Wednesday, January 28, 2015

ASO The History of Struggle Info

More than 400 SPARK kids attended The History of Struggle ASO Concert on 2/10!  What an exciting time! We filled most of the Loge and the front of the Second Balcony!







The History Of Struggle

Shostakovich:             Festive Overture (commemorating the October Revolution, known as “Red October” during the Russian Revolution)
Persichetti:                  Lincoln Address (includes narrator who reads Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, accompanied by the orchestra)
John Williams:            Schindler’s List (Music from the film, which tells the story of Oskar Schindler, a Nazi who saved 1200 Jews during the Holocaust)
Shostakovich:             Symphony No. 5 excerpts & Finale movement (written under pressure from the Soviet government and in response to the Russian Zhdanov Doctrine)
Tchaikovsky:              Marche Slav (commissioned by the Red Cross during the Serbo-Turkish War for a benefit concert to aid wounded Serbian veterans)
John Williams:            Liberty Fanfare (commissioned in 1986 to commemorate the centennial of the Statue of Liberty, which remains a symbol of freedom and America)




 Links:

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Hockey is for Everyone

Phew! What a fantastic day at the Gwinnett Gladiators game!  There was some awesome singing from our SPARK kids, McKendree Elementary, and Mary Lin (videos below), an action-packed third period, and the Gladiators almost came back to tie the game from being down 4-1 against the #1 team in the ECHL. We also had some super-(good-natured-)smack-talking going on with our kids and some Komets fans.

On another note, one of my favorite things about hockey is the people involved. During the first intermission we saw a exhibition put on by the Atlanta Sparks (what a name coincidence!), a hockey program created for young kids up to adult athletes with disabilities and special needs. Hockey is a very inclusive sport for all people, and has led amateur and pro sports in supporting athletes as humans and respecting differences of the athletes who wish to play.  There has been a big campaign for the past few years about inclusion in hockey called "Hockey is for Everyone". Things like that make me proud to be a fan.



WSB-2 Story about the Atlanta Sparks


Springdale Park Elementary "O, Canada"



McKendree Elementary "The Star Spangled Banner"


Mary Lin Elementary "America the Beautiful"


Boistrous Komets fans
were no match for Ike and Sully
 Harry and his Canadian aunt between the benches.
Zamboni
Blimp (can you see Harry?)


Sledge hockey and other modified hockey














I received a note from Steve Chapman, President of the Gwinnett Gladiators 
on the Monday after our performance:

Once again, I just want to drop you a note to thank your for your efforts.  I thoroughly enjoy hearing the Canadian National Anthem performed well and I know that our Canadian players, in particular, appreciate it as well.  You guys did another outstanding job.  We all think that the hybrid English / French version of it that you sing is particularly cool.  Please pass along my congratulations to your students.

Thanks again.  I hope that the money raised through the program is helpful to Springdale.  

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Hockey New Year!


There's still time to order your Gwinnett Gladiators tickets online! Come support our 4th and 5th graders when they sing the Canadian National Anthem on January 11th!
Go to: groups.gwinnettgladiators.com and use the code SPARK.