Chamber Orchestra and Wind Ensemble Performances at Carnegie Hall in New York City

The Chamber Orchestra and Wind Ensemble recently performed at New York City's renowned Carnegie Hall, participating in the National Invitational Band and Orchestra Festival. The Cincinnati Enquirer published an article on the trip and our groups' performances at Carnegie Hall, which you can read here

Marching Band Information

Information about the 2011 season of the Marching Blue and Gold was distributed to students the week after Spring Break. You can download copies of the Marching Band 2011 Handbook and of the Marching Band 2011 Calendar from the Music & Fine Arts Documents page. Remember that members of the Color Guard can receive Physical Education credit for their participation in the band!

Click here for a look back at the 2010 Marching Band show, Colours, in performance at the MidStates Finals Competition in November, 2010.

Click here to see an album of photos from Senior NIght 2010, when each senior is honored, accompanied by his or her family. (Free, no-obligation one-time registration required)

Get a Tax Deduction for Supporting Music at WHHS

You can make donations at any time to the Walnut Hills Instrumental Parents group (WHIP), the parent group that supports the music programs at WHHS. Since WHIP is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, all donations to WHIP for general use are tax exempt, and you will receive an acknowledgement of your donation for tax purposes. (Note that some course fees, fees for private lessons, and fees for trips are collected by WHIP and payments for those fees are NOT tax deductible.)

Contact Information Update

During the first week of classes all music students will be asked to fill out a contact information form, containing parent names, parent and student phone numbers, and parent and student emails. Please fill this form out and return it at the requested time, so that WHIP, the  Music Parents group, can update our records. We use the contact information only to keep you informed of music department information and upcoming events.

About WHIP – “Walnut Hills Instrumental Parents”

WHIP is the group of all parents/guardians of students taking any classes in the music department. If your child is taking, or has taken a music class – including band, orchestra, choir, steel drums, jazz, or private music lessons through the music department – you are automatically a member.

WHIP’s main functions are to raise money to support the music program at WHHS and provide volunteers for music department events and activities as needed. The money and volunteers that WHIP provides are essential in maintaining the high quality of the WHHS music program.

WHIP Patron Donors, members who make a tax-deductible contribution to WHIP, are one of the main sources for the money that WHIP raises each year to directly support the music program. In recognition of their contributions to WHIP, Patron Donors receive free admission and preferential seating at WHHS music department concerts, and at some donation levels also receive additional benefits of membership. Last year, Patron Donors approximately $12,000 to support the music department programs! Click here for specific information about becoming a Patron Donor.

WHIP meetings are open to all WHIP members and other interested members of the WHHS community. They are held monthly, typically on the second Tuesday of the month, in one of the music rooms, and will be announced a few days in advance by an email sent to all WHIP members.

This year’s WHIP meetings will be held on the following dates (all meetings begin at 7 pm): Tuesday, August 9, 2011 Tuesday, September 13, 2011 Tuesday, October 11, 2011 Tuesday, November 8, 2011 Tuesday, January 10, 2012 Tuesday, February 7, 2012 Tuesday, March 13, 2012 Tuesday, April 10, 2012 Tuesday, May 8, 2012

For additional information or if you have any questions about WHIP, please contact Penny Poirier by phone at (513) 871-4099 or email at pspoirier@aol.com Click here to get a list of WHIP Board members and their contact information.

Fundraising Information

Budgetary cutbacks have affected us all and the Music Department at WHHS is no exception. If you’d like to help us maintain the quality of our award-winning music programs, here are a few simple ways you can assist:

KROGER CARDS: Obtain a Kroger Gift Card encoded with our school number, use it when you purchase your groceries, and we receive 4% of the total spent. Gift cards are available at concerts/football games and in the music office from Amy Forrester (363-8582).

BOX TOPS 4 EDUCATION: It’s more than just cereal! You’ll find Box Tops on Pillsbury, Betty Crocker, Old El Paso, and Ziploc products, just to name a few. For a complete listing, go to www.boxtops4education.com. This link also offers printable coupons! Simply cut out the box tops and collect them in a Ziploc bag or envelope. When it’s full, send it in with your child and have him/her give it to their music teacher. You may also place them in Amy Forrester’s mailbox in the main office. We get 10 cents for each one we turn in!

MAGAZINE RENEWALS: Renew your magazines through WHIP and 40% of your renewal price will go to support our music programs. Go on-line at www.aphearst.com – it’s easy! Just make sure to enter our school code WA8545 when you place your order, to ensure credit goes to WHIP.

2011 ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS: We will again be selling Entertainment Books this year. Each book costs $25 and is filled with hundreds of 50% off and 2-for-1 coupons for dining, groceries, shopping, movie tickets, services, travel, attractions, and more. This “limited time” fundraiser begins Thursday, Sept. 2nd and runs through Friday, Sept. 17th. These books make great gifts for family and friends! And just in case you weren’t aware, out-of-town versions of the books are available for more than 150 cities in the US & Canada for any of those non-Cincinnatian friends and relatives!

2010 SALLY FOSTER/COOKIE DOUGH: Stock up on wrapping paper and delicious cookie dough. This “limited time” fundraiser begins Tuesday, Sept. 28th and runs through Tuesday, Oct. 12th. Additional details will be available soon.

If you have any questions about the Entertainment Book Fundraiser or the Sally Foster/Cookie Dough Fundraiser, or would like to help, please contact Penny Poirier at pspoirier@aol.com.