|
October 2002
Dear Friends,
Another school year has begun. The school is buzzing with students
running here and there—all eager to have their few moments
of freedom before class begins.
This year New Ramses College (NRC) has built two new floors to
accommodate the ever-increasing number of students. Today, although
it is almost exactly one month since we started school, we were
finally able to use the two new floors. Preparatory and secondary
students (equivalent to middle and high school) now have their
own special section of the building and we, as a music department,
have a new room! We have been preparing for this occasion for
two years. Realizing that we can't very well have a music room
without a piano, we started a series of concerts to help pay for
it. We also received a generous gift from Crescent Springs Presbyterian
toward the purchase of an instrument. Let me take this opportunity
to thank them formally. Thank you!
In August, thanks to our savings, we were able to purchase a
Clavinova. It has its benefits: it has funky sounds that attract
the students and can be moved easily without having to be tuned.
We've already used it for a concert. It's great!
This year our department is starting some new activities. One
of the sweethearts of the Egyptian singing scene was Abdel-Halim
Hafez. He was affectionately referred to as "The Dark Nightingale."
We have, therefore, named our first formal choir for prep and
secondary students "The Nightingales." They will get
to wear formal dresses and suits and will perform several times
this year, including graduation (New Ramses College's first graduation!).
As many of you know, we perform a musical each year. This year,
we have made some changes in how and where it will be performed,
as well as the content itself. We will do a more simplistic, shorter
show the objective of which is to teach values to the listeners.
We will perform it for each level in primary (five times) here
at school. Rehearsals have already started and the students are
loving it!
Christmas Choirs are also busy working. We'll have two this year—one
for primary and prep and one for kindergarten. There's always
a huge demand on the choirs so we have over 90 participating.
The concert is set for December 26 (remember, Eastern Christians
celebrate Christmas on January 7).
Our piano program will begin again this Monday. This year we
have 13 students participating.
That about covers the big events in the music department for this
year. As for me, I have committed myself to several other important
things this year. Since NRC is having its first graduating class,
it also wants to produce its first yearbook! Although I have no
experience with this enormous endeavor, I accepted the responsibility
to help put it together. It will certainly be an adventure. We
have gathered a staff of students and some teachers to start working.
I guess it's time to jump in with both feet!
I continue to direct the choir at St. Andrew's Church and have
accepted some more responsibilities, such as serving on the church
council and the worship and music committee. I am also singing
in the Choral Society again in its performance of "The Messiah"
scheduled for the two days before Thanksgiving. It's going to
be a busy but fulfilling term!
We appreciate your thoughts and prayers that support us in all
of these activities.
With Peace,
Jennifer
|
