AMIS
Middle School Honor Boys' Choir Festival 9-11 October, 2008 - The American School of Paris Host Organizer -Hal Halvorsen; Guest Conductor - Debra Damron |
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ONLINE Application
Form for AMIS Middle School Honor Boys' Choir Festival 2008 -
Applications will be accepted through May 25, by completing this form and submitting, faxing the information,
posting, or by email attachment to AMIS headquarters. School names
will be drawn from the list of applicants on May 26. When the maximum of participants is reached, the next
applicants will be placed in order on a waiting list. Candidates will
be notified of results by email on May 26. A list will also be posted
on the AMIS web site. All music and registration fees must be received
on or before August 1, 2008. Until these payments are received a place
in the festival is not guaranteed. |
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| August 1 | Full payment due for MSHBC |
| September 10 | Participants and Housing and Arrival and Departure Information Submitted for AMIS International Boy Choir Festival |
| October 9-11 | AMIS Middle Schools Honor Boys' Choir Festival, ASP |
General
Information | Application
Form | AMIS Policies | Fees
Arrival and Departure Form | Online Registration
Form | Housing Form |
Student Festival Agreement Form
Festival Handbooks |Financial Aid
Forms | Audition Instructions
Participating
Schools | Repertoire | Contact | Director's Hotel
Visa Requirements | Concert Information
Travel & Arrival Notes & Addenda from Hal Halvorsen
About the Festival
2008 will be the sixteenth annual Boy Choir Festival for boy singers in grades 5-8. Both treble and changed or changing voices are included, with most of the music in three parts (SAB) . The festival is designed to give boy singers a chance to find out what it is like to work with many others of like minds. It sets out to prove that boys can sing very well together and can have a great deal of fun doing so.
Host schools for past festivals have been:
Past conductors have been:
The 2008 festival will be held at The American School of Paris, hosted by Hal Halvorsen. The guest conductor will be Debra Damron of Frankfurt International School. The music which has been chosen for this festival is three part mixed/SAB. Each school should bring students in each voice part, ideally 2 of each part. Each school should bring a minimum of one B singer.
Teachers are requested to audition their own students for the AMIS Middle School Choir Festivals. This should be a formal audition procedure designed to show that the singer can hold his own part and can learn fairly quickly.
Many teachers use procedures such as having the student sing a round with the teacher singing a different part. Another procedure frequently used is to have a student hear a melody and sing it back to the teacher to test tonal memory. Another test might be to play two or more parts including the student's part, while the student sings his own part. There are many acceptable variations on the testing procedure which should be designed to make sure that the most qualified students participate in the festival. it is especially important that students have a good pitch sense and are capable of holding a part. Unqualified students can spoil the festival experience for the rest of the participants.
Students are responsible for the complete learning of all repertoire and should not be recommended unless they are able to meet the demands of performing challenging literature with other outstanding students. They must be capable of concentrating during long rehearsals each day. Students must be well prepared so as to insure a positive experience. It is the responsibility of each teacher to be sure the students are fully prepared.
All participants are requested to be at The American School of Paris with their students to meet host families on Wednesday, October 8, preferably by the end of the school day at 3 p.m. so students can go to their host families. Participants are requested to make their travel information with this in mind If they are having trouble with this requirement, they should contact AMIS headquarters sooner rather than later. It may not be possible to accept schools with very late arrivals or very early morning departures as this is unfair to host families. Please keep in mind also that no participating schools may arrive on Thursday morning of the festival.
We thank those schools who have applied for this festival. The list below names all those schools who have a place in this festival which will be held October 9-11, with participants arriving on Wednesday, October 8, preferably by the end of the school day at 3 p.m. so students can go to their host families.
You are asked to notify AMIS of your school's acceptance of a place in this festival no later than June 1, 2008. At that time you should also send the hotel room needs for your teachers and official chaperones as our hotel reservations must be confirmed shortly.
You will receive an online invoice for the festival after your acceptance is received. Payment must be received by August 1 so your music can be sent out to you.
American School of Paris (host school)
Antwerp International School (host school 2007)
Frankfurt International School (school of guest conductor)
International School of Aberdeen (school of accompanist)
Bilkent University Preparatory School
Zurich International School
International School of Luxembourg
American School in London
American School of The Hague
International College Beirut
International School of Düsseldorf
Munich International School
American International School Vienna
-posted 29 May, 2008. revised 15 July, 2008, revised 1 August
Contact Information The American School of Paris
American School of Paris
41 rue Pasteur
St. Cloud
France 92210
Phone: +33 1 4112 8282
Fax: +33 1 4602 2390
email for Hal Halvorsen, your host: hhalvorsen@asparis.fr
Boys attending the festival will be housed with ASP families.
Teachers will be staying together in a hotel in central Paris which is within walking distance of Gare St. Lazare. Trains between Paris and St. Cloud where ASP is located run from this station. Teachers will be taking the train between the hotel and the school daily.
Quality Hotel Opéra Saint Lazare is a three start hotel located at
15 rue de Constantinople
75008 Paris
Telephone: +331 45228080
Fax: +331 45229715
web address: www.quality-saintlazare.com
Reservations have been made for teachers and official chaperones. Teachers are being invoiced for their hotel costs. These must be paid by August 1, along with the remainder of the MSHBC fees.
Our rates for the festival, including breakfast and taxes,
€ 120 per night for a single room
€ 124 per night for a double or twin room - posted 29 May, 2008
Many students and teachers who are citizens of countried outside North America, Japan, and the EU countries will need to apply for a visa to visit France which belongs to a group known as the Schengen area. These people will need to apply for a Schengen Visa.
PLEASE CHECK EARLIER RATHER THAN LATER TO SEE WHICH MEMBERS OF YOUR GROUP WILL REQUIRE A VISA. IT TAKES SEVERAL WEEKS, MINIMUM, TO OBTAIN ONE.
You will need a letter from the host school to support your visa application. Please send the following information to Hal Halvorsen as early as possible so he can send the appropriate letter of invitation for your students.
email address: hhalvorsen@asparis.fr
Give him:
Hal will send you a fax of the letter as well as sending the letter directly to the French Embassy where you are applying for the visa.
If you send all the requested information directly to Hal as early as possible, this will certainly help in getting the necessary visas for your group. posted 29 August, 2008
posted 20 August, 2008
The concert will be held in the Performing Arts Center (PAC) at the American School of Paris in St. Cloud. The concert will begin at 19:00 (7 p.m.) and will last around and hour and 15 minutes. There will be a reception following the concert. It is not necessary to reserve tickets. Seating will be on a "first come, first served" basis. The house will be open approximately 15 minutes before the start of the performance. There is no charge for the concert, although audience members will be given the opportunity to contribute to the AMIS Financial Aid Fund.
Dear Colleagues,
Welcome back to a new school year and to the first AMIS festival for this academic year. The American School of Paris is honored and proud to host this year's Boys' Choir Festival.
Please remember that you are solely responsible for arranging all transportation for your group from your point of arrival in Paris to ASP on Wednesday and from Gare Saint Lazare to your point of departure in Paris on Sunday.
Many of you have attended festivals at ASP in the past and have already experienced the little quirks of getting to and fro in Paris and out to ASP. Getting to ASP is really quite easy if you follow recommended directions and allow for a little extra time. Please let me know if after you have finalized your travel plans to Paris you would like me to prepare customized directions for you and your group to ASP. It is important that you are at ASP before the 3:00 p.m. time listed on the web site. It will be difficult for many families to meet guests other than at this “end of school” time. If because of flight schedules this proves virtually impossible, please contact AMIS headquarters right away.
The absolute easiest way to ASP is by beginning your commute at Gare Saint Lazare. From St. Lazare you can get a direct train to Garches where you get off and walk to school. Very easy, mistake-free!
The details:
The Halvorsen version of a quick, safe trip to ASP:
Begin your trip to ASP from Gare Saint Lazare.
Take the train in the direction of St. Nom la Breteche,
don't take the train in the direction of Versailles.
The train you want will depart from tracks 1-5.
Get off the train at the Garches-Marnes la Couquette train station
(the first station after Saint Cloud)
Cross the street (safer on that side of the street), turn right and continue straight ahead until the second set of traffic lights.
Cross back to the other side, turn left and continue straight ahead.
The entrance to ASP is just up on your right.
From the airports:
Option 1: Contact a private taxi service to transport you to Gare Saint Lazare or go directly to ASP. Google search Paris Airport Ground Transportation and you will find everything that you need.
Directly to ASP: In the past problems had been reported with taxi drivers not knowing how to get to ASP. In this age of GPS I can't believe there would be a problem. Just make sure that the driver knows that you expect him to know the way and that you give the driver the precise school address so he can enter it in his GPS (American School of Paris, 41 rue Pasteur, 92210 Saint Cloud).
From Gare Saint Lazare: Purchase tickets at one of the many automated machines throughout the station. Your final destination is GARCHES-MARNE LA COUQUETTE, leaving from tracks 1-5. Follow walking directions to ASP from above. Check the SNCF Transilian website for up-to-date ticket prices.
Option 2: Take an AIR FRANCE or ROISSY BUS into Paris. Their websites have exact and up-to-date information regarding routes and fees. AIR FRANCE buses go to Etoile (Arc de Triumph), in which case you would take RER A (direction Saint Germain-en-Laye) from there to La Defense, then change to the suburban train line that will take you to Garches-Marnes la Couquette train station, follow walking directions to ASP. Remember that you must be on a train with St. Nom la Breteche as the final destination.
The ROISSY bus will drop you off at Opera/Auber where you can take the RER A to La Defense. Then follow directions from the above paragraph.
Sunday morning departure:
The drop-off point for host families and the pick-up point for directors will be at track 1, at Gare Saint Lazare, 9h00 Sunday morning.
You are solely responsible for making travel arrangements from Saint Lazare to your point of departure in Paris. I will be happy to advise you regarding routes, etc.
Important telephone numbers to put in your cell phone.
American School of Paris reception: +33 (0)1 41 12 82 82
Halvorsen phone at ASP: +33 (0) 1 41 12 82 62
AMIS phone: +44 (0)7920488201
Debra Damron has requested maximum rehearsal time for the boys so there will not be an organized outing for the boys during the festival. I'm sure that host families will do a great job in providing sight-seeing opportunities for the boys.
For all other information regarding the festival please refer to the Middle School Honor Boys' Choir Festival link on the AMIS website. Don't hesitate to contact me about transportations questions.
Looking forward to seeing you soon.
Cheers, Hal
posted 29 August, 2008
And Hal's Addendum
The BEST deal for and your chaperon for cheap, efficient travel in Paris and
out to ASP would be to purchase a five day Carte Paris Visit for Zone 3.
The price is 27.50 Euro. The ticket will cover you for every trip to ASP,
all around Paris, on any kind of transportation (RER, Metro, Bus). A round
trip ticket to ASP would normally cost 5.80 Euro. Go figure, plus the
convenience.
Your trips:
Wed. To ASP
To Paris
Thurs. To ASP
To Paris
Fri. To ASP
To Paris
Sat. To ASP
Plus any additional traveling that you plan to do.
This Carte Paris Visit can be purchased at any metro or train station,
either at a counter or from a machine.
A one way ticket from anywhere in Paris to ASP is 2.90 per head (kids)
This is how you buy your tickets from a machine:
The machine will be labeled BILLETS PARIS-BANLIEUE (ugly green color)
Tap ENGLISH
Tape Ile-de-France
Tape departing from Gare Saint Lazare
Tap the letters G A R
Tap Garches-Marne
Order whatever you need.
Gare Saint Lazare is going through a massive upgrade. The ticket office
have been temporarily relocated to a building immediately in front of Saint
Lazare. (can't miss it). There are numerous ticket machines outside the
building. There is a very nice ticket counter in the Saint Lazare metro
station (take the escalator down into the glass cocoon, look to your right
and you will find a ticket counter with very nice people.)
The only festival related ticket that any of your kids will need will be the
trip OUT to ASP (2.90)
It is very hard to calculate the price of a taxi out to ASP. Only three to
a taxi! Depends on time and luggage. The train to ASP is very easy and the
short walk to ASP is very pleasant.
I want to make this as easy as possible for you so don't hesitate asking for
advice. Be sure to have my cell phone number IN YOUR PHONE so it will be
easy to contact if need be. From within Paris dial the following: 06 10 22
52 87.
From Airport Charles de Gaulle, you can take the AIR FRANCE bus into Paris.
You want line 2, 13 Euro one way, 20 Euro round trip, 6.50 Euros for
children 11 and younger. Get off at the end of the line (Arc de Triomphe).
http://www.airfrance.com/double6/passage3.nsf/(LookupPublishedWeb)/en-OUTCO-
CarsAF?OpenDocument
If your point of arrival in Paris is ARC DE TRIUMPH, you can take RER A to
La Defense then catch the train to Garches, but going to Saint Lazare is so
much easier. Arc de Triomphe to Saint Lazare requires one metro ticket.
You take line 2 to VILLIERS (that's my home metro), change to line 3,
getting off at Saint Lazare. Far easier that taking the RER.
You can also take the ROISSY OPERA BUS from CDG into Paris.
http://www.slowtrav.com/france/paris/airport_transportation.htm
I hope this is not too much information for you. Again, plan what you think
is the best for your group and then let me know.
Cheers, Hal
posted 3 September, 2008
and another addendum...
Hi friends,
If you are flying into Charles de Gaulle and arriving after 12:30 pm I highly recommend that you contact one of the following shuttle services and arrange for direct transportation to ASP. It would be best for you to make your own arrangements directly with the service of your choice. Assume that your flight will be a bit late.
http://paris.shuttleairport.com/
http://www.paris-shuttle.com/
http://www.bee-shuttle.com/
http://www.paris-blue-airport-shuttle.fr/
http://www.shuttlelinks.com/
http://www.pariscab-service.com/
Let me know if you still have problems after you access the websites. Personally, I don't think that cost should be spared when transporting children. Some of you know Paris well and you feel very confident, others may opt for quick and direct.
Thanks for your questions, looking forward to sipping some champagne with you soon.
cheers, Hal
yet another addendum from Hal...
Hi,
Google Map your hotel at the following address:
15 Rue De Constantinople Paris 75008
Great location for everything!
To Saint Lazre:
Walk out the front door, turn right and you will see the station.
Walk straight ahead to rue de Rome, cross the street turn right and continue
until you come to an entrance.
Our watering hole for Thursday evening will be directly across from Gare
Saint Lazare on rue Saint Lazare at the Café Marco Polo, optional of course.
We've been there before, close to the hotel so Evelyn can crawl back if need
be.
Walk out the front door, turn left and continue straight to the end of the
street (traffic lights). Cross the street and you will see rue de Lévis,
where I live. Great market street, etc. The Dome de Villiers is another
nice place for a drink if you want to get away from the Saint Lazare area.
The director's dinner will be close the hotel, still looking for the best
deal.
All for now. Cheers, Hal
posted 4 September, 2008
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