One of Ms. Lee's music friends had just won the third prize in the 14th Van Cliburn Competition by performing Rachmaninoff's No.3 Piano Concerto. Sean Chen, from California with Taiwanese parents, is 24 years old. You can see the competition at their website: http://www.cliburn.org/ondemand.html.

On the left menu, select Sean Chen to get the two first round performances (around 45 - 50 minutes each), semifinal performance (65 minutes), chamber music and Beethoven Concerto No. 5. For copyright reason, the Rachmaninoff concerto he performed was not included. It was the best Rachmaninoff No.3 I have heard live.

Mr. and Mrs. Kroesen are retiring in a few days. Please come to celebrate with us this afternoon, 4-6pm, at Oak Creek MPR.

Alderwood students, good luck to all of you in the future and have a wonderful summer!

Eastshore Singers, you were simply marvelous! Everyone sang with high energy and beautiful tone quality. Our soloists were terrific and our audience was superb! Thank you for a great memory.

It is time to get all the credits to work for your gift exchange program in the coming days. Be sure to turn in all your Music Credit Sheets.

The Alderwood Vocal Music Concert started with a great fourth grade class. Several students from this class sang solo and duet. The fifth grade class had a trio added to the program, while the sixth grade had a solo performance. There is definitely room for improvements, future musicians!

The Eastshore concert is tomorrow, 6/12, at 7:00pm. See you soon!

6/12/13

The Oak Creek Vocal Music Concert was fantastic! Each grade level performed beautifully and the sixth grade soloists were superb!

Alderwood, you are next on Tuesday, 6/11, at 7:00pm.

6/11/13

It is not too late to join Ms. Lee at the Pacific Chorale and Pacific Symphony Orchestra performance in "The Moon, the Sea & the Stars" Concert at Segerstrom Music Center, this evening, at 8:00pm.

This concert features American composer Frank Ticheli's world premier "The Shore Symphony". Other song titles include "Serenade to Music" by Ralph Vaughan Williams, "Earth Song" by Frank Ticheli, "Streams in the Desert" by Howard Handson, "Afton Water" arranged by John Rutter, and "Scotch Stratspey and Reel" by Percy Grainger.

For 20% discount tickets, please mention Ms. Lee's name at the box office window. Or, if you preferred the stars, the evening winds and FREE music, you could bring your lawn chairs and blankets (maybe hot chocolate too) to watch the concert on the Segerstrom Plaza. Have fun!

Brywood Singers, you were the best! Every class sounded beautifully and the soloists were superb. You simply made choral music seemed easy. Keep up the excellent work!

Oak Creek is next, with a scheduled concert on Monday, 6/10/13.

6/10/13

The Turtle Rock School Concert was fabulous! Students were dressed for success. Soloists performed beautifully. Parents were supportive. The program was very well performed. Thank you for a great evening, Singers!

Brywood, you are next. Get ready for tomorrow's concert!

5/31/13

Are you finished with your "Seven-Day-Take-Home-Open-Book" retake? Is it 100% perfect? Have someone else check it for you.

Turtle Rock Singers, your concert is scheduled for tomorrow evening. Organize your music folder now!

5/30/13

Happy Memorial Day!

The IUSD Honor Chorus just performed the group's last performance at Irvine Bill Barber Park for the Memorial Day Observance. It was a very moving celebration. Thank you for singing today. That performance conluded the Honor Chorus 2013 performance season. Great job, everyone!

If you have a retake from Ms. Less' vocal class, be sure to finish it in a 100% correct form before you turn it in this week.

The Turtle Rock School Concert is scheduled for Thursday, 5/30, 7:00pm, in the Turtle Rock MPR.

The Brywood School Concert is scheduled for Friday, 5/31, 7:00pm, in the Brywood MRP.

5/30/13

5/31/13

Our final music test, Solo Singing Test, for the year is scheduled for this coming week. Are you ready? Click here to see the required song. Good luck!

Do you have a parent signature on your Written Test before heading back to your music class this week? Will you need a "Seven-Day-Take-Home-Open-Book" retake to pump up your music grades? Have your parents emailed Ms. Lee about your retake posibilities?

See you in school in your music class.

5/20-5/22/13

Ms. Lee will perform with Pacific Chorale and Pacific Symphony Orchestra in "The Moon, the Sea & the Stars" Concert at Segerstrom Music Center, on Saturday, 6/1/13, at 8:00pm.

This concert features American composer Frank Ticheli's world premier "The Shore Symphony". Other song titles include "Serenade to Music" by Ralph Vaughan Williams, "Earth Song" by Frank Ticheli, "Streams in the Desert" by Howard Handson, "Afton Water" arranged by John Rutter, and "Scotch Stratspey and Reel" by Percy Grainger.

For 20% discount tickets, please call the Pacific Chorale office at 714-662-2345 and mention Ms. Lee's name.

The passing grade on our Written Test is 60, with the exception for brand new students in our district who have never studied music before. A parent signature is required on every test.

A retake is possible, only after Ms. Lee checks the parent signatures next week during the first music lesson. Get that signature now!

5/20-5/22/13

All Written Tests are completed, except for those students who were absent between Monday and today. Ms. Lee will grade each test carefully and get them back to students during the next class. When you get your test back, be sure to get a parent signature.

Happy Mother's Day!

This is our week for the Written Tests. Are you ready for it? For a copy of the Study Guide, click here. Good luck!

What a beautiful performance that our Honor Chorus had on Saturday during the Young Masters Art Show! You were simply fantastic!

Our next performance is scheduled for Tuesday, 5/14, at the Irvine City Council Chamber. This will be a televised event. Check the City of Irvine TV channel. Let's sing together and have fun again!

5/14/13

This is our Group Singing Test week. Are you ready, Alderwood, Brywood, Eastshore, Oak Creek, and Turtle Rock?

Our Honor Chorus performed beautifully and had fun at DIsneyland. Let's do that again on this Saturday at the Young Masters Art Showcase, being held at the Irvine City Hall Plaza. Everyone in the city is invited to this grand event to celebrate all the little artists in Irvine!

There will be three high school jazz bands and our Honor Chorus to perform for the audience. Be sure to bring your whole family and your friends!

Welcome to May! We have three music tests during this month, Group Singing Tests in the week of 5/6, Music Theory Written Tests in the week of 5/13, and Solo Singing Tests in the week of 5/20. You can find a Study Guide on the Forms page. Good luck!

Honor Chorus, let's have fun tomorrow at Disneyland. Don't gotget to bring your black concert outfit, including your concert shoes. You are the best!

5/6-5/22/13

5/2/13

What an outstanding performance we had by the Honor Chorus! Thank you to our pianists, Ivy and Cole, for putting in the extra work! And, thank you to the eight string players from the Honor Orchestra, you made our "Ave verum corpus" very special! Thank you, Parents, for your on-going support!

This evening is the last Honor Chorus rehearsal. Please continue to memorize your songs. See you soon!

Honor Chorus extra rehearsal is scheduled for Wednesday, 4/17, 6:30-8:15, at Oak Creek! Keep practicing on your own with the online sound tracks. See you soon!

4/17/13

Ear training this week at every school, every class. Be sure to bring a working pencil to class.

Get ready for our third trimester music study by making sure that you have your music folder and required sheet music and "Singing Basics" to your music class. Do you need to print out Practice Record and/or Music Credits Sheet?

Honor Chorus singers, have you memorized the Honor Chorus songs? Click here to see the Honor Chorus page. We were invited to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the Memorial Day Observance, on Monday, 5/27/13, at 10:00am. See you on tomorrow at Oak Creek.

Happy Spring Break, everyone! See you in April.

Honor Chorus singers, continue with your great work and keep on singing and memorizing the songs.

Eastshore's March Concert went as hit this evening. Our audience were great and singers were superb!

Mark your calendar, the May/June concerts are just right around the conner. Be prepared!

5/30/13-6/12/13

Most of our "Music In Our Schools" Concerts are done. Clear your music folder for new sheet music you will receive this week for our last school concert. Click here to check your school's last concert date, between 5/30/13 and 6/13/13.

Get ready Eastshore, your March Concert is scheduled for this Friday, 3/22/13.

3/22/13

Turtle Rock's "Music In Our Schools" Concert was excellent! A sixth grade soloist sang a Russian song and was accompanied by her mom, who held her younger daughter on her lap as she played the piano!

Brywood's concert is this evening. Our call time is 6:45pm.

What an amazing concert at Oak Creek! Our sixth grade soloists were the cat's meow! Every class had good attendance record and every singer did a fine job.

Turtle Rock is on tonight, Thursday, 3/14. See you at 6:45pm.

Alderwood's "Music In Our Schools" Concert went with a bang! The fourth grade soloists were superb! Thank you for all who participated in the concert. The audience enjoyed the music selection very much.

Oak Creek is next on Wednesday, 3/13.

Remember to turn in your practice record and composition projects this week. We have ear-training in every class. Be sure to bring a working pencil to class.

The Alderwood's "March Music In Our Schools Concert" is scheduled for this Thursday, 3/7/13, at 7:00pm in the MPR. See you at the concert.

Click here for the Latin pronunciation for "Ave verum corpus" for Honor Chorus.

3/4-3/7/13

3/7/13

This trimester's music tests are done! Do you need to retake any singing tests? How about the writing test? Have you turned in any practice records? Did you answer at least one ear training pattern correctly? Have you turned in the rhythm composition and the melody composition? Are you coming for our March Music In Our Schools Concert?

The next Honor Chorus rehearsal is scheduled for Tuesday, 3/5/13, 6:30-8:15pm, at Oak Creek.

3/5/13

Our Honor Chorus had another terrific rehearsal last night. Thank you all for participating! Please continue to work on your part in all songs.

If you are not happy with your Written Test result, be sure to get a "Seven-Day-Open-Book-Take-Home" Test from Ms. Lee this week, after you show her your parent signature on your original test. Remember, it is up to you to learn more and be better!

Ms. Lee performed with Pacific Symphony Orchestra and Pacific Chorale in the production of Puccini's opera, "Tosca", at Segerstrom Concert Hall last night. Click here to read about the review of that performance.

Next week is our Solo Singing Test week. Check here for song requirements. Good luck!

2/25-2/27/13

Ms. Lee will perform with Pacific Symphony Orchestra and Pacific Chorale in the production of Puccini's opera, "Tosca", at Segerstrom Concert Hall on Thursday, 2/21, Saturday, 2/23 and Tuesday, 2/26, at 8:00pm. This is a semi-staged three-act opera, completely sung in Italian. There will be children from Southern California Children's Choir perform in the opera as well. You may wish to contact Pacific Symphony Orchestra for detail.

Everything you need to know about the IUSD Honor Chorus is right here.

Be sure to bring a working pencil and arrive class on time for the written test. A Study Guide can be found here. Good luck!

2/21-2/26/13

2/19-2/22/13

Starting today, a special Honor Chorus link will be displayed on this page. You will find the information regarding Honor Chorus here, such as rehearsal and performance dates, extra credits activities, and sound tracks. And, yes, we heard from Disneyland. Our Disneyland performance is scheduled for Thursday, 5/2/13. More detail will be given during the special "Disneyland rehearsal on Wednesday, 5/1/13.

This is Ms. Lee's week of Written Tests. Be sure to bring a working pencil and arrive class on time. A Study Guide can be found here. Good luck!

2/19/13

2/19-2/22/13

Our Group Singing Tests had come to and end. If you still need to make up the test, see Ms. Lee ASAP!

The next round of music test is the one-page written test, starting on Tuesday, 2/19. Click here to see a Study Guide. Good luck!

Have you done a composition project for this trimester yet? Click here for a blank form and the project guide. It can be turned in on any day in February.

2/19-2/22/13

Congratulations to 56 students who were selected to be a part of this year's Honor Chorus! The first rehearsal starts on Tuesday, 2/12, 6:30-8:15pm, at Oak Creek.

Our second trimester Group Singing Test is scheduled for the week of 2/11. Be sure to practice your test songs. Click here to see the test requirements. Good luck!

2/11-2/13/13

Ms. Lee will perform in a Mozart concert with Pacific Chorale and Pacific Symphony Orchestra from Thursday, 1/31, through Saturday, 2/2, at 8:00pm, and Super Bowl Sunday, 2/3, at 3:00pm, at Orange County Performing Arts Center Segerstrom Music Hall.

This program includes portions of "Magic Flute", "Fantasia in F Minor" for pipe organ solo, "Ave verum corpus" (Mozart's last completed choral music) and "Requiem". For 20% discounted tickets, call the Pacific Chorale office at 714-662-2345 and mention Ms. Lee's name.

If your Honor Chorus audition is tomorrow, be sure to go to Oak Creek early after school. See you.

1/31-2/3/13

Get ready for Honor Chorus audition! See you at Oak Creek. Early is better than on time!

Tomorrow is the last day to request for an Honor Chorus audition. Don't be late!

We have ear training scheduled for this week at all schools. Be sure to bring a pencil to class and turn in your practice record for December 2012.

Happy New Year, Everyone!

Ms. Lee had a fun trip in Chile over the Winter Break. Click here to check her photos. See you in School.

We need a bigger MPR at Eastshore! On the very last school night in 2012, the Eastshore Winter Concert was fabulously done! Our singers were great and audience were terrific. The soloists did a wonderful job!

Let's all have a Safe and Happy New Year! See you all in 2013!

What a fabulous standing-room only concert Alderwood singers had put together! The soloists were terrific and each class had an outstanding performance. Congratulations!

Ms. Lee will perform with Pacific Chorale and Pacific Symphony Orchestra on Sunday, 12/16, at 5:00pm, and Wednesday, 12/19, at 8:00pm, at Orange County Performing Arts Center Segerstrom Music Hall. For 20% discounted tickets, call the Pacific Chorale office at 714-662-2345 and mention Ms. Lee's name.

During Eastshore fourth grade vocal music class, students did 12 Jumping-Jacks or 12 Push-ups, at 12:12:12 on 12/12/12!

The Brywood Winter Vocal Music Concert was fun! Students sang beautifully and parents enjoyed all the stories we presented. Thank you, Mrs. Ryan and Mrs. Alvarez for being there with us in the concert!

Alderwood is getting ready for Thursday, 12/13.

The Turtle Rock Winter Vocal Music Concert was a huge success! Our three 6th grade soloists were impressive, while all three classes performed with energy and excellent stage presence. Congratulations to a great job well done everyone!

Brywood, you are up next on Tuesday, 12/11. Be prepared!

Wow! Our Oak Creek Singers had a great turnout at the concert tonight! The singers sounded wonderful and the audience were outstanding too. The soloists were superb! Let's do that again soon!

Get ready, singers, our first Winter Vocal Music Concert is this evening at Oak Creek. Tomorrow evening Turtle Rock has a concert. Keep on singing!

Ms. Lee will perform with Pacific Chorale and Pacific Symphony Orchestra on Sunday, 12/16, at 5:00pm, and Wednesday, 12/19, at 8:00pm, at Orange County Performing Arts Center Segerstrom Music Hall. For 20% discounted tickets, call the Pacific Chorale office at 714-662-2345 and mention Ms. Lee's name.

Calling all soon-to-be Honor Chorus 2013 singers! The audition application packets are ready for you. Please see Ms. Lee for more information!

We are trying a new online application form this year that you have access to: Elementary Honor Chorus Audition Form 2013. Be sure to read all the rules and information in the audition packet. Good luck!

1/18/13

Our school concerts are right around the corner! Click here for our school concert dates in December. Please make sure that you have your "concert outfit" ready for the big night. A semi-formal outfit does not need to be brand new or elaborate. Any color or style of school appropriate clothing is fine. Just remember, when you look good, you will sound better!

All re-takes have come to an end. Please finish your composition projects and turn them in to Ms. Lee ASAP!

12/5-12/20/12

12/3-12/7/12

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Enjoy your week off from school and be safe!

Click here for our school concert dates in December. If you intend to add a solo to your school concert, please see Ms. Lee for detail ASAP!

As of today, all singing tests and writing tests are completed! If you must retake any kind of tests to raise your music grade, please see Ms. Lee ASAP!

Regardless of writing test scores, a parent signature is ALWAYS REQUIRED!

Our next round of tests are scheduled in the month of February. Click here to check for dates.

A parent signature is required on the finished WRITING TESTS, no matter what the test score was. Click here to see Ms. Lee's 15 Classes Writing Test Result and Comparison.

Be prepared for the SOLO SINGING TEST that is scheduled for this coming week. Click here for test dates.

The Composition Projects are due during the last week of November. Click here for the Composition Project pages.

11/5-11/9/12

11/28-11/30/12

Our WRITING TESTS are finished! A good number of students had earned 100% perfect score. Congratulation!

The passing point is 60/100. Be sure to get a parent signature on the test by the next class. For students who would like to have an opportunity for a retake, a parent signature is mandatory, before the "seven-day-take-home-open-book" retake test would be given. More information to be followed in class.

The SOLO SINGING TEST is scheduled for next week. Click here for test dates.

The October Practice Record is due during the first week of November. Click here for the new November Practice Record.

11/5-11/9/12

11/5-11/9/12

Our GROUP SINGING TESTS had come to an end and most of the students did very well. Several students stayed after class and learned how to read music on the spot! It is all about practice. With the right knowledge in mind, anyone can read music! So, practice, practice, practice! The SOLO SINGING TEST is just right around the corner. Click here for test dates.

The first WRITING TEST is scheduled for this coming week. A STUDY GUIDE can be found here. Good luck!

Ms. Lee has a pair of FREE orchestra seat tickets for this Sunday's Pacific Chorale and Pacific Symphony Orchestra concert to give away. If you are interested, please contact Ms. Lee ASAP.

10/29-10/31/12

10/28/12

While we are learning lots of musical ideas, our scheduled GROUP SINGING TEST is fast approaching. Click here to check your school's test date. If you are preparing for the WRITING TEST, click here to find your study guide. For more information and questions, please contact Ms. Lee prior to the test dates. Good luck!

Ms. Lee will perform with the Pacific Chorale and Pacific Symphony Orchestra on Sunday, 10/28, at 5:30pm, at Segerstrom Music Concert Hall, in Costa Mesa. The one-performance only program is focused on Felix Mendelssohn's "Elijah". It is an oratorio sung in English and is about two hours long. If you would like to get a 20% discount on your tickets purchase, please call the Pacific Chorale office at 714-662-2345, and mention Ms. Lee's name.

10/22-10/24/12

10/29-10/31/12

10/28/12

This week our students will experience "ear training" in class. Everyone needs to have a working pencil or pen before coming into the classroom. The September Practice Record is due during the first meeting this week as well. Make sure a parent signature is included too. See you in class!

10/1/12-10/3/12

Congratulations and welcome to vocal music 2012! We have completed a full week of music learning! As of now, each student should have had an opportunity to download forms and to review/preview the "Singing Baiscs" booklet. Don't forget to log in your practice minutes. Anything and everything relates to music counts as practice minutes, including physical stretching, breathing exercises, solfege singing, and rhythm reading.

For Ms. Lee's 2012 singers, please check the Events page to mark your calendar for all upcoming events in the vocal music department, especially the concerts and tests. And, maybe print out some necessary forms from the Forms page. Keep on singing and see you very soon!

10/1/12-10/3/12

Welcome to Ms. Lee's Vocal Music Class 2012! You are in for some great music fun. Ms. Lee's vocal class is unique in a way that everyone learns to sing properly in the shortest time. If you wish to learn how to read music, you are in the right place. Check out Ms. Lee's summer European trip on the photo page and maybe print out some necessary forms from the Forms page. See you soon!

Calling all choral singers! This is the best time to secure your Pacific Chorale Concert tickets for season 2012-13. For the best selection of seats, all tickets come with an "Artist Affiliate" discount of 20% off, by calling the Pacific Chorale office at 714.662.2345, and mention Ms. Lee's Name.

The first Pacific Chorale concert of Mendelssohn's "Elijah, Op.70" is scheduled for Sunday, 10/28/12, at 5:30pm. See you at Segerstrom Music Center!

10/28/12

Ms. Lee will perform with Pacific Chorale in the FREE Chorale Festival, this coming Sunday, 8/13/12, at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, at 5:00pm. For FREE TICKETS, click here.

When the school year 2012-13 comes, Ms. Lee will have a stronger left knee. Her knee surgery went smoothly yesterday and she is up and about already!

Ms. Lee's Europe trip photo document is completed. To see the photos, click here.

It is great to be back in the U.S.A.! Ms. Lee will continue to upload her Europe photos. Please check back to see her trip document here.

Hello, greetings from Prague! Ms. Lee has arrived Prague and will continue her quest of learning about Antonin Dvorak's country by visiting several Dvorak sites. The Dvorak expert in Prague, David Beveridge, will meet with Ms. Lee to discuss Dvorak's life in Prague. See Ms. Lee's Europe trip photos, click here.

The final Pacific Chorale Paris concert was performed in De La Madeleine. The historical church was filled with 2000 plus audience members. This concert featured all French music by composers Lili Boulanger, Francis Poulanc and Gabriel Faure, with the exception of John Alexander, the Chorale's conductor. Ms. Lee even tried out the organ that Gabrille Faure played on before.

It was a beautiful day at Versailles, just outside of Paris. Ms. Lee visited the famous palace and gardens, and enjoyed a concert in the palace concert hall. The program included both George Handel's "Water Music" and "Fireworks".

The Pacific Chorale's second concert was held in Saint-Sulpice, the second largest church in Paris, featured double organs and double choirs. There was a bat calling out during the performance of Widor's Mess!

Happy Birthday, America! Ms. Lee traveled with the Orange County Philharmonic Society to Giveny, the Monet Garden.

The Pacific Chorale and John Alexander's Singers performed its first Paris tour concert in Saint Etienne-Du-Mont. The program included songs by American composer Morten Laurisen, French composers Thierry Escaich and Maurice Durufle.

Ms. Lee had landed in Paris and her European journey started with a bullet train ride to downtown Paris.