Christmas Recitals are Coming - Are You Ready?!
It’s hard to believe, but Christmas is coming, and so are our 2015 Christmas Concerts! We wanted to take this opportunity to provide you with a little more information on what you can expect at our concerts.
Participation in this year’s Christmas Recital is open to all students at LAAPA. It’s quick and easy to Sign-Up at http://laapa.com/xmas. Sign up by November 16 for guaranteed placement in the concerts!
1.) All music and dance students are invited to perform at the concerts! Even if you just began studying this past September - chances are that you can work with your instructor to perform even a brief piece with the underlying goal of providing you with a positive introduction to the stage!
2.) Our concerts are held in professional auditoriums with full audio / lighting support. Vocalists - you may want to practice holding a pretend microphone in your lessons to simulate your actual on stage performance. If you’d prefer not to hold anything, the other option is leaving the microphone on the stand.
3.) For pianists - you will be performing on a full sized grand piano at the concerts. The piano should feel very similar to our pianos at Laapa. If you require any special sounds (electronic keyboard) - you will need to discuss this with your instructor and possibly bring your keyboard to use at the concert.
4.) For guitarists - we provide a direct connection to the auditorium’s sound system, so there is no need to bring your amplifiers. If you want to dial in some effects, you are welcome to bring a pedal - but please be sure to bring whatever extra patch cables you may need to connect it.
5.) For bass players - this year we will have a bass amp setup on stage for better monitoring.
6.) For drummers - we will have a Yamaha DTX series electronic drum set on stage similar to the ones many of you use in your lessons. There is no need to bring any drum equipment (other than your sticks) unless you would prefer to perform on an acoustic drum kit.
7.) All violin, guitar, brass, and woodwind students - please be sure to arrive early to have your instruments tuned by one of the staff members!
8.) Dance students should arrive no later than 30 minutes prior to showtime for class group photos and to review the floorplan with their instructor. Our dance numbers often open our productions, so it is vital that all students are timely!
9.) There are no tickets to purchase for our Christmas Concerts. In lieu of tickets, we ask for donations to a charity that we’ve been supporting for several years now through the Teresian Sisters. More information on this mission is available at http://laapa.com/mission.
10.) When you arrive at the concert, be sure to pick up a program in the auditorium lobby. You may then proceed to the front of the auditorium for pictures with Romaguera Photography and/or to see one of our staff members who will be seating the students in the order of the program. Seating for parents and guests is all on a first come, first served basis.
11.) Each concert will typically last up to 1 1/2 hours. We recommend that you budget a full 2 hours to be on the safe side. We ask that you be prepared to remain for the full concert. Students who leave early will miss out on our group photographs which get sent to the local newspapers and hung in our schools and published on our website.
We look forward to seeing you all on stage!
Ryan Cullen, Academy Director
Just One Month Until our Apple Watch Drawing - Will You Win?
Do you love your music lessons or dance classes at LAAPA? Tell everyone!
If you refer a new student to the Academy and they enroll:
- You will receive a free lesson in any program.
- You AND your friend will be automatically entered into our drawing this December 1 for a brand new Apple Watch!
Please make sure that your friend mentions your FULL NAME at the time of enrollment. The more friends you refer that enroll - the more chances you have to win!
The winner will be announced at facebook.com/laapaface December 1!
* Immediate family members/members of the same household are not eligible for the referral program.
Mandeville School of Music students, James Plaisance (alto sax), Brian Forrest III (drums), and Alex Maasen (bass/trombone) formed their own band and recently performed as an opening act for Ellis Marsalis at the Dew Drop Jazz Hall.
River Ridge School of Music & Dance voice/piano student, Sarah Anderson made the advanced group of the New Orleans Children’s Choir! She studies with Mrs. Katarina B.
Layla Massey has been cast as Anastasia in Cinderella at Our Lady of the Lake. Layla takes piano lessons at the Covington School of Music with Mrs. Autumn B.
Isabella Lancaster was selected for the Louisiana Children’s All-State Honor Choir. She is a student at River Ridge School of Music & Dance and takes voice lessons with Mrs. Bonnie T. (also pictured below!).
Sophia Worsham, piano student at the Mandeville School of Music, saved up 30 tickets from her outstanding lesson progress and cashed them in for an Academy t-shirt!
We love getting your news, success stories and comments. If you'd like to share your news with us, please e-mail studentnews@laapa.com. Please note that we are now publishing our newsletters monthly, and if you don't see your submission in this edition, it will be published as soon as space is available! Connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/laapaface, youtube.com/laapatube, and now on Twitter at @laapatweets.
Happy November Birthdays!
We'd like to wish the following Students, Faculty, and Staff a very Happy Birthday this Month!
(Students) Addie C. (14), Addison F. (7), Adrian R. (9), Adrian H. (12), Adrian P. (17), Aidan O. (7), Alaina C. (9), Alejandro C. (12), Alex S. (6), Alex G. (12), Alexandra M. (8), Alivia S. (13), Alyssa W. (7), Amelia K. (7), Andrea B. (14), Andrew F. (8), Anna L.,Ashleigh S. (16), Averi B. (11), Aylin C. (3), Blake S. (4), Brianna B. (4), Brittan D. (9), Caelan C. (7), Camden C. (9), Catherine-Grace N. (13), Chloe A. (8), Christine T., Claire S. (11), Cristian A. (9), Daniel A., Daniel M., Daniel B., Darius H. (8), David M. (10), Elise G. (13), Elizabeth E. (7), Erika D. (5), Evelyn S. (7), Faris E. (9), Frankie D. (10), Gabriel N. (5), Jack V. (15), Jamie P. (15), Jayla M. (4), Jillian S. (9), Jonathan M., Joseph D. (8), Joyce H. (8), Julia A. (15), Kate F. (9), Kimberly A. (11), Linley L. (5), Lucy C. (6), Madalynn C. (5), Mani V. (6), Mantas K. (8), Maria O. (15), Mia L. (12), Miguel D. (13), Mindy T., Nadia D. (13), Nikki T. (16), Nithya R. (13), Noah A. (8), Penny W. (8), Rayne K. (6), Rhyne S. (16), Sarah C. (10), Scout H. (11), Seth C. (6), Shelby B., Sophia M. (6), Sophia W. (12), Sydney T. (6), Sydney C. (13), Tabitha H. (7), Talula G. (9), Taylor D. (13), Thanvi S. (7), Valerie M. (14), Vito E. (10), William M. (8)
(Faculty) Vanya K., Yulene V., David F., Jennifer F.
November 24-28 - Thanksgiving Holidays
December 19-20 Christmas Recitals (Information coming soon!)
It’s Not Too Late to Get Started in Music & Dance this Fall!
There’s still time to schedule your music lessons and dance classes! Our teachers make learning fun and we offer music lessons in piano, voice, guitar, drum, violin, sax, clarinet, flute, trumpet, preschool music and dance classes in ballet, hip-hop, modern, musical theatre, tap, jazz, parent and tot, pre-ballet. For more information on current scheduling availability, give us a call today at (985) 231-0875 or e-mail us here!
Enroll Online TODAY!
Give the Give of Art this Holiday Season!
If it has been awhile since you have last come inside our Mandeville and River Ridge campuses, then we would like to invite you in to take a look at the recently added artwork throughout our school.
Local artist, Michaela Howell has graciously decorated our schools with her music and dance themed artwork (just one example of which is pictured right). All of these pieces may be purchased for your home or as a gift! Please inquire at the front desk.
With down home country humble beginnings Michaela has always been very resourceful. She cuts, sands, primes, paints, and in some cases stains her abstract versions of the wooden instruments, creating very hands-on works of art. This resourcefulness has “Played” out very nicely in her most current work. Though the recycling of varying musical instrument components including guitar strings, violin knobs, music sheets featuring the instrument showcased, Michaela portrays a ‘current’ sense of style combined with a very vivid color pallet, creating a symphony for the senses!
Student of the Month - Cort Hawkins
Mandeville School of Music student, Cort Hawkins takes voice lessons here at LAAPA! We recently had a chance to speak with him and learn a little more about his vocal lessons and interests!
Tell us about yourself and how long you’ve been taking lessons at LAAPA.
I live in Ponchatoula, Louisiana. I have been singing for 8 years now. I go to PHS (Ponchatoula High School) and I have straight A’s. I have been taking lessons at LAAPA for 1.5 years.
What has your instruction here at LAAPA helped you to accomplish?
I have learned a lot here at LAAPA and have accomplished a lot because of it. I have learned to not be afraid while singing in front of people, to speak clearly while singing, and to breathe correctly. I have accomplished some things along the way too like singing for Church of the King, earning a spot in advanced Choir for my school, and making first round auditions for All-State Choir.
What are some of your other interests and hobbies?
My other interests and hobbies are running and football. I am also in Key Club and on the student council for my school.
What are your goals for the future?
My goals for the future are to do whatever God leads me to do. The interests I am considering are singing (of course), architecture, movie productions, and coaching a football team.
A HUGE welcome to our newest students who began lessons or added programs this past September-October! If you began after October 22, you will be welcomed next month!
We are so happy that you’ve chosen to study at LAAPA.
We know you will do great things this year!
Adia M.
(thanks to Carol H.)
Alex M.
(thanks to James P.)
Alexandra V.
Alicia A.
Alivia S.
Ally B.
Anisa c.
Anna L.
(thanks to Brady L.)
Aria J.
Ashlyn I.
(thanks to Dave & Richelle C.)
Ava B.
Bella A.
Caleb W.
Chloe Bleu S.
Chris S.
Christian H.
Christian I.
(thanks to Dave & Richelle C.)
Christopher P.
Emily M.
Ethan S.
Frankie D.
Gabriel N.
Hannah P.
Harrison B.
(thanks to Jackson C.)
Irving C.
Isabella O.
Isabella R.
Jace B.
Jack P.
James K.
Jayci D.
Jessiah S.
Johnas E.
Jordan G.
Joshua H.
Joshua M-P.
Kaelyn R.
Kevin N.
Kevin M.
Khyren A.
Kolten K.
Lucille C.
(thanks to Kimea C.)
Lucy C.
Luke M.
Maddie N.
Madison A.
Mia R.
(thanks to Julie L.)
Michael D.
Michelle M.
Namratha M.
(thanks to Trisha W.)
Olivia J.
Olivia C.
Olivia N.
Pazah M.
Rebecca G.
Rhiannon D.
Rowan W.
Roy R.
Sam W.,
Savannah B.
Shagun A.
Shelby B.
Sijun Y.
Sofia S.
(thanks to Carolyn R.)
Sofia M.
Sophia H.
Tamanna P.
Thomas S.
Trayzi D.
Vanessa Q.
Student “Shout-Outs!”
“We would like to thank Mrs. Bonnie for always being nurturing, caring and positive. Isabella loves voice lessons with her.”
~Mariela Rodriguez
“Lessons are going very well. Gabriel is so glad to be back. He made it into Talented music at school and loves Ben, his teacher.”
~Bordelon Family
