September Newsletter
Hello Clements Choir Family
Thank you for a great Choir Express. We’re excited to see you at Pop Show!
Of course, please feel free to email us with any questions!
Jade Blakey | jade.blakey@fortbendisd.com
Justin Shen | justin.shen@fortbendisd.com
Choir Website:
Please visit our website for the calendar, practice tracks, and other pertinent information! | clementschoir.org
Calendars:
There is an electronic calendar for all the major choir events for the year, choir leadership, and all-state rehearsals. Please scroll to see all of them!
Donations:
There are a few things that we always need in the choir room. Please consider donating one or more of the following items, there are links attached for easy Amazon ordering! (any brand/amount is fine, we’re not picky!):
· Tissues
Events- Required
Pop Show Group Dress Rehearsal, required for all, double daily grade | Wednesday, Sept 10th, @ 3pm Clements High School Auditorium:
Students will need to wear their pop show t-shirt (if delivered) and jeans. Students are released after their calltime.
Timeliness is important. Students will be penalized for lateness to call time.
3:00 PM Everyone (The Greatest Show)
3:30 PM Cantiamo & A Cappella (4th and 7th period)
4:00 PM Concert Chorale (5th period)
4:20 PM Con Brio + Sonoro (2nd and 3rd period)
4:50 PM Chamber
5:10 PM Senior Song
5:30 PM All done!
Pop Show, required for all | Wednesday, Sept 17th, Concert at 7PM (Tickets are $5), student call times @ 5pm Clements High School Auditorium:
We are so excited to show off what we’ve been working on so far! Uniform will be Pop Show T-shirt and Jeans (no holes) with sneakers or other close-toed shoes. Doors will open @ 6:30. Tickets are $5 for people 5 years old and up and tickets are on sale now! This is a required performance for all choir students and will count for two major grades this grading period.
Timeliness is important. Students will be penalized for lateness to call time.
4:40 PM Chamber (6th period)
5:00 PM Everyone (The Greatest Show)
5:30 PM Cantiamo & A Cappella (4th and 7th period)
5:50 PM Con Brio + Sonoro (2nd and 3rd period)
6:10 PM Pizza for all students served in Commons + Show circle
6:30 PM Doors Open for families
6:50 PM Students at “Places”
7:00 PM Concert Start
8:45 PM Approximate Concert end time
Treble Collective, required for all Sopranos and Altos, double daily grade | Thursday, Sept. 25, @ Elkins High School Auditorium:
This is a new, casual concert event. Students must wear their Polo and Jeans to participate. If they do not bring their uniform, they cannot participate, and they will fail.
We invite you to the performance at 5:00PM. Please park by 4:50PM. You make take your student home after that. CHANGE: We will have busses back if you can’t make it to Elkins before 5:30pm! You will hear almost 400 7th-12th graders make beautiful music together! This will be First Colony, Fort Settlement, Quail Valley, Elkins and Clements together.
Itinerary:
11:55 AM (B Lunch) Students report to the choir room with their lunch (there will be time to go through the lunch line), wearing their choir polo and jeans
12:25 PM Students board the bus to Elkins HS
1:00 PM Arrive @ Elkins and help set-up
1:30-2:50 Minute-to-Win-It
3:00-3:15 Snack Time
3:30-6:00 Rotations
o 3:30-3:50 Rotation 1
o 3:50-4:10 Rotation 2
o 4:10-4:30 Rotation 3
o 4:30-4:50 Rotation 4
5:00-5:30PM "Informance" in Auditorium
5:45PM busses home if parents not at performance!
6:00PM Back at Clements!
Events- Optional
Choir Picnic | Saturday, September 6th, 9AM-12PM:
We will be at Sugar Land Memorial Park (15300 University Blvd. Sugar Land, TX 77479 near the dog park) Returning students, be on the lookout for a sign-up for some food or drink to bring. We’re going to play water games, so bring a towel and maybe a change of clothes. No 2-piece bathing suits, please! We are psyched to see you all there!
Choir Council | Monday, Sept 8th, 3-4PM:
Choir Council is our student leadership organization that organizes uniforms, plans socials, decorates for concerts, and works on student musicianship. Students will sign-up for committees, earn service hours, meet students from across the program, and make a big impact on the whole program. It’s a great place for students to practice service. They are led by our amazing Student Officer Board. Stop by and join us, students!
All-State District Auditions, required for auditionees | Saturday, September 13 @ Ridge Point High School
The first round of All-State auditions is close! The itinerary is below. We will need 2 chaperones. If you are willing to chaperone, please on next month’s newsletter!. Students need their real sheet music in a binder (you may also bring your photocopies), water, choir polo, and homework/games that don’t involve the internet/computer. Students will have to turn in their electronic devices (phones/watches) during the audition.
6:30 AM Come in by the band lot at Clements.
6:45 AM Warm-up
7:15 AM Board bus to Ridge Point High School. If student is a driver, they may take their own car.
7:45 AM Arrive at Ridge Point High School
8:00 AM Registration opens
9:00 AM Approximate audition start time
3:00 PM Approximate end time, Bus will drive back to Clements.
Parents may pick up their student at the end of their audition.
Spring Trip (only open to 10th-12th graders):
April 17th-18th is this year’s spring trip- Dallas! It’s open to all 10th-12th graders but we do have limited space of 50 seats! Fill out the interest from in Presto by Sept 12th. Cost is $417 and there is a payment plan!
Region Audition Prep Camp, optional | Monday, September 15, 4:00-6:00PM @ Elkins High School:
For those that continue onto the next round of All-State Auditions after District, Clements and Elkins are hosting a free preparatory camp to help students get a head start on the music. If this applies to you, please make plans to attend! There will be no transportation provided, but we will do our best to help students carpool
Southwest Greater Houston Fine Arts Showcase | Tuesday, September 30-Wednesday, October 1:
Students who plan to major in music (Wheeler Field House)/musical theatre (Reese Center) are invited to perform for college audition representatives between 9am-5pm. This is being discussed in Chamber Choir. If you would like additional information about the opportunity to perform, please email Mrs. Blakey directly. Jade.blakey@fortbendisd.gov.
Fine Arts College Night | Wednesday, October 1st 6-8 PM (Location is TBD)
The participating universities from the Showcase will also participate in a College Night for prospective students on October 1, 2025, from 6-8 PM. This is open to all students, regardless of grade.
Freshmen Retreat, Optional with payment & form Via Presto | Friday, October 3
Students will report to choir 3rd period and return to Clements around 6pm. More info to come.
Fee Update (paid through Presto Parent Account):
$65 “Freshmen Trip”- Optional for 9th graders. $ and form due Sept 12th. October 3rd from about 9:30-5pm. Students must be academically eligible on the Sept 21st grade check (all grades at 70 or above) and cannot have a referral/ISS/OSS assigned (including for tardies). We have 28 students signed up, but we need at least 35 to make the trip cost effective. Please sign-up.
$27 “Choir Polo”- Required for all new students (93% paid).
$26 “All-State Audition Fee”- (87% paid) Required for students who are auditioning for All-State.
Uniform Needs:
These have not changed from last year.
Informal Uniform: Choir polo, blue jeans with no holes, and closed-toe casual shoe (Tennis shoe, Converse, Vans, etc.)
Formal Uniform option 1: Gown
Choir provides: Gown and Pearls
You provide:
1. 2” character shoes
2. Make-up: foundation, blush, red lipstick, brown/black eyeliner and mascara, neutral eyeshadow with no glitter. (Send me an email if there is a family objection)
Formal Uniform option 2: Tuxedo
Choir provides: Tux pants & jacket
You provide: Black dress shirt, black dress socks, black undershirt, black dress shoes.
The formal uniforms may require hemming- it must be a temporary hem, meaning the hem should NOT be cut prior to sewing. If it is cut, you will be responsible for the replacement cost. The uniform contract is in Presto
Voice Lessons (Cut off for sign-up will be Sept. 12):
We have 4 wonderful voice teachers- Ms. Tann, Mr. Arthur, Mr. Holmes, and Dr. Lara. They teach during the school day here at Clements and will pull kids from their class. It’s an incredible opportunity! $30 a week is the cost for a half hour lesson. More information about each teacher can be found here (scroll down). Lesson contracts are in Presto This is highly suggested for students doing the all-state process and Chamber Choir.
Volunteering for the fall:
Please click the link and see where you can help.
Sincerely,
-Mrs. Blakey & Mr. Shen