehearse at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, North Fond du Lac, WI at noon on Saturday, January 3, 2009. Visitation will be at St. Pauls Lutheran Church in North Fond du Lac, Saturday, January 3 at 11:00 AM with the funeral to follow at 2:00 PM.

Traveling Choir students will not wear tuxes and concert dresses but will dress up in church clothes (aka game day clothes). TCer's should call me or text me when they get this message so I know who is available to sing. 920-251-4490

Please remember the Schumacher family and their friends in your prayers.