As a culminating event to the three-year fundraising efforts by the CHS Foundation, a celebration - Rock the Nest - will take place over the weekend of April 9 - 10, 2010.

As part of the festivities the CHS Vocal Music Department will host the third ACappella Reunion Concert. Previous reunions were held in 2000 and 2006. This year’s concert will be entitled A Century of Singing at Central. AND - since this is the 79th Anniversary of ACappella - I have invited the current OPS Mini-Singers to join us, representing the next decade of Central High School singers. Rounding out the concert will be a brief performance by the current ACappella Choir and the newly formed CHS Handbell Choir.

Repertoire for the Alumni Choir will include Martin Shaw’s With a Voice of Singing, Faure’s Cantique de Jean Racine (fear not, we will sing it in English, not French!) and Joseph Martin’s The Awakening. The current ACappella Choir and the Alumni Choir will join together to sing Salvation is Created. Having been at Central for 17 years, I have the second longest tenure as conductor of the group. Because Swanee is no longer with us, I will be conducting this year’s Alumni Choir. Naturally, Mr. McMeen and Mrs. Allender will be our honored guests.

Attire for the concert will be comfortable dress clothes: shirt and tie for men, coats optional. Dresses/skirts or dress pants for women will be fine, but do remember comfortable shoes are a must for standing on risers. Folders will be provided for you.

The rehearsal schedule accommodates other Rock the Nest activities. The ACappella Reunion rehearsal will be Friday, April 9, 7:00 – 9:30 p.m. in the CHS Auditorium.

On Saturday, April 10 there is a FREE open house at Central High School from 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. which is open to the public. The ACappella Reunion concert will begin at 4:00 p.m. and conclude by 5:15 p.m.

The Saturday evening Rock the Nest festivities begin at 6:00 p.m. at Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge Street. The fun-filled evening will include food, drinks, silent auction, fellowship and music by CHS alums. Paid reservations are required for the evening festivities at Joslyn. See the downloadable reply card or contact the CHS Foundation via email at chsfoundation@cox.net or phone (402) 556-1996.

If you are interested in participating in this year’s Alumni Choir please return this downloadable reply card no later than March 15th. If you have any questions, contact me at lyn.bouma@ops.org or call my office at (402) 557-3361.

I hope many of you will be able to participate and celebrate Central’s 150th Anniversary!

Musically yours,

Lyn Bouma
CHS Choral Director

PS: Can’t make the rehearsal? Please attend the FREE concert and join in singing Salvation at the end!

Hotel Accommodations
The Central High School Foundation has reserved rooms at two different hotels for guests traveling in from other cities:

Fairfield Inn & Suite Downtown Omaha
1501 Nicholas Street
Rooms and suites are available from $79-$89, based on availability. For reservations, call (402) 280-1516 and request the Central High School block rate. Pictures and a list of amenities can be found at www.fairfieldinn.com/omafd.

Homewood Suites
1314 Cuming Street
King-studio suites are available from $89, based on availability. For reservations, call (402) 345-5100 and request the Central High School block rate. Pictures and a list of amenities can be found at www.omahadowntown.homewoodsuites.com.