March [Assessment Information] -2026

Assessment Season is here! Your students have worked diligently for Loudoun County Choral Assessment. March will be the busiest month for Lightridge Chorus - and we thank you for all of your support leading up to the biggest performance of the year!

What is Choral Assessment? Assessment is an event where Lightridge Chorus will join the rest of Loudoun County Chorus Departments and perform for a panel of judges. The judges will rate our groups on our musicianship and literacy. This educational experience helps us grow as a department and gives us feedback on how to improve. This event is comparable to SOLs. Here are the details:

Please be aware of these dates below:

WILLARD SHOWCASE - Lightridge SINGERS

Tuesday, March 3rd, 7:00 PM

• at Willard MS - call time is 6:45 PM and we will be done by 8:00 PM

• dinner is not provided

• students should wear Lightridge Chorus merch for this performance

Jason Max Ferdinand Clinic - Lightridge Chamber

Thursday, March 12th, 6:30 PM

• at Alexandria City HS - we will leave at 5:00 PM and will be back at school by 9:30 PM

• students will be provided dinner [Chik-fil-A] prior to our departure

• students should wear Lightridge Chorus merch for this performance

SYDNEY GUILLAUME CLINIC

wITH

Lightridge SINGERS - SELECT TREBLE - SELECT BASS

Friday, March 13th, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

• composer residency at Lightridge HS

• student participation will be reported to the attendance office

• students should wear Lightridge Chorus merch for this performance

  Friday March 13th 

  10:00 - 10:45 - Riverside Singers Kanaval

  11:00 - 11:45 - Select Bass Plakatap

  12:00 - 12:45 - Select Treble Koudjay

  12:45 - 1:30 - Lunch 

  1:30 - 2:15 - Lightridge Singers Kalinda

  2:30 - 3:15 - Willard MS Men Nou 

PRE-ASSESMENT CONCERT

ALL CHOIRS

Tuesday March 17th, 7:00 PM

Pre-Assessment concerts are for a final practice before Assessment. Students are to report to the Lightridge Auditorium at 6:30 PM. If they have no ride, they are welcome to stay after school. IF they are staying after school, they must have their uniform to change into. Dinner is not provided. The concert starts at 7:00 PM and will end around 8:30 PM.

ASSESSMENT SCHEDULE

WEdnesday, march 25th, b day

at Briar Woods HS

Bass Chorus: 3:45 - 4:45

Lightridge Singers: 5:15 - 6:15

Select Treble: 6:20 - 7:20

• field trip forms have already been completed by families at the beginning of the school year

• bus will depart at 3:00 PM for ALL performing groups at 3:00 PM and will return at 8:00 PM

• Bass Chorus parents are encouraged to pick up their student from Briar Woods at 4:45 when they are done with assessment!

Thursday march 26th, A day

at Briar Woods HS

Lightridge Chamber: 2:45 - 3:45

Select Bass: 3:45 - 4:45

Treble: 5:00 - 6:00

• field trip forms have already been completed by families at the beginning of the school year

• bus will depart at 2:00 PM for ALL performing groups at 3:00 PM and will return at 6:45 PM

Let me know if you have any questions about these events - dates have been on the calendar since the beginning of the school year! Please also check that your student’s uniform is ready to go for these upcoming performances.

Best,

Helai Karim Rutan

November - 2025

Hello Lightridge Chorus Families!

We have had a strong start to the second quarter and are excited to present our winter concert repertoire with you! Each ensemble has experienced significant growth over the past few months. Our concert will take place on Tuesday, December 2nd, at 7:00 PM in the Lightridge Auditorium. This event is a Major Summative Assessment for all chorus students! Students will wear their concert black uniforms! An official schedule of the day before the concert will be available closer to our concert date.

END-OF-YEAR TAX WRITE-OFFS

Are you looking for end-of-year write-offs? Does your company match donations? The Lightridge Chorus Boosters are a certified 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and we are registered with Benevity. Companies also exchange volunteer hours for donations! Research what your company offers and how you can support!

LIGHTRIDGE CHORUS BOOSTERS CLUB

TAX ID EIN # - 92–0781038

SPONSORS GRATITUDE

We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to our sponsors. We would not be where we are without you! If you are interested in sponsoring Lightridge Chorus, please find the sponsorship form here.

TAG DAY GRATITUDE

I encourage students to log their volunteer hours in School Links! If they need help with this process, they can reach out to the teacher assistants in their respective classes. 4 Hours can be logged for TAG Day. Thank you to all of the parents who volunteered their time on Saturday, November 8th, to support Lightridge Chorus with TAG Day. We couldn't have done it without you! The time you all took out of your weekend to help the students and the program is something I do not take for granted. We raised $8000! Thank you to:

Paige Holleran - Cole Spalding - Danielle Valdovinos - Sandra Davidson - Daniel Brown - Victor Meer - Matt Strasburg - Smitha Magunta - Stacey Gahun - Amanda Brent - Anu Devanira - Kabindra Sitoula - Angela Nestlerode - Bhupathiraju Sambamurthyraju - Maya Prabhu - Christine Moniz - Pruthvish Patel - Melissa Myette - Bhramari Gannavaram - Kendra Bowes - Mary McConnell - Pam Reynolds - Grace Bussey - Sohan Kumar - Mabel Siri - Naren Sadu - Ramesh Balakrishnan - Megan Kramer - Erin Carroll - Brandon Andersen - Lavanya Muppidi - Sama Raad - Ana Berwa - Nikerah Herd - Benjamin Herd - Kalisha Montilla - Rhapsody Barbrow - Bikram Saluja

BOOSTERS MEETING

Our next boosters meeting will be on Thursday, December 11th at Lark Brewing at 7 PM. We will be discussing our assessment season, senior events, etc. Please stop by!

Best,

Helai Karim Rutan

October - 2025

Hello, Lightridge Chorus Families!

We are well into the 1st Quarter, and all classes are making great progress. This week marks the halfway point of the quarter! If you have any questions about your student’s grade, please don't hesitate to reach out. October will be an action-packed month for the chorus program. The Chorus Council [student leadership] is doing a student involvement campaign this month to encourage all students in all classes to get involved in chorus outside of their classtime to strengthen the community in the program! Here is a list of events happening this month:

Tuesday, October 7th: Lark Brewing Fundraiser and Open-Mic from 6 PM - 8 PM. Students or parents can sign up to sing here!

Wednesday, October 8th: HARD DEADLINE for Cookie Dough Fundraiser - Students who are going to Disney will raise money through this fundraiser. One check needs to be made out to Lightridge Chorus Boosters for the total amount. Boxes will be delivered in the next couple of weeks. Please make sure your student returns their sheet with the number of boxes as well.

Thursday, October 9th: Senior Photos for our Chorus Banner from 12-2 PM. Students can stop by during FLEX to have their photo taken! They need to wear their white chorus t-shirt and blue jeans for the photo. This is MANDATORY for all seniors. It is not mandatory to purchase individual banners, but all students will be in the group photo! We have 52 seniors this year! That’s a record! Instructions for ordering extra keepsakes are here.

Friday, October 10th: Selected students will be attending Voices Rising. Mrs. Rutan will be on this field trip with these SSAA singers at Park View HS. If your student is participating, make sure their Permission Click is completed.

Monday, October 13th: HARD DEADLINE for All-District Chorus Registration.

1. Student Register here.

2. Parents, please pay $10 audition fee here. If you need assistance with this, please let me know.

3. Parents, please fill out the Permission Click form for the audition day here.

4. Carefully read the requirements - it is essential that students audition only if they are available, and if they are accepted, they can participate in the event.

5. If any of these elements are not complete by the deadline, we will not formally register your student. We have 225 students in the chorus program, and tracking students and sending out multiple reminders is not feasible.

Tuesday, October 14th: Does your student want to mentor others? Do they need a mentor? Have them complete the big or little registration form. This is the date of the deadline! Our classes can sometimes feel like isolated groups - this is an excellent way for students to meet others and build a sense of community!

Wednesday, October 15th: HALLOWEEN HANG! This is our annual October Social for Lightridge Chorus. It will take place in the chorus room from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Students can sign up to bring food here.

Friday, October 17th - Monday, October 20th: Our annual Double Good Popcorn Fundraiser will take place over four days during this timeframe. Students who are attending our trip to Disney World in December can help raise money for their individual trips. Students who are NOT attending our trip to Disney World can help raise money for the chorus program! Incentives are laid out below!

Tuesday, October 21st: Bigs and Littles reveal breakfast from 9 AM to 9:25 AM! Students can sign up to bring cereal items here.

Wednesday, October 22nd: Lightridge Singers will be attending UMD Choral Fest! Please ensure that the Permission Click is completed if your student is in Lightridge Singers.

Monday, October 27th: Chipotle Fundraiser from 5 PM to 9 PM at the Dulles Landing location!

Tuesday, October 28th: The Fall Concert starts at 7 PM for the Lightridge Singers, featuring Willard and our cluster’s elementary schools! Their call time is 5 PM. Dinner will be provided for these students. They will wear their white chorus t-shirts and blue jeans. Volunteer opportunities will be available for students in other ensembles.

Thursday, October 29th: TAG Day Car Sign-Up Deadline! Please make sure your student is signed up for a car for our fundraiser day on Saturday, November 8th. This event is mandatory for all Lightridge Chorus students.

There are various events or spirit days students can also attend or participate in for extra spirit points this month! Check out our Instagram for more details.

WHEW! Hope you made it to the end!

Best,

Helai Karim Rutan

September - 2025

Hello, Lightridge Chorus Families!

Thank you for those I got to see this week at the parent meeting or at back-to-school night! It was great connecting with you. For those who were not able to make it, please make sure these action items have been taken care of:

PARENT ACTION ITEMS

1. Please fill out the Handbook and Calendar Acknowledgement. If your student has this marked as missing in the gradebook, it means it has not been accounted for. This was due last Friday.

2. Complete this year's Course Fee - if your student has this marked as missing in the gradebook, it means it is not accounted for. Log in or create an account, and you will see the payments that need to be completed! This was due last Friday.

3. If your student is looking to receive a 0.5 H GPA boost for chorus this year, make sure you have sent in a SCANNED and SIGNED copy of this form. Physical copies were to be turned in by parents in person at our meeting this week. If you were unable to attend, the deadline to submit a scanned copy is Friday, September 5th. Late submissions will be unaccepted. You will not see the change in the course code until students complete their honors ensemble audition requirement for this in November. Students in Lightridge Singers and Lightridge Chamber will receive the honors credit automatically, no need to submit a form.

DISNEY REGISTRATION AND DEPOSIT

We are heading to Disney for our “spring trip,” which will actually be a “winter trip” this year, in collaboration with our band, orchestra, and theatre! We are excited for our first-ever combined trip with the fine arts department. This trip will take place from December 5th to December 8th in Orlando, FL. We will have workshops and potentially perform in the Disney Candlelight Processional pending acceptance!

DEADLINE TO REGISTER AND PAY THE DEPOSIT IS THIS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH!

That’s it for today! We’ll send more information about other items soon!

Best,

Helai Karim Rutan

Summer - 2025

Hello, Lightridge Chorus Families!

It’s the first day of August and school is starting soon! I hope everyone has had a restful summer break! Although we are weeks away from the first day, I wanted to send some information so you know what is to come! WELCOME to those who are new to the program and THANK YOU to those who continue to stay committed to it.

Below are some quick updates:

Seniors - please fill out the request for a Letter of Recommendation here! I’d love to write you one as you embark on the journey towards finding your next home after high school!

Students and Parents - we are headed to Disney for our “spring trip” that will be a “winter trip” this year in collaboration with band, orchestra, and theatre! We are excited for our first ever combined trip with the fine arts department. This trip will be from December 5th - December 8th down in Orlando, FL! We will have workshops and potentially perform in the Disney Candlelight Processional pending acceptance! This trip is not mandatory. Due to its’ fast approaching deadlines, the directors of all disciplines wanted to share this information prior to school starting! If you are interested, details can be found below!

Upcoming Communication -

1. Chorus Calendar

   1. Final details are still to be discussed. We will have the set calendar to share the first two days of school!

   2. Once the calendar is shared, families have one week to let Mrs. Rutan know of any known conflicts! Expectations and information regarding excused and unexcused absences will be shared in the syllabus on the first two days of school.m

2. Fall Retreats

   1. Lightridge Singers will be attending and performing at JMU ChoralFest the weekend of Friday, September 12 - Saturday, September 13 in Harrisonburg, VA!

   2. More details will be shared with students as we approach the first two days of school. Students in Lightridge Singers and Lightridge Chamber annually participate in a Fall Retreat with performance opportunities. Members of these ensembles are expected to attend Fall Retreat with rare exceptions.

   3. Lightridge Chamber will be having their Fall Retreat at the Mountain Sheppard Adventure School on Friday, August 15 - Sunday, August 17 in Catawba, VA in preparation for our performance at the VMEA Conference! Details have been shared with those involved.

3. Materials, Uniforms, Course Fees, etc.

   1. The course fee paid by families annually cover student’s materials needed for the year including [uniforms, music, garment bags, clinician fees, etc.].

   2. Fees and links to pay them will be available the first two days of school! If there are any questions or concerns with these fees - do not hesitate to reach out at helai.rutan@lcps.org!

Best,

Helai Karim Rutan

April - 2025

Hello Lightridge Chorus Families -

It has been a while since I’ve reached out - it’s been a busy season! Several updates need to be shared, but first, we have some congratulations -

• Lightridge Music received the Blue Ribbon Award. This award is given to fine arts programs that received Superior Ratings with their ensembles. Lightridge Chorus did just that. We are thrilled to have contributed to this award!

Here are the details of our remaining events:

Upcoming Performances and Events

Thursday, May 8th from 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM at Lark Brewing

Join us at Lark Brewing for our spring open-mic! Students [and parents!] can sign up to sing here!  

Tuesday, May 13th, 4:30-6:30 PM at Lightridge HS

Dress Rehearsal - ALL STUDENTS FOR FULL RUN THROUGH OF SHOW

Wednesday, May 14th, 7:00 PM at Lightridge HS

Lightridge Spring Concert - Call Time for Students is 6:00 PM

Dinner will NOT be provided - please make sure to plan accordingly. Like Choirpalooza at Willard, this concert will have additional lights and sound costs for our department. To break even, we need each student to sell two tickets - please attend! It’s going to be incredible!

Thursday, May 15th at 5:00 PM at the Loudoun County Government Center

Lightridge Singers Performance - Call Time for Students is 4:15 PM

Transportation will be provided to and from the event.

Wednesday, May 22nd at 6:00 PM in the Chorus Room

Chorus Boosters Meeting

The main portion of the evening will be reading the essays seniors submit for the senior scholarships and choosing a winner or winners. Seniors, scholarship applications can be found here, and the deadline to submit is Tuesday, May 22nd at 11:59 PM. Sign up to serve as one of the parents on the senior grading committee. We will discuss the program's direction afterwards and planning for the future - if you are available, we would love as many voices as possible to join us!

Wednesday, June 4th at 5:30 PM in Lightridge Cafeteria

Lightridge Chorus Banquet and Senior Night

This event is not mandatory but highly encouraged since many students and their peers will receive acknowledgments. Please sign up to bring either appetizers or desserts for the event.

5:30 PM - Chorus Banquet

6:30 PM - Senior Night - Performances

7:30 PM - Senior Night - Speeches

Concert Attire and Garment Bags + Honors Chorus Points are due on Friday, May 23rd.

Students need to have all of their Honors Chorus points submitted and turn in all pieces of their uniform for dry cleaning by this date. Please have all uniform pieces inside garment bags.

Ensemble Placement Auditions

May 19th - May 23rd [Individual Auditions In-Class]

Auditions are challenging for both students and teachers alike. Auditions are to place students in ensembles appropriate for their current skill level. As the program continues to grow and we attempt increasingly challenging music, differentiation is vital. Students are evaluated on musical literacy, vocal technique, vocal characteristics, and work ethic.

May 27 - May 28 [Lightridge Singers Callback Auditions]

May 29 - May 30 [Lightridge Chamber Callback Auditions]

Some students might receive a callback audition for Lightridge Singers or Lightridge Chamber. This audition will be a group audition, and students will have time to prepare. Not all students who receive a callback will be selected for these ensembles - the callback invitation is equivalent to a “Mrs. Rutan needs to see more from you to make a decision.” Students in this audition will be evaluated on musical literacy, vocal balance and blend, preparation, and vocal characteristics.

The image above showcases the progression that Lightridge Chorus offers. Students will progressively move up levels. All freshmen will enter through either Bass Chorus or Treble Chorus. Students are guaranteed to move up at least one level through their time in Lightridge Chorus if they are in the program for three or more years. Sequential electives are an important part of a student’s transcript for college admissions.

Thursday, June 12th at Lightridge High School at 7:00 PM

Class of 2025 Graduation - Lightridge Singers and Lightridge Chamber Performances

Students in the 2024-2025 Lightridge Singers and Lightridge Chamber will perform the National Anthem at graduation. Current Lightridge Singers and Lightridge Chamber students will have this serve as their last major summative assessment of the quarter. Class of 2025 seniors, you will walk up during graduation and sing with us one final time! Call Time will be around 6:00 PM in the Chorus Room.

Whew! May will be action-packed but very worth the reward. We are almost at the finish line! I know its a crazy time with many SOLs and AP Exams. Summer is near!

February - 2025

Hello Lightridge Chorus Families -

This newsletter will share information regarding the upcoming Assessment Season. February and March are BUSY. Please make sure you have noted the changes in the assessment schedule listed below and other events coming up.

We will be hosting another open-mic at Lark Brewing on Thursday, February 27th from 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM! We'd love for students and families to join us! Students [and/or parents] can sign-up here! This is an encouraged event, but not a mandatory one!

Assessment Information

Assessment Season is here! Your students have worked diligently for Loudoun County Choral Assessment. March will be the busiest month for Lightridge Chorus - and we thank you for all of your support leading up to the biggest performance of the year!

What is Choral Assessment? Assessment is an event where Lightridge Chorus will join the rest of Loudoun County Chorus Departments and perform for a panel of judges. The judges will rate our groups on our musicianship and literacy. This educational experience helps us grow as a department and gives us feedback on how to improve. This event is comparable to SOLs. Here are the details:

Please be aware of these dates:

Assessment rehearsals

Rehearsal - B Day Classes

• Tuesday, March 4th, 4:30 PM - 6:15 PM

  • Lightridge Singers [4:30 - 5:15]

  • Select Treble [5:15 - 5:45]

  • Bass [5:45 - 6:15]

Rehearsal - A Day Classes

• Wednesday, March 5th, 4:30 PM - 6:15 PM

  • Lightridge Chamber [4:30 - 5:00]

  • Select Bass [5:00 - 5:30]

  • Treble [5:30 - 6:00]

ASSESSMENT PERFORMANCES

Pre-Assessment Concert

Wednesday, March 5th, 7:00 PM

Pre-Assessment concerts are for a final practice before Assessment. Students are to report to the Lightridge Auditorium at their designated rehearsal times. If they have no ride they are welcome to stay after school. IF they are staying after school they must have their uniform to change into. Dinner will be provided. The concert starts at 7:00 PM and will end around 8:30 PM. We will be joined by Willard Chorus students for this event.

• Dinner is provided from 6:00 PM - 6:30 PM. Students can only get pizza if they are dressed in concert attire. Pizza will be provided in the cafeteria.

Jason Max Ferdinand Clinic w/ Lightridge Chamber

Thursday, March 6th, 6:00 PM

• at Alexandria City HS - we will leave as soon as school is over - we get back around 11:00 PM - yes it’s a late night

• students will be provided dinner [Chik-fil-A] prior to our departure

• students should wear Lightridge Chorus merch for this performance

• students in Lightridge Singers are welcome to join us and observe

Select Treble and Select Bass

assessment

Thursday, March 13th, 6:45 PM

• at Briar Woods HS - we will leave at 6:45 PM - we get back around 10:00 PM - yes it’s a late night

• Class Helpers will attend these performances.

• Bus leaves Lightridge at 6:45 PM. EVERYONE takes the bus. NO exceptions.

Treble and Bass

assessment

Friday, March 14th, 1:15 PM

• at Briar Woods HS - we will leave at 1:15 PM - we will get back around 5:00 PM - yes it’s during the school day

• Class Helpers will attend these performances.

• Bus leaves Lightridge at 1:15 PM. EVERYONE takes the bus. NO exceptions.

  lightridge chamber and lightridge singers

  assessment

  Sunday, March 16th, 7:00 PM

  YES … SUNDAY

  • Assessment will be at Lightridge HS!

  • Arrive by 7:00 PM - we will start at 8:00 PM - we will be done by 9:00 PM!

All families completed Permission Slips for Assessment and the Jason Max Ferdinand Clinic at the beginning of the year! Let me know if you have any questions about these events! Please check to make sure your student’s uniform is ready to go as well for these upcoming performances.

Best,

Helai Karim Rutan

January - 2025

Lightridge Chorus -

Happy New Year! I hope everyone has enjoyed the snow days This newsletter will share information regarding second-quarter grades, Course Selections, the Lightridge Singers - Lightridge Chamber Assessment Clinics, and the Boosters Meeting. Here is a link to our Winter Concert! Thank you to all of you who attended and for your support! At a glance:

1. Monday, January 13th - Friday, January 24th: Chorus Assassin is back and better than ever! Registration is here with more information.

2. Thursday, January 16th: All-District Chorus Virtual Rehearsal for those it applies to. More information regarding All-District Chorus will be sent in another email to families of students who have been accepted.

3. Friday, January 17th: Senior Photos will be taken in the Chorus Room during FLEX FRIDAY from 12:30 - 1:30 PM. All seniors will be in the group banner.

4. Friday, January 17th: Men’s Chorus Invitational at Dominion HS [Permission Click] for those it applies to. Complete ASAP! Rescheduled due to snow days.

5. Tuesday, January 28th: Lightridge Singers Assessment Clinic from 1 PM - 4 PM [Major Summative]

6. Thursday, January 30th: 8th Grade Night - sing the National Anthem with 8th Grade chorus students from Willard Middle School. 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM.

Second Quarter Grades

All grades are up to date at this time for Lightridge Chorus students. Students will be receiving a Major Summative Grade reflecting their cumulative Formal Formative Grades for Rehearsal Skills on the last day of the quarter. This grade will indicate the sum of all of the formative grades combined. Students have until January 24th to submit their 2nd Quarter Sight-Reading Factory assignments. I have them marked as “missing” to show students the impact it will have if they do not complete it. We will have an individual recording assignment due in preparation for assessment season. If you or your students have any concerns regarding their grades, please do not hesitate to reach out to me!

Assessment Clinic - Tuesday January 28th

The Lightridge Singers will be participating in an assessment clinic on Tuesday, January 28th from 1 PM - 4 PM. This clinic will include music educators from Northern Virginia who can specifically assist our singers with vocal technique as we prepare for our assessment season. This change was made due to availability of clinicians. This will serve as a Major Summative assessment for the students. Students in Lightridge Chamber will have their Assessment Clinic on Sunday, February 2nd from 4 PM - 7 PM. This will be a highlight shared in the February Newsletter.

Course Selections

Course Selections for high school are fast approaching. As students continue on or are embarking on the beginning of high school, it is important to consider the benefits of performing arts electives. Please make sure your student has chorus on their Course Requests!

1. Music courses help students create diversity for their college applications. Creativity is valued in the college acceptance process. A sequential music elective also showcases long-term commitment, diligence, and responsibility. Students utilize these skills in all aspects of their lives. How will your students’ college applications differ from other students in Loudoun County?

2. Employers hire creative team workers who stand out. The first question asked in many interviews is, “Tell me about yourself?” Does the candidate showcase unique perspectives and skills that can benefit the company? Employers want candidates who are masters in their content knowledge but also excel in skills like communication, listening, critical thinking, and problem-solving - all of which are taught in fine arts.

3. Honors Music becomes an option for students in high school. The purpose of the honors music option is to challenge students to participate in a diverse spectrum of pre-approved musical activities to enrich their overall musical understanding and provide deeper learning. Successful completion of these requirements will result in an additional 0.5 credit for the chorus class your student is already in.

4. Students can continue to be a school community. The continuation of growing musical skills will result in more performance opportunities, advanced courses, and new repertoire. As your child gets older, they will have more space in their schedule for additional electives closer to the end of their high school career. Their junior and senior year is a great time for their transcript to incorporate additional interests your student has. Please also consider your student completing a course through Virtual Loudoun during the school year for no cost.

If you or your student has any questions about this process - please do not hesitate to reach out to me!

Best,

Helai Karim Rutan

November and December - 2024

Hello Lightridge Chorus Families, 

Happy Holidays! Your students are excited to share their Winter Concert music and are working hard to perfect their music as we gear up for concert season.

It will be a busy season leading up to our performances for you all - so here are some updates and reminders:

Winter Concert

Our upcoming concert is on Wednesday, December 4th at 7 PM in the Lightridge Auditorium. Below is the schedule for the concert day and the rehearsals the day before. Rehearsals, including those in class, will be minor summative assessments and the concert is a major summative assessment.

Lightridge Singers with Loudoun Symphony Orchestra

The Lightridge Singers will be performing with the Loudoun Symphony Orchestra on Sunday, December 8th at 4 PM! Students who will be singing in this concert will have a 1 PM call time to school and the concert will be done by 5 PM! This is a graded major summative assessment for students in Lightridge Singers.

Tickets - Students will have seats and tickets for the concert.

Ticket prices are $35 for adults, $30 for seniors, $15 for students, and FREE for children 12 and under.  Students will receive a 20% discount on tickets which can be used for two tickets per singer.  For the discount, please order in advance by using promotional code LRSINGER24.  They will sell out so purchase as soon as possible!

London - December 2025

The deadline to register for our trip to London in December 2025 has been extended to Tuesday, December 3rd! This trip will be an opportunity of a lifetime. Read the information below:

Click on the image to see more information and be able to click on the links. 

October - 2024

Hello, Lightridge Chorus Families -

This newsletter will have information regarding our Fall Concert, All-County Chorus, All-District Chorus Auditions, and our mandatory fundraiser day details on Saturday, November 9th from 11 AM - 3 PM. We are looking to do a final push for family sponsorships of the chorus program this year! Please use this form to help sponsor Lightridge Chorus! All donations are tax-deductible!

Information regarding London December 2025 will be coming shortly - we are still waiting on final approval from LCPS Risk Management with the details of the contract with our travel agency. Please be prepared to move quickly once we get the green light! There will be a zoom meeting to answer questions and share details prior to the official sign-up date.

Information regarding Philadelphia April 2025 will be coming shortly - this trip will be easier to share information for later.

Fall Concert [Event]

Our Fall Concert will feature Lightridge Singers, Lightridge Chamber, Select Treble Chorus, and Select Bass Chorus who will be singing with our 8th Graders from Willard Middle School and 5th Graders from our Elementary Schools. Our students are so excited to share their hard work with you all! Know that there will be MANY elementary parents attending - this will be a packed house. We have an after-school rehearsal for the concert on Tuesday, October 15th. Parents - we need your help to make sure logistics run smoothly! Sign-Up to help here!

When is the concert?
Wednesday, October 16th at 7:00 PM

Call Time for Students is 4:30 PM

What is Lightridge Chorus wearing?

We are wearing our blue t-shirts and blue jeans.

Will they be getting dinner?

Pizza will be provided for Lightridge Chorus students.

How can the Treble Chorus and Bass Chorus help?

We would LOVE for Treble Chorus and Bass Chorus students to help that day with holding doors for parents, making sure parents don’t sit in student designated spots, cleaning up after we eat dinner, etc. Students who volunteer will receive hours towards their Honors Chorus Point. Volunteer sign-ups are here.

All-County Chorus [Event]

Students who were appointed for this Honors Ensemble receive one point towards Honors Chorus. All-County Chorus will be held at Lightridge HS this year on Thursday, October 17th. YES - its the day after our concert! Students are to wear Lightridge Chorus apparel for the rehearsals throughout the day. There will be a concert at 4:30 PM in the Lightridge Auditorium.

Halloween Hang! [Event]

The Halloween Hang is our first annual social event hosted by the Lightridge Chorus Council. Students can sign-up to bring snacks here. This is where students from all ensembles in Lightridge Chorus can come together to connect. This year we will also be introducing our mentorship program to better foster connections between our ensembles. The Halloween Hang will be on Thursday, October 24th from 4:30 PM - 6:30 in the Chorus Room.

All-District Chorus [Audition]

• AUDITION DATE: November 7th, 2024

[we will know our time slot by October 24th - conflicts can be accommodated in the registration link]

• AUDITION FEE: $10

[under Honors Ensembles when student name is searched in payment portal]

• AUDITION LOCATION: John Champe High School

[transportation NOT provided]

• EVENT DATES: February 6-8, 2024 at Rock Ridge High School

[don't audition if there are conflicts with these dates]

• HONORS CHORUS POINT: 1 Point for Auditioning - 1 Point for Participating if Accepted

[if you register and then don’t audition - you will LOSE a point]

All-District Chorus Auditions [Registration Form]

All-District Chorus Auditions [Permission Slip]

All-District Chorus Audition Payment

Fundraiser Day [Event]

Saturday NOVEMBER 9TH [11:00 AM - 3:00 PM]

Students will be going to an assigned neighborhood for door-to-door donation requests. Each group will need ONE parent of the students in the group to drive for the day. It is VITAL that students and families support our biggest fundraiser of the year - all funds go towards student experiences.

• this information was shared at our parent-student meeting in September - mandatory

• 11:00 AM - students meet in the auditorium for information regarding assignments

• dress warm or in chorus t-shirts - students who will be going door-to-door should dress warm and students who are working with our elementary campers will be in chorus t-shirts

• students must stay for the duration of the timeframe - potential to leave early if your assigned neighborhood is complete

August - 2024

Welcome, Lightridge Chorus Families -

It has been such an exciting start to the school year! I have had such an incredible time reuniting with students and building relationships with my new students as well. Not many teachers have the privilege of watching students grow from year to year. I feel nothing but gratitude for having the opportunity to teach your children. For those of you who are new to Lightridge Chorus … WELCOME!

As many of you know, building a strong relationship with the families of my students is a priority of mine. The Lightridge Sings Newsletter at lightridgechorus.org will share updates with you about the Lightridge Chorus Program! Information will be quickly shared through Remind - and was at the beginning of the year for August deadlines. If you have not downloaded that app, please do so!

Parent Action Items

1. Please read the Handbook and Calendar in its entirety - write down all of the important dates. All conflicts were due via email to me by Friday, August 29th.

2. Sign the Handbook and Calendar Acknowledgement - Permission Click.

3. Pay Course Fee for your child based on what ensemble they are in. If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at helai.rutan@lcps.org and I would be happy to discuss this with you! Below are the respective links for the course fee:

   • Treble Chorus and Bass Chorus

   • Select Treble Chorus and Select Bass Chorus

   • Lightridge Chamber and Lightridge Singers

All course fee payments and handbook acknowledgements were due on Friday, August 29th.

MANDATORY Parent Meeting

Chorus is a co-curricular class that requires the support of students and families to have our program succeed. Lightridge Chorus is one of the strongest choral programs in the state of Virginia and we could not continue to grow without parental support! We will be hosting a mandatory parent-student meeting to go through the calendar, student expectations, parent involvement, department needs, the spring trip, etc. on Wednesday, September 18th at 6:30 PM - 7:15 PM in the Lightridge Auditorium. Students will not be eligible to receive the 0.5 Honors GPA Boost for their class without a parent present to sign the Honors Acknowledgement Form. Students are encouraged to attend this meeting, while parents are required.

Honors Chorus

The purpose of honors music ensemble classes is to challenge students to enrich their overall musical understanding and provide deeper learning. Successful completion of requirements will result in an additional 0.5 credit for the ensemble your student is enrolled in.

Four different tasks must be completed throughout the year in order for a student to receive credit. Students have been given a list of tasks that count for honors points and are to share that information with you. Students who have shared intention for signing up for Honors Chorus will be bringing home an application form to be filled out by the student and parent in order to officially sign-up for the course and turned in at the Student-Parent Meeting. This Application Form is due Wednesday, September 18th. Forms will only be accepted at the Student-Parent Meeting. Students will receive a paper copy of this form to bring home prior to Wednesday.

HONORS CHORUS APPLICATION

Honors Ensembles Auditions

These are groups that students can audition for in addition to the ensemble they are in during the school day, such as All-District Chorus, All-State Chorus, VMEA Senior Honor Choir, and ACDA National Honor Choir. For more information regarding these opportunities, please check the link below to see what is required for preparation. Students have had this information since the first week of school and can access it through Schoology. Encourage your student to audition for honors ensembles!

HONORS ENSEMBLE FACT SHEET

If your student is looking to audition for ACDA National, please have them student sign-up for the SLYC Workshop on Saturday, September 21st. The ACDA National Interest Meeting will be on Wednesday, September 18th during Club Time. Students should sign-up for recording timeslots and pre-screens on this spreadsheet. If your student intends to receive the 0.5 GPA boost through Honors Chorus, they are expected to audition for at least one Honors Ensemble.

11 and awaaz a capella Groups

Open-Mic Fundraiser and Boosters Meeting at Lark

We will be hosting our first fundraiser of the year THIS Thursday, September 19th from 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM at Lark Hospitality! We'd love for students and families to join us! Our first annual boosters meeting will start at 7:00 PM following the student’s performances! Even if you have not signed up to be a boosters parent yet - stop by!

OPEN-MIC SIGN-UP SHEET

Lightridge Chorus Apparel

Lightridge Chorus will be selling apparel until September 22nd! Visit the website through Cheer Sports to purchase apparel. Students will receive one t-shirt as a part of their uniform covered by their course fee. All ordered apparel will be available for pick up by the end of October in the Chorus Room.

I am blessed to be at Lightridge and cannot wait to see what we accomplish this year as a department. I am beyond ready to have students make memories and grow as musicians. Go Bolts!

Best,

Helai Karim Rutan

June - 2024

Concert Attire and Garment Bags + Honors Chorus Points were due on Friday, May 31st!

Students need to have all of their Honors Chorus points submitted and turn in all pieces of their uniform for dry cleaning by this date. Please have all uniform pieces inside garment bags so that its’ easier to track who turned in what. Those who do not turn this items in will owe Lightridge Chorus.

Lightridge Singers - Music Video

Lightridge Singers will record a music video for Precious Lord on Wednesday, June 5th during 4th Block until after school. We cannot wait to share this beautiful project with you!

Senior Night Information

Wednesday, June 5th at 6:00 PM at Lightridge HS

Lightridge Chorus Senior Night - 6:00 PM Performances and 7:00 PM Dinner During Speeches

This evening will be honoring our 38 Seniors! Seniors and Senior Families - no need to purchase tickets for performances, however, you will need to purchase dinner tickets.

6:00 PM - Performance Tickets

Tickets for performances are being charged to offset the costs of running sound for the event.

7:00 PM - Dinner During Speeches Tickets

If you are not planning on eating dinner, you do not need to purchase a dinner ticket. Please note that this event is about an hour and a half - two hours long. Dinner will be catered by Ciro Ristorante from Stone Ridge. Mrs. Rutan will share their senior speech and students will be performing solos, duets, and small groups.

Seniors, please fill out the details regarding your performances!

Ensemble Placement Auditions

Thursday June 6th [Lightridge Singers Callback Audition at 4:30 PM]

Frida June 7th [Lightridge Chamber Callback Audition at 4:30 PM]

Some students might receive a callback audition for Lightridge Singers or Lightridge Chamber. This audition will be a group audition and students will have time to prepare. Not all students who receive a callback will be selected for these ensembles - the callback invitation is equivalent to a “pat on the back - keep up the great work - Mrs. Rutan needs to see more from you in order to make a decision.” Students in this audition will be evaluated on musical literacy, vocal balance and blend, preparation, and vocal characteristics. If you have questions regarding these ensembles and their expectations, please reach out to Mrs. Rutan!

Graduation

Friday, June 14 at ION Center at 2:00 PM

Bus Departs Lightridge at 11:30 AM

Class of 2024 Graduation - Lightridge Singers Performances

Students in the 2023-2024 Lightridge Singers will perform the National Anthem at graduation. Current Lightridge Singers will have this serve as their last major summative assessment of the quarter. Class of 2024 seniors, you will walk up during graduation and sing with us one final time! 2024 - 2025 Lightridge Singers are invited to perform with us - the roster for this ensemble will be posted by then.

May - 2024

Hello Lightridge Chorus Families -

It has been a while since I’ve reached out - it’s been a busy season! There are a number of updates that need to be shared, but first, we have some congratulations -

• Lightridge Music received the Blue Ribbon Award. This award is given to fine arts programs that received Superior Ratings with their ensembles. Lightridge Chorus did just that and we are thrilled to have contributed to this award!

• Penny Ehring, Katie Benner, Annika Kumar, Zerben Hebert, and Habib Jaafar were selected for All-State! The goal is to increase the number of students who make states next year. Let’s keep up the good work!

Here are the details of our remaining events:

Upcoming Performances and Events

Wednesday, May 1st at 6:00 PM at Lightridge HS

Lightridge Spring Concert - Call Time for Students is 5:30 PM

We will be rehearsing during the last block of the day and teachers are aware through this dismissal document. We will be rehearsing during the last block of the day to minimize conflicts with after school commitments.

Tuba - 3:00 - 3:30

Tshela Moya - 3:30 - 4:00

Precious Lord - 4:00 - 4:15

Wednesday, May 8th at 7:00 PM in Chorus Room

Chorus Boosters Meeting

We will be discussing the upcoming chorus banquet, senior night, and the Lark open mic fundraiser. The main portion of the evening will be reading the essays seniors submit for the senior scholarships and choosing a winner or winners. Seniors, scholarship applications can be found here and the deadline to submit is Tuesday, May 7th at 11:59 PM. Sign-Ups to serve as one of the parents on the senior grading committee will be available at the concert on Wednesday. 

Wednesday, May 22nd at 6:00 PM at Lightridge HS

Lightridge Chorus Banquet - Award Ceremony

This event is not mandatory but highly encouraged since many students and their peers will be receiving acknowledgments. Please make sure to sign-up to bring either appetizers or desserts for the event.

Wednesday, June 5th at 6:00 PM at Lightridge HS

Lightridge Chorus Senior Night - 6:00 PM Performances and 7:00 PM Dinner During Speeche

This evening will be honoring our 38 Seniors! Seniors and Senior Families - no need to purchase tickets for performances, however, you will need to purchase dinner tickets.

6:00 PM - Performance Tickets

Tickets for performances are being charged to offset the costs of running sound for the event.

7:00 PM - Dinner During Speeches Tickets

If you are not planning on eating dinner, you do not need to purchase a dinner ticket. Please note that this event is about an hour and a half - two hours long. Dinner will be catered by Ciro Ristorante from Stone Ridge. Mrs. Rutan will share their senior speech and students will be performing solos, duets, and small groups. Seniors, please fill out this form as we prepare to honor you!

Thursday, May 30th from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM at Lark Hospitality

We are currently in contact with Lark Hospitality that recently opened about hosting an open-mic fundraiser on Thursday, May 30th from 5 -7 PM! We'd love for students and families to join us. This is not finalized yet and we will have more information soon. 

Concert Attire and Garment Bags + Honors Chorus Points are due on Friday, May 31st.

Students need to have all of their Honors Chorus points submitted and turn in all pieces of their uniform for dry cleaning by this date. Please have all uniform pieces inside garment bags so that its’ easier to track who turned in what.

Ensemble Placement Auditions

May 28th - May 31st [Individual Auditions In-Class]

Auditions are challenging for both students and teachers alike. The purpose of auditions is to place students in ensembles that are appropriate for their current skill level. As the program continues to grow and we continue to attempt increasingly challenging music, this differentiation is vital. We will prepare for auditions in class after the concert. Students are evaluated on musical literacy, vocal technique, vocal characteristics, and work ethic. We will record each individual audition and carefully assess to see what level is best suited for each individual.

Thursday June 6th [Lightridge Singers Callback Audition at 4:30 PM]

Frida June 7th [Lightridge Chamber Callback Audition at 4:30 PM]

Some students might receive a callback audition for Lightridge Singers or Lightridge Chamber. This audition will be a group audition and students will have time to prepare. Not all students who receive a callback will be selected for these ensembles - the callback invitation is equivalent to a “pat on the back - keep up the great work - Mrs. Rutan needs to see more from you in order to make a decision.” Students in this audition will be evaluated on musical literacy, vocal balance and blend, preparation, and vocal characteristics. If you have questions regarding these ensembles and their expectations, please reach out to Mrs. Rutan!

The image above showcases the progression that Lightridge Chorus offers. Students will progressively move up levels. All freshmen will enter through either Bass Chorus or Treble Chorus. Students are guaranteed to move up at least one level through their time in Lightridge Chorus if they are in the program for three or more years. Sequential electives are an important part of a student’s transcript for college admissions.

Friday, June 14 at ION Center at 2:00 PM

Class of 2024 Graduation - Lightridge Singers Performances

Students in the 2023-2024 Lightridge Singers will be performing the National Anthem at graduation. Current Lightridge Singers will have this serve as their last major summative assessment of the quarter. Class of 2024 seniors, you will walk up during graduation and sing with us one final time! 2024 - 2025 Lightridge Singers are invited to perform with us - the roster for this ensemble will be posted by then. The timing of the bus departure from Lightridge to the ION Center is not available yet - but it will be around noon. 

Whew! May will be action-packed but very worth the reward. We are almost at the finish line! I know its a crazy time with many SOLs and AP Exams. Summer is near!

March [Assessment Information] - 2024

Hello Lightridge Chorus Families -

Assessment Season is here! Your students have worked diligently for Loudoun County Choral Assessment. March will be the busiest month for Lightridge Chorus - and we thank you for all of your support leading up to the biggest performance of the year!

What is Choral Assessment? Assessment is an event where Lightridge Chorus will join the rest of Loudoun County Chorus Departments and perform for a panel of judges. The judges will rate our groups on our musicianship and literacy. This educational experience helps us grow as a department, and gives us feedback on how to improve. This event is comparable to SOLs. Here are the details:

Assessment Rehearsals

Wednesday, March 6th at Lightridge HS

Bass Chorus

3:00 - 4:00

During 8th Block

Treble Chorus

4:30 - 5:00

Select Treble Chorus

5:00 - 5:30

Select Bass Chorus

5:30 - 6:00

Lightridge Singers

6:00 - 6:30

Assessment Performances

Wednesday, March 6th at 7:00 PM at Lightridge HS

Lightridge Pre-Assessment Concert

Pre-Assessment concerts are for a final practice before Assessment. Students are to report to the Lightridge Auditorium at their designated rehearsal times. If they have no ride they are welcome to stay after school. IF they are staying after school they must have their uniform to change into. Dinner will be provided for those who stay. The concert starts at 7:00 PM and will be about an hour and a half long. We will be joined by Willard Chorus students for this event.

Thursday, March 7th at Alexandria City HS

Lightridge Singers with Jason Max Ferdinand

Lightridge Singers will be participating in a clinic with the top ensembles in Northern Virginia. This event is after school on Thursday and is a required major summative assessment for this honors ensemble. Please make sure the permission click is filled out for this event. Students will wear Lightridge Chorus merch and will be back to Lightridge around 10:30 PM.

Friday, March 15th at Briar Woods HS

Loudoun County Choral Assessment

The ensembles timeframes are listed below. Mrs. Rutan will take the first bus with Bass Chorus and Select Bass Chorus to head to Dominion HS first. The second round of buses will have Select Treble Chorus and Treble Chorus on it. The third and final round will have Lightridge Singers on it. Ms. Rutan will need chaperones [parents of kids from different ensembles] to volunteer riding the bus to and from since she will be conducting the ensembles back to back and cannot be at four places at the same time.

Treble Chorus

3:30 Early Release to Change and Snack

4:30 Bus Departure

[5:20 PM PM Warm-Up] [5:40 PM Performance] [6:00 PM Sight-Singing]

Select Treble Chorus

5:30 Bus Departure

[6:20 PM Warm-Up] [6:40 PM Performance] [7:00 PM Sight-Singing]

Bass Chorus

6:30 Bus Departure

[7:20 PM Warm-Up] [7:40 PM Performance] [8:00 PM Sight-Singing]

Select Bass Chorus

7:30 Bus Departure

[8:20 PM Warm-Up] [8:40 PM Performance] [9:00 PM Sight-Singing]

Lightridge Singers

8:30 Bus Departure

[9:40 PM Warm-Up] [10:00 PM Performance] [10:20 PM Sight-Singing]

Assessment Parent Action Items

Field Trip Permission Slip Forms are due on Friday, March 8th.

This form is necessary for your students to have permission to ride the school bus with us to Choral Assessment and attend the event. Please have this filled out and turned in as soon as possible.

Please check to make sure your student’s uniform is ready to go as well for these upcoming performances.

A separate newsletter will share information regarding the Miami Trip with final payment information and details. Please ensure that you are reading these messages as the month of March is busy!

Best,

Helai Karim Rutan

February - 2024

Hello Lightridge Chorus Families -

This newsletter will share information regarding the Spring Trip to Miami, All-District Chorus, ACDA Regional Honor Choir, and the upcoming Chorus Boosters meeting. February and March is the BUSY season as we prepare for assessment. Most of the dates below are happening in class, students must be present for these since they are graded workshops. Please be aware of these dates:

• Wednesday, February 7th at 10:00 AM in Chorus Room [Senior Photos]

• Wednesday, February 7th at 7:00 PM in Chorus Room [Boosters Meeting]

• Thursday, February 8th, 6th Block [Sydney Guillaume Workshop w/ Lightridge Singers]

• Thursday, February 15th - Saturday, February 17th [All-District Chorus + All-State Auditions]

• Wednesday, February 21st, 3rd Block [Dominick Izzo Workshop w/ Select Bass]

• Wednesday, February 21st - Sunday, February 25th [ACDA Regional Honor Choir]

• Monday, February 26th, 6th Block and 7th Block [Michael Ehrlich Workshop w/ Lightridge Singers and Select Treble]

• Tuesday, February 27th, 3rd Block [Erik Jacobs Workshop w/ Select Bass]

• Wednesday, February 28th, 6th Block [Jordan Markwood Workshop w/ Lightridge Singers]

• Wednesday, March 6th, 7:00 PM [CONCERT- ALL STUDENTS]

• Thursday, March 7th, 6:00 PM [Jason Max Ferdinand Clinic w/ Lightridge Singers]

• Friday, March 8th, 7th Block [Daniel Jackson Clinic w/ Select Treble]

• Friday, March 15th, 4:30 PM - 9:30 PM [CHORUS ASSESSMENT - ALL STUDENTS]

• Wednesday, March 20th at 7:00 PM [Miami Spring Trip Meeting]

Senior Photos

Senior Photos will be taken on Wednesday, February 7th from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM. All seniors are required to be in the photo. Students must wear their BLACK chorus t-shirt and BLUE jeans for the shoot. Please note that an order form was sent home for individual banner orders. It is also attached below.

Boosters Meeting

We will have a general meeting with members of the Lightridge Chorus Boosters on Wednesday, February 7th at 7:00 PM in the Chorus Room. All parents are encouraged to attend! We will be discussing senior scholarships, fundraisers, senior night, etc. If you are not yet a member, we’d love for you to attend and gain more information about membership!

Spring Trip to Miami

The final payment for our Spring Trip to Miami has not been set yet due to a delay from the travel company. I will share more information about the final payment once I have it!

A mandatory meeting for all students attending will be on Wednesday, March 20th at 7:00 PM in the chorus room. All students who are attending must have one parent attend the meeting. Chaperones, please attend.

All-District Chorus Information

Information regarding All-District Chorus has been sent out to participating students and their families. The All-District Chorus Website has more in-depth details regarding attire, the schedule, food, etc.

WHEN IS DISTRICT CHORUS?

District Chorus is on Thursday February 15th - Saturday February 17th at Paul VI HS and Rock Ridge HS.

Thursday will be the first rehearsal at Paul VI HS from 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM. All-State auditions will happen during this time as well. There will be no transportation provided for Thursday.

Friday we will have a bus depart from Lightridge HS around 9:30 AM and drop us back off at Lightridge HS around 5:30 PM. We will be attending rehearsals at Rock Ridge HS.

Saturday will not have provided transportation. Please arrive at Rock Ridge HS at 8:30 AM in your concert black attire. The high school concert will start at 3:15 PM.

ACDA Regional Honor Choir Information

Information regarding ACDA Regional Honor Choir has been sent out to participating students and their families. ACDA Southern is also directly sending emails to students and families with details.

WHEN IS ACDA Regional honor choir?

Regional Honor Choir is from Wednesday February 21st - Sunday February 25th in Louisville, KY.

January - 2024

Lightridge Chorus -

Happy New Year! We have jumped right into our assessment music in all ensembles this week and we are making quick progress! This newsletter will share information regarding second-quarter grades, Course Selections, the Lightridge Singers - Select Treble - Select Bass Assessment Clinic, and the Boosters Meeting. Here is a link to our Winter Concert! Thank you to all of you who attended and for your support!

Second Quarter Grades

All grades are up to date at this time for Lightridge Chorus students. Students will be receiving a Major Summative Grade reflecting their cumulative Formal Formative Grades for Rehearsal Skills on the last day of the quarter. This grade will indicate the sum of all of the formative grades combined. Besides that final submission, everything is accurate and prepared for report cards. If you or your students have any concerns regarding their grades, please do not hesitate to reach out to me!

Assessment Clinic - Sunday January 28th

The Lightridge Singers, Select Treble, and Select Bass students will be participating in an assessment clinic on Sunday, January 28th from 4 PM - 7 PM. This clinic will include music educators from Northern Virginia who can specifically assist our singers with vocal technique as we prepare for our assessment season. This will serve as a Major Summative assessment for the students in these ensembles.

Course Selections

Course Selections for high school are fast approaching. As students continue on or are embarking on the beginning of high school, it is important to consider the benefits of performing arts electives. Please make sure your student has chorus on their Course Requests!

1. Music courses help students create diversity for their college applications. Creativity is valued in the college acceptance process. A sequential music elective also showcases long-term commitment, diligence, and responsibility. Students utilize these skills in all aspects of their lives. How will your students’ college applications differ from other students in Loudoun County?

2. Employers hire creative team workers who stand out. The first question asked in many interviews is, “Tell me about yourself?” Does the candidate showcase unique perspectives and skills that can benefit the company? Employers want candidates who are masters in their content knowledge but also excel in skills like communication, listening, critical thinking, and problem-solving - all of which are taught in fine arts.

3. Honors Music becomes an option for students in high school. The purpose of the honors music option is to challenge students to participate in a diverse spectrum of pre-approved musical activities to enrich their overall musical understanding and provide deeper learning. Successful completion of these requirements will result in an additional 0.5 credit for the chorus class your student is already in.

4. Students can continue to be a school community. The continuation of growing musical skills will result in more performance opportunities, advanced courses, and new repertoire. As your child gets older, they will have more space in their schedule for additional electives closer to the end of their high school career. Their junior and senior year is a great time for their transcript to incorporate additional interests your student has. Please also consider your student completing a course through Virtual Loudoun during the school year for no cost.

If you or your student has any questions about this process - please do not hesitate to reach out to me!

Miami Updates

For those who are attending Miami, $1000 should have been paid so far. Please make sure the total in your receipts has come to that. If not - please make sure that you fulfill a payment to catch up here: https://lcps.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/25569/371/False/True. You can change the quantity to be the right amount that you are missing!

The final payment amount has not been shared yet. We are waiting on that from the company before I send out the link! Please make sure that you are up to date so far. For those who participated in the cookie dough fundraiser, I’ll be sure to subtract your totals from that final payment.

The InterMiami Game:

We really tried to make this happen and were ready to go UNTIL InterMiami released their schedule and the game is on the same night that we fly back home. We tried to push everything back a day but it really was impossible.

BUT

I am in contact with DC United. InterMiami will be in town in DC on Saturday, March 16th. I had a great conversation with them on the phone today and they are finalizing details to see if we can perform at the game! I will share more details when I have them!

Chorus Boosters

The Lightridge Chorus Boosters is diligently working to support the Chorus program. Thank you so much to those of you who have signed up to be a member and to those of you who have donated the the program as a whole. Our next meeting is on Wednesday, February 7th at 6:30 PM. Here are some items that we will be focusing on:

• scheduling senior banners and photos

• tax receipts for those who donated in 2023

• budget report

• fees for auxiliary instrumentation [percussionists, strings players, etc.]

• fees for auxiliary staff [sound for concerts, etc.]

To become a Booster Member, please click on this link.

Best,

Helai Karim Rutan

November + December - 2023

Hello Lightridge Chorus Families, 

Happy Holidays! Your students are excited to share their Winter Concert music and are working hard to perfect their music as we gear up for concert season. It will be a busy season leading up to our performances for you all - so here are some updates and reminders:

Winter Concert

Wednesday DECEMBER 6TH [7:00 PM]

• 4:30 PM - students meet in the auditorium for call time

• chorus uniform - black dress or black suit that was sent home with black socks or tights and black flats or black dress shoes

• students must stay for the duration of the concert

Winter Fundraiser Day [Mandatory]

Saturday DECEMBER 9TH [12:30 PM - 3:00 PM]

Lightridge Chorus is hosting a Winter Chorus Camp from 1:00 PM - 3:15 PM for students in grades 3-5! SOME students will serve as camp counselors on this day and SOME students will be going to an assigned neighborhood for door-to-door donation requests.

• this information was shared at our parent-student meeting in September - mandatory

• 12:30 PM - students meet in the auditorium for information regarding assignments

• dress warm or in chorus t-shirts - students who will be going door-to-door should dress warm and students who are working with our elementary campers will be in chorus t-shirts

• students must stay for the duration of the timeframe - potential to leave early

MIAMI - SPRING TRIP

We are so excited to have booked our 80+ passengers for our trip to Miami! As a reminder:

• When is the trip? The dates of the trip will be from Wednesday, April 3rd - Saturday, April 6th.

• Remaining payments?

[December 1st: $250 2nd Payment]

[January 1st: $250 3rd Payment]

We will send out a link for the final payment to be made in January due on February 1st once we solidify hotel rooms and final details.

As always, do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions! We hope to see you at our concert next week!

Best,

Helai Karim Rutan

October - 2023

Hello, Lightridge Chorus Families -

This newsletter will have information regarding our Fall Concert, All-County Chorus, our Open Mic Night at Schmidt’s BBQ, singing the National Anthem at the Homecoming Football Game, and All-District Chorus Auditions. Information regarding Miami will be coming shortly - we are still waiting on final approval from LCPS Risk Management with the details of the contract with our travel agency. Please be prepared to move quickly once we get the green light!

Fall Concert [Event]

Our Fall Concert will feature Lightridge Singers, Select Treble Chorus, and Select Bass Chorus who will be singing with our 8th Graders from Willard Middle School and 5th Graders from our Elementary Schools. This is a Disney themed concert! Our students are so excited to share their hard work with you all! Know that there will be MANY elementary parents attending - this will be a packed house.

When is the concert?
Wednesday, October 11th at 7:00 PM

Call Time for Students is 4:30 PM

What is Lightridge Chorus wearing?

We are wearing our grey t-shirts and jeans. Select Treble - please make sure you bring your cleaning supplies props as well.

Will they be getting dinner?

Pizza will be provided for Lightridge Chorus students from 5:30 - 6:10.

How can the Treble Chorus and Bass Chorus help?

We would LOVE for Treble Chorus and Bass Chorus students to help that day with holding doors for parents, making sure parents don’t sit in student designated spots, cleaning up after we eat dinner, etc. Students who volunteer will receive 1.5 hours towards their Honors Chorus Point.

All-County Chorus [Event]

Students who auditioned for this Honors Ensemble receive one point towards Honors Chorus and students who are accepted receive another point. All-County Chorus will be held at Loudoun Valley HS this year on Thursday, October 12th. YES - its the day after our concert! Students are to wear Lightridge Chorus apparel for the rehearsals throughout the day and bring their concert attire ready to change into. We will depart from Lightridge at 9:30 AM and will return after the concert by 9:30 PM. This is a ONE day event. The concert begins at 7:00 PM at Loudoun Valley HS! Please fill out the Permission Form below -

Open-Mic Night @ Schmidt’s BBQ

In lieu of Coffee House this year, we will be making our way through the community doing open-mic nights to give students more performance opportunities! Please join us on Sunday, October 15th at 4:00 PM at Schnidt’s BBQ in Leesburg to support our Lightridge Chorus students who will be performing! $7 entry fee will serve as a fundraiser for Lightridge Chorus!

National Anthem [at HoCo]

Lightridge Chorus will be singing the National Anthem at the Homecoming Football Game on Friday, October 20th at 6:55 PM! Students will be meeting in the Chorus Room at 6:30 PM to warm-up and head over to the stadium. Students who sing at the game can attend the game for free and will receive 0.5 hours towards their Peer Tutoring as one of the Honors Chorus point options. It is also 8th Grade Chorus Night - students who help Mrs. Rutan with the 8th Graders from 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM can receive an extra 0.5 hours towards their Peer Tutoring point.

Halloween Hang!

The Halloween Hang is our first annual social event hosted by the Lightridge Chorus Council. We’ll have snacks and watch a movie together. This is where students from all ensembles in Lightridge Chorus can come together to connect. This year we will also be revealing our mentor-mentee or big-little pairings to better foster connections between our ensembles. The Halloween Hang will be on Tuesday, October 24th from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM in the Chorus Room.

All-District Chorus [Auditions]

• AUDITION DATE: October 31, 2023

[we will know our time slot by October 23rd - morning or early afternoon is what I will ask for - conflicts can be accommodated in the registration]

• AUDITION FEE: $10

[under Honors Ensembles when student name is searched in payment portal]

• AUDITION LOCATION: Woodgrove High School

[bus will take us to Woodgrove]

• EVENT DATES: February 15-17, 2024 at Rock Ridge High School

[don't audition if there are conflicts with these dates]

• HONORS CHORUS POINT: 1 Point for Auditioning - 1 Point for Participating if Accepted

[if you register and then don’t audition - you will LOSE a point]

October is a BUSY month for us at Lightridge Chorus! We’re excited for a CHILL November!

Best,

Helai Karim Rutan

September - 2023

Hello, Lightridge Chorus Families -

It was great to see so many of you at our parent-student meeting last week. If you were unable to attend, please connect with me. Please review the slides from the evening with important information regarding the year. All students received their uniforms this week. Please check with your students to make sure they have all of the items needed [dress, dress shirt, pants, jacket, chorus t-shirt]. This week also marks the halfway point for the first quarter, please check your students’ grades.

Sponsorships

As mentioned in the parent-student meeting, Lightridge Chorus is looking for sponsorships as we advance our program! If you are interested in supporting Lightridge Chorus through our Sponsorship Program, please complete the form below.

Below are the needed items that we are looking to cover -

$1,500 is needed for Instrumentalists [cello, violin, percussion, guitar, vocalists]. All of these people are professional musicians who need to be paid. 

$3,500 is needed for Lights and Sound and Jazz Trio for the Spring Show. We will be creating a Jazz Club in the cafeteria this year! Tickets will be sold with dinner included - student waiters! 

$2,000 is needed for Senior Scholarships. $500 each for leadership, musicianship, etc. Essays will be read and voted on by Boosters. Applicants must have one parent be a member of the Boosters.

$2,500 is needed for Senior Photos and Banners. 

$5,000 is needed for Uniform Garment Bags. 

If you are interested in covering or sponsoring a portion of these specific items beyond the general sponsorship form, please reach out to helai.rutan@lcps.org and boosters@lightridgechorus.org with your interest! Direct donations can be made to the Boosters by clicking below.

Cookie Dough Fundraiser

The cookie dough fundraiser sheets were distributed at the parent-student meeting last week. These profits are intended for students’ individual accounts as they raise money for their individual fees for our spring trip to Miami. The fundraiser runs until Friday, October 6th. Students are responsible for collecting the money [$20 per box] for their orders and keeping track of it. On Friday, October 6th, students will submit their order forms and ONE CHECK [made payable to Lightridge Chorus] for the total of all of their orders - CHECK ONLY. Mrs. Rutan will keep track of each student’s profits and subtract that from their last Miami invoice.

Lightridge Boosters

The Lightridge Chorus Boosters (LCB) is designed to encourage and facilitate growth, success and sustainability of the Lightridge Chorus program.  The LCB provides fundraising support for chorus expenses and related student activities as well as facilitates volunteer support for the chorus program and its events, activities, and functions. Looking to support Lightridge Chorus? Join the Lightridge Chorus Boosters! The behind-the-scenes work it takes to coordinate our student’s events takes the support of parents. Please fill out the membership form below!

All-County Chorus

Congratulations to the students who were accepted into All-County Chorus!

Chorus Council

Congratulations to the students who will be serving on the executive board for Lightridge Chorus Council! Members and Ensemble Section Leaders will be announced by the end of the quarter.

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More information will be shared the first week of October regarding -

• Miami [payments and registration]

• Christmas Wreaths Fundraiser [order forms and details]

• Winter Fundraiser Day [door-to-door driver volunteer sign-ups]

Best,

Helai Karim Rutan

August - 2023

Welcome, Lightridge Chorus Families -

It has been such an exciting start to the school year! I have had such an incredible time reuniting with students and building relationships with my new students as well. Not many teachers have the privilege of watching students grow from year to year. I feel nothing but gratitude for having the opportunity to teach your children. For those of you who are new to Lightridge Chorus … WELCOME!

As many of you know, building a strong relationship with the families of my students is a priority of mine. The Lightridge Sings Newsletter at lightridgechorus.org will share updates with you about the Lightridge Chorus Program! Students will receive the handbook and calendar this week in classes, but I wanted to share details prior.

Handbook + Calendar

Below is the Lightridge Chorus Handbook and Chorus Calendar. Please read the handbook and calendar in its entirety - write down all of the important dates and pay the course fee. If you have any questions, please email me at helai.rutan@lcps.org. All course fee payments are due on Friday, September 8th.

Parent - Student Meeting [Mandatory]

We will be hosting a mandatory parent-student meeting to go through the calendar, parent involvement, department needs, the spring trip, etc. on Wednesday, September 20th at 6:30 PM - 7:00 PM in the Lightridge Auditorium. This meeting will be followed by our first Lightridge Chorus Boosters Meeting in the Chorus Room from 7:00 PM - 7:30 PM.

Lightridge Chorus Apparel

Lightridge Chorus will be selling apparel until September 7th! Visit the website through Cheer Sports to purchase apparel. Students will receive one t-shirt as a part of their uniform covered by their course fee. All ordered apparel will be available for pick up by the end of October in the Chorus Room.

I am blessed to be at Lightridge and cannot wait to see what we accomplish this year as a department. I am beyond ready to have students make memories and grow as musicians. Go Bolts!

Best,

Helai Karim Rutan