Every other year the chorus, orchestra, and band ensembles take a week long trip to a tourist attraction along the east coast during one of the school vacations and perform for the public by either marching or performing in a music hall. The two years previous to the trip the students do fund raisers to pay part of the cost to go on the trip, because such a large group of people renting out hotels and paying for plane tickets is not a small cost. The two major fund raisers are the lottery music calendar and wreath fund raisers. Kids sell these to their friends and neighbors and a large portion of their sales go to paying for the trip while the rest goes to paying for fund raiser expenses. Trips usually consist of playing in several performances, watching several music related professional performances and of course having a good time usually including a day devoted to an amusement park. All trips will be supervised by all music staff and ten to twenty volunteer parent chaperones.
This past year the University of Maine gave the Timberlane Wind Ensemble one of the most exciting and awe inspiring opportunities to perform in one of the greatest music halls in the world: Symphony Hall. Both the Timberlane Wind Ensemble and University of Maine symphonic band gave amazing performances for the crowd at the hall. I could tell from my very first warm up note. The one note vibrated so fluently around the entire music hall and the note was heard just as well in the top level back row seat as a person sitting in the front row. And the stage had an incline as well so no one goes unseen. Just the thought of being able to sit in the same seats as some of the professionals before us is just amazing. So I am sure Timberlane's highest regards and thanks go to both the University of Maine and Symphony hall coordinators for allowing us to have this amazing opportunity and experience.
Every year high school students all around the state of New Hampshire try out to be part of a high level performance group to perform a concert with the best of the best in the state. This is an important event for Timberlane, because Timberlane usually has the most students be a part of the all-state band, chorus and orchestra. This is a three part event. Early in the school year is when the try out process takes place. The students are all given a packet of the material that they will be tested on early in the school year. When they are finally called to try out they play in front of a judge usually specializing in their instrument. Then later the participants find out their scores and see whether or not they made it into the honor band, chorus or orchestra. If they do, they will later receive the music so they may prepare for the concert, which is the final part of All-State. In the middle of the school year all the selected contestants work together and perform their pieces in a performance hall in New York.
Every year bands, choirs and orchestras all around New Hampshire come to Bowe High School to compete to see who has the best band, chorus and orchestra in all of New Hampshire. Timberlane is always a major participant in this competition as we usually bring back straight A's from all of the judges for all of our Music Programs.
