Happy Spring...from our Music Director, Vicki Boeckman 

Greetings Portland!

Another wonderfully successful Early Music Retreat at Menucha is behind us, the energy and buzz around the upcoming ARS Festival at Reed College is spreading infectiously and spring is finally here! The season has zipped by once again. The April session will be the last formal playing session of the season, so I hope to see as many of you there as possible.

For our last session I have a number of fun pieces in mind, a musical potpourri of various styles guaranteed to put smiles on your faces and impart a certain lilt to your step.

We'll warm up gently with some 4 part madrigals by Thomas Morley that welcome the spring, then we will move on to some dance movements from the Banchetto Musicale collection by J. H. Schein, followed by a 5 part concerto by Boismortier (I'll need lots of altos for that) and then we will end with a terrific piece by Glen Shannon that just begs to be swung - his Aria, Recitative and Fugue, dedicated to Dan Bloomberg.  So put on your steppin' shoes and join the fun!

All instruments welcome...Come one, come all!

Looking forward to seeing you all again soon!

Vicki 

Cover of the March ARS Magazine Recognize the St.John's Bridge?

Many of you know that on July 5th-8th, Portland will be filled with recorder music as 100 and more recorder performers, players, teachers, students, administrators, and music business members gather at the Reed College campus for the exciting American Recorder Society 2012 Festival, themed The Recorder: Past, Present & Future.

 During the Festival, sessions provide opportunities for participants to experience the depth of the recorder throughout the history of its past, the diversity of the recorder in present times, and the possibilities before us for the future. For more information about events at the Festival, follow this link:  http://www.americanrecorder.org/events/Festival/2012_Festival.html  

The generosity of those attending the Columbia Gorge Early Music Retreat has made it possible for PRS to offer scholarship awards (up to $300) to those interested in attending the 2012 ARS Festival. Educators and students are our primary, but not exclusive preference. There is no geographical limitation on applicants, nor is ARS or PRS membership required. Deadline is May 1st, 2012.

Here's an excerpt from one of our scholarship applicants:

"[My home town in Oregon] has only one recorder teacher for the public. As that teacher I am always seeking opportunities to increase my skills to share with my students. The larger workshops are usually too expensive for me to attend since I am low income, so I am hoping you will consider me for a scholarship." 

 For more information and  the scholarship application follow this link:  http://portlandrecordersociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Scholarship-appl-ARS-2012-Festival-no-letters.pdf     

Hope to see you at the Festival!

Jeanne Lynch

ARS 2012 Festival Committee Chair

Remember the fun last year?  May 18th is right around the corner!  Do you know who your ensemble members are?  We want to hear your musical offering!  I think I can safely say almost anything goes...kid's groups, viol consorts, buzzy bands, singing, and of course, recorder solos, duets, trios and larger ensembles!  Prepare now, and plan on a fun and low-stress performance opportunity with your friends!

PLEASE RSVP by May 1st to Zoe:

chair@portlandrecordersociety.org

Please include the names of your group members!    

Web Link of the Month (send YOUR suggestions to newsletter@portlandrecordersociety.org) 

Membership dollars pay our conductors, the Community Room rental fee, and sheet music copying costs.  Please support our efforts to create a fun and educational non-profit organization!

Portland Recorder Society membership includes:

~monthly playing sessions (Sept-May) coached by professionals

~Discount to Columbia Gorge Early Music Retreat

~Monthly e-mail newsletters

~Networking opportunities with like-minded musicians

Yearly dues are $40, additional donations welcomed and are tax deductible.  We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization!

Click HERE for a link to our membership registration form, or pick one up at the next playing session.  Please make checks out to "Portland Recorder Society".  You may mail your check and form if you choose to our treasurer, Robin Teitzel 9385 NW Murlea Lane, Portland, OR 97229.

If you are not a member, drop-in fees are $10 per playing session; your very first visit is free to try us out!