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Snowstorm Pushes Benefit Concert Two Weeks
Thursday, 22 March 2012 16:49
The recent snowstorm that impacted the school schedule for Sprague students on March 20-21 forced the cancellation of the orchstra's annual Benefit Concert and Silent Auction. Even though weather conditions improved in time to hold the concert, district policy dictates that extra curricular events cannot be held on days when school is cancelled due to weather. The date for the concert moved to April 5th at the same time, 6PM for the Silent Auction preview and 7PM for the concert. Hope to see you then!
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Changing of the Guard for Orchestra Director
Friday, 09 September 2011 11:33
The orchestra program receives its 5th director in the last 6 years with the return of Mr. Stephen Nelson, who left after the 2005-06 school year to pursue private instruction. In the interim, the program went through a turbulent 2-year stretch that was stabilized with the arrival of Ms. Dijana Ihas (now Dr. Ihas) in the fall of 2008. Ms. Ihas enjoyed a highly successful run as director following the legacy originally blazed by Mr. Nelson during his initial 23-year tenure.
Remarkably, Ms. Ihas led the program, specifically the String Camerata, to first place finishes for 3 consecutive years at the OSAA String Orchestra competition. In addition, she helped the Camerata earn top honors at Heritage Festivals in New York City (2009) and Anaheim (2011), while also capturing Mark of Excellence awards for submissions from the 2009 and 2010 OSAA performances. As a capstone, she helped return along with Band Director, Dr. Richard Greenwood, the Sprague Symphony to a first place finish in the 2011 OSAA Full Symphony competition.
Ms. Ihas left to fill an Associate Professor of Music position with Pacific University in Forest Grove, a direct result of earning her Ph. D. from the University of Oregon this past summer. Dr. Ihas leaves with our full gratitude for returning the program to its former glory and preparing it well for Mr. Nelson.
Mr. Nelson needs little introduction in the Sprague community. His orchestras and their performances were a model to be followed throughout the country having won state and international championships over 20 times. His contributions to the Sprague music programs also helped garner recognition on 4 separate occasions from the Grammy Awards. Mr. Nelson was also awarded Teacher of the Year in 2003 by Channel One and Music Educator of the Year in 2006 by the Oregon Symphony Association in Salem.
After a few years of semi-retirement, Mr. Nelson returned to teaching after a strong showing of community support filling the position at Crossler Middle School left open when Rachel Anderson resigned. Now he follows many of his 8th-grade students to Sprague to resume his tenure in hope of extending their recent achievement and perhaps even improving on them. While many orchestra students are sorry to see Ms. Ihas depart, they are all quite happy with the knowledge, experience, and for quite a few, the continuity of Mr. Nelson's presence.
Welcome back Mr. Nelson!
Remarkably, Ms. Ihas led the program, specifically the String Camerata, to first place finishes for 3 consecutive years at the OSAA String Orchestra competition. In addition, she helped the Camerata earn top honors at Heritage Festivals in New York City (2009) and Anaheim (2011), while also capturing Mark of Excellence awards for submissions from the 2009 and 2010 OSAA performances. As a capstone, she helped return along with Band Director, Dr. Richard Greenwood, the Sprague Symphony to a first place finish in the 2011 OSAA Full Symphony competition.Ms. Ihas left to fill an Associate Professor of Music position with Pacific University in Forest Grove, a direct result of earning her Ph. D. from the University of Oregon this past summer. Dr. Ihas leaves with our full gratitude for returning the program to its former glory and preparing it well for Mr. Nelson.
Mr. Nelson needs little introduction in the Sprague community. His orchestras and their performances were a model to be followed throughout the country having won state and international championships over 20 times. His contributions to the Sprague music programs also helped garner recognition on 4 separate occasions from the Grammy Awards. Mr. Nelson was also awarded Teacher of the Year in 2003 by Channel One and Music Educator of the Year in 2006 by the Oregon Symphony Association in Salem.
After a few years of semi-retirement, Mr. Nelson returned to teaching after a strong showing of community support filling the position at Crossler Middle School left open when Rachel Anderson resigned. Now he follows many of his 8th-grade students to Sprague to resume his tenure in hope of extending their recent achievement and perhaps even improving on them. While many orchestra students are sorry to see Ms. Ihas depart, they are all quite happy with the knowledge, experience, and for quite a few, the continuity of Mr. Nelson's presence.Welcome back Mr. Nelson!
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Music Day 2011
Saturday, 06 August 2011 10:40
This year marks the first Music Day fundraiser that merges the efforts of band and orchestra members to canvas the Sprague area for donations in support of band and orchestra activities. The booster boards of both programs have entered an agreement to coordinate acitivites around the former Band Day to ensure broader coverage of potential donors. In recent years, declining band enrollment has left many areas unaddressed. This new enterprise will take a simple form at first with band selecting the sectors they wish to cover. Orchestra will then select from the remaining sectors and assign students to routes. In future years, the programs will become more integrated.
Music Day will be held the first Saturday after the school year begins, which occurs this year on September 10, 2011. Student participation in Music Day is mandatory. Normally, Music Day would be a General Fund fundraiser only, but the board has voted to allow 50% of proceeds to be credited to student accounts based on hours of participation. We will soon have a Music Day page on this site to provide more information on participation, locations, assignments, and schedule. Stay tuned to our Twitter feed for announcements.
To make Music Day a success, we need the assistance of parents. Parents can help in a number of ways. First, by ensuring your student is prepared for and present on Music Day. Other ways include driving students and hosting or supporting a sector house. For parents to participate for the benefit of any students other than their own, they must submit to and pass a background check under Salem-Keizer School District guidelines. The background check process can take 3-4 weeks, so please get started early if you wish to participate. You must download the form from the district web site and follow the instructions within. Completed forms can be dropped off at the Sprague business office or mailed to the district using the address noted in the instructions.
Please feel free to communicate with the booster board via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or on this site's contact page if you have any questions. We look forward to a successful launch to our inaugural Music Day!
This year marks the first Music Day fundraiser that merges the efforts of band and orchestra members to canvas the Sprague area for donations in support of band and orchestra activities. The booster boards of both programs have entered an agreement to coordinate acitivites around the former Band Day to ensure broader coverage of potential donors. In recent years, declining band enrollment has left many areas unaddressed. This new enterprise will take a simple form at first with band selecting the sectors they wish to cover. Orchestra will then select from the remaining sectors and assign students to routes. In future years, the programs will become more integrated.Music Day will be held the first Saturday after the school year begins, which occurs this year on September 10, 2011. Student participation in Music Day is mandatory. Normally, Music Day would be a General Fund fundraiser only, but the board has voted to allow 50% of proceeds to be credited to student accounts based on hours of participation. We will soon have a Music Day page on this site to provide more information on participation, locations, assignments, and schedule. Stay tuned to our Twitter feed for announcements.
To make Music Day a success, we need the assistance of parents. Parents can help in a number of ways. First, by ensuring your student is prepared for and present on Music Day. Other ways include driving students and hosting or supporting a sector house. For parents to participate for the benefit of any students other than their own, they must submit to and pass a background check under Salem-Keizer School District guidelines. The background check process can take 3-4 weeks, so please get started early if you wish to participate. You must download the form from the district web site and follow the instructions within. Completed forms can be dropped off at the Sprague business office or mailed to the district using the address noted in the instructions.
Please feel free to communicate with the booster board via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or on this site's contact page if you have any questions. We look forward to a successful launch to our inaugural Music Day!
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Camerata & Symphony Take Top Prizes at OSAA
Saturday, 14 May 2011 00:54
For the third straight year, Sprague's Camerata Orchestra achieved a first-place finish in the String Orchestra division of the OSAA Championships in Corvallis. And for the second time in that period the Oly musicians will share their pedestal with another school--this time with the surprise of the competition, West Salem High School. Almost as big a surprise, and certainly a welcome one was the unexpected victory by the Sprague Symphony in the Full Orchestra division. Playing a wild and furious Marquez Danzon No. 2 the big group kept it together and delivered an exceptional performance. This win is the first for Sprague Symphony since 2006, a bit of a drought by Sprague music standards.
But Camerata knows little of thirst you might think, having drunk from the virtual victor's cup for 2 years running. Nevertheless they were parched plenty enough to prepare to the extent that they all knew their parts (and each other's, according to one student) by heart. That would be for all five movements, including their exquisite rendition of the Larghetto from Elgar's Serenade for Strings in E minor. Camerata outscored all their opponents in performance, proving the value of thorough preparation.
2006 was also that last year that both groups placed first. This evening also marked the last time we'll see a few faces at the OSAA event. Recognized by the OSAA were Mr. Karl Raschkes, the Salem-Keizer School District music supervisor, and Mr. Ben Brooks, the orchestra director at Reynolds HS. Raschkes is largely credited with building one of the most widely regarded public high school music programs in the country (at least outside of Texas). Brooks leaves after 38 years of dedication and success in Troutdale. And while not recognized by the OSAA like the others, we all know that our beloved Ms. Ihas won't be directing next year (though we hope she'll come and support us!). Ms. Ihas' too short tenure at Sprague is marked by great accomplishment with first place finishes at the festival, district, and state level in every competition. Wow! They all will be missed.
Videos of the event are available on Sprague Orchestra's YouTube channel. Photos can be found in the photo library. CCTV will broadcast the Symphony performance starting at 8PM on Saturday May 28th. Camerata's performance will air at the tail end of the segment that starts at 6PM on Saturday June 4th. The performances will repeat numerous times. Check here for CCTV's OSAA broadcast schedule.
For the third straight year, Sprague's Camerata Orchestra achieved a first-place finish in the String Orchestra division of the OSAA Championships in Corvallis. And for the second time in that period the Oly musicians will share their pedestal with another school--this time with the surprise of the competition, West Salem High School. Almost as big a surprise, and certainly a welcome one was the unexpected victory by the Sprague Symphony in the Full Orchestra division. Playing a wild and furious Marquez Danzon No. 2 the big group kept it together and delivered an exceptional performance. This win is the first for Sprague Symphony since 2006, a bit of a drought by Sprague music standards.But Camerata knows little of thirst you might think, having drunk from the virtual victor's cup for 2 years running. Nevertheless they were parched plenty enough to prepare to the extent that they all knew their parts (and each other's, according to one student) by heart. That would be for all five movements, including their exquisite rendition of the Larghetto from Elgar's Serenade for Strings in E minor. Camerata outscored all their opponents in performance, proving the value of thorough preparation.
2006 was also that last year that both groups placed first. This evening also marked the last time we'll see a few faces at the OSAA event. Recognized by the OSAA were Mr. Karl Raschkes, the Salem-Keizer School District music supervisor, and Mr. Ben Brooks, the orchestra director at Reynolds HS. Raschkes is largely credited with building one of the most widely regarded public high school music programs in the country (at least outside of Texas). Brooks leaves after 38 years of dedication and success in Troutdale. And while not recognized by the OSAA like the others, we all know that our beloved Ms. Ihas won't be directing next year (though we hope she'll come and support us!). Ms. Ihas' too short tenure at Sprague is marked by great accomplishment with first place finishes at the festival, district, and state level in every competition. Wow! They all will be missed.
Videos of the event are available on Sprague Orchestra's YouTube channel. Photos can be found in the photo library. CCTV will broadcast the Symphony performance starting at 8PM on Saturday May 28th. Camerata's performance will air at the tail end of the segment that starts at 6PM on Saturday June 4th. The performances will repeat numerous times. Check here for CCTV's OSAA broadcast schedule.
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School Board Budget Committee Hearings
Tuesday, 03 May 2011 09:41
As many of you know, we are facing difficult financial times in the Salem-Keizer school district. In accordance with developing its proposed budget, the School Board budget committee will be meeting this evening, tomorrow evening, and one or more times next week as necessary to reveal its budget plans and hear public comment. The music program will be impacted by the policies set forth in this budget. The Sprague Orchestra Boosters encourages you to attend these events wearing blue as a symbol of solidarity in support of music in the schools.
The Friends of Music last night discussed the implications of what is known so far about actions being taken that affect music instruction and classes. While there may be only 3 or 4 positions being targeted for elimination, other actions are illuminating larger concerns. For instance, music--which is recognized by Dr. Sandy Husk, the district superintendent, as a core subject--is being treated as an elective and entire classes being eliminated. The music program (S-K's "shining star" according to Dr. Husk) is an integrated ecosystem that must be managed district wide to maintain the excellent results we've come to know. This management has been turned over to school sites that have targeted music in a way that will eventually break down the feeder system and the integrity of music education overall.
We must act to ensure that the School Board and the District know the importance we place on music education and the impact it has on student development and achievement. Please consider attending the budget committee hearings at Clagget Creek Middle School (map) on one or more of the following days:
May 3, 2011 6PM
May 4, 2011 6PM
May 9, 2011 6PM
May 11, 2011 6PM (provisional)
Remember to wear BLUE!
Thanks for your support,
Sprague Orchestra Boosters
The Friends of Music last night discussed the implications of what is known so far about actions being taken that affect music instruction and classes. While there may be only 3 or 4 positions being targeted for elimination, other actions are illuminating larger concerns. For instance, music--which is recognized by Dr. Sandy Husk, the district superintendent, as a core subject--is being treated as an elective and entire classes being eliminated. The music program (S-K's "shining star" according to Dr. Husk) is an integrated ecosystem that must be managed district wide to maintain the excellent results we've come to know. This management has been turned over to school sites that have targeted music in a way that will eventually break down the feeder system and the integrity of music education overall.
We must act to ensure that the School Board and the District know the importance we place on music education and the impact it has on student development and achievement. Please consider attending the budget committee hearings at Clagget Creek Middle School (map) on one or more of the following days:
May 3, 2011 6PM
May 4, 2011 6PM
May 9, 2011 6PM
May 11, 2011 6PM (provisional)
Remember to wear BLUE!
Thanks for your support,
Sprague Orchestra Boosters
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