CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC DEPARTMENT
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News & Information

Support our Musicians. Hear Great Music.
Performance Calendar

​June 10th Friends of Music Meeting​ (7pm @ CHS Cafeteria)

5/20/2025

 
Centennial High School Friends of Music is a parent-led organization that supports the music programs at Centennial through volunteer efforts and financial contributions. Our efforts support the continued operation of the music programs and aid the music directors so our students have access to for their emotional, intellectual, and social growth. 
 
Please join us on June 10th at 7pm in the CHS cafeteria for a celebration of our many donors and volunteers, find out plans for next year, and welcome new families. Invite your friends and neighbors, including families of rising 9th graders, to hear all about the fantastic music program at CHS. Back-to-School Night is never enough time to meet the directors and learn about all that is going on with the music program. Come out to learn and ask questions.
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April 2025 CHS Newsletter

4/23/2025

 

Upcoming Events

Don’t miss the chance to experience the incredible talent of our student musicians—come enjoy captivating performances from our choir, band, orchestra, and jazz ensembles!
Concerts
April 29
Band/Jazz Pops Concert 7pm

April 30
Choir/Orchestra Pops Concert 6pm


Volunteer: April Concert Greeters
Special Events
April 23-27
Spring Trip
​
​
June 10 (new date)
FOM General Meeting:
Thank You Celebration &
New Families Welcome

Wind Ensemble is Headed to Midwest Clinic!

A huge congratulations to Centennial's Wind Ensemble as they were invited received to perform at The Midwest Clinic in December!

The Midwest Clinic is the largest international music education conference in the world with over 17,000 attendees a year. An invitation to perform at The Midwest Clinic is the highest recognition a high school band program can receive. Only five high school concert bands are invited to perform each year from across the country. The CHS Wind Ensemble will perform a 60-minute program of new and traditional music at the conference in December 2025.

For context, it is such a competitive process that in 2018, the CHS Wind Ensemble was the first high school concert band in 45 years to be invited from the state of Maryland. No other high school in Maryland has received this honor since 2018.

Congratulations to Mr. Matchim and the CHS Wind Ensemble!

Participation in this program involves many moving parts. We have set up a fund to help cover costs for participation in The Midwest Clinic and scholarship students that need assistance to attend. Details about how to support this fund are forthcoming.

​Volunteers: We need your help!

Volunteering is a wonderful way to connect with other parents, engage with the school, and support the growth of music education at CHS. Get involved and make a difference by volunteering at concerts, marching band performances, and FOM fundraisers—your support helps our music programs thrive and creates unforgettable experiences for our students! 

Thinking ahead to next school year, we are looking for parents interested in helping out in the following ways. Complete the interest form online or contact us with any questions: ​c[email protected]
  • Social Media Coordinator: Manage Friends of Music social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram. Publish information for events, concerts, and fundraisers. 
  • ​Restaurant Night Coordinator: Plan and coordinate one restaurant night a quarter. We have a list of restaurants that donate to FOM and would love to host nights, but we are also open to other ideas! 
  • Volunteer Coordinator: Support our many volunteers for events and fundraisers. Post volunteer opportunities via Sign Up Genius and coordinate parent greeters before concerts.
  • Choir Uniform Coordinator: Work with the Choral Director to measure students for concert attire and handle ordering at the beginning of the year. Manage inventory of Madrigal outfits and coordinate dry cleaning at the end of the year.
  • ​Spirit Wear Coordinator: Support our Spirit Wear sales by tracking orders and selling at events.
  • Bingo Donations Outreach, Corporate Sponsors: Reach out to local businesses for monetary donations/sponsorship of Bingo. This can be done at your convenience in the fall or winter, leading up to our Bingo Night in February. 
  • Bingo Donations Outreach, Gift Cards: Reach out to local businesses for gift cards for our Bingo event. This can be done at your convenience in the fall or winter, leading up to our Bingo Night in February. 
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SAVE THE DATE: June 10th Friends of Music Meeting​

Your many hours volunteering and your support for our Crescendo Club and our annual fundraisers make all the difference for our music programs. Every purchase and donation helps our music program thrive! We want to extend a special thank you for our many volunteers and donors this year at our final meeting of the year. Join us June 10th at 7pm in CHS Cafeteria for light refreshments, find out plans for next year and welcome new families. (Rescheduled; originally planned for May.)

Invite your friends and neighbors, including families of rising 9th graders, to hear all about the fantastic music program at CHS. Back-to-School Night is never enough time to meet the directors and learn about all that is going on with the music program. Come out to learn and ask questions.

Jazz Band Fundraiser: Thank you! We did it!

4/13/2025

 
I’m absolutely thrilled to share that we have raised all the funds needed to purchase our new sound system! Just a few months ago, the idea of raising $6,000 seemed ambitious—and now, thanks to your generosity and support, it’s fully funded. That’s truly incredible!

A heartfelt thank you to Ms. Fikes, Ms. Puhak, Ms. Vandenberg, and the CHS Friends of Music for leading the charge—coordinating donations, publicizing concerts, and supporting us in countless ways behind the scenes.

The response to our donation drive was overwhelming. I was honestly moved to tears reflecting on the generosity surrounding our program this season. I am deeply grateful for your support and so proud to be part of this incredible community.
​
With gratitude,
David Matchim
Director of Bands
Centennial High School

Wind Ensemble is Headed to Midwest Clinic!

4/9/2025

 
A huge congratulations to Centennial's Wind Ensemble as they were invited received to perform at The Midwest Clinic in December!

The Midwest Clinic is the largest international music education conference in the world with over 17,000 attendees a year. An invitation to perform at The Midwest Clinic is the highest recognition a high school band program can receive. Only five high school concert bands are invited to perform each year from across the country. The CHS Wind Ensemble will perform a 60-minute program of new and traditional music at the conference in December 2025.

For context, it is such a competitive process that in 2018, the CHS Wind Ensemble was the first high school concert band in 45 years to be invited from the state of Maryland. No other high school in Maryland has received this honor since 2018.

Congratulations to Mr. Matchim and the CHS Wind Ensemble!

Congratulations Jazz Ensembles!

3/25/2025

 
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​The talented musicians from our CHS jazz ensembles were outstanding at the National Jazz Festival in Philadelphia over the weekend.
  • 1st Place Jazz
  • 1st Place Vocal Jazz
  • 2nd Place A Capella

Catch the award-winning Centennial High School Jazz Band on April 8th at 7:00pm! All proceeds support our new sound system--help us make every note LOUD & CLEAER!

Tickets
Tickets are $10 online and $12 at the door. Elementary and Middle School students enjoy free admission when accompanied by a paying adult. Purchase tickets online through April 7th at OSP: https://osp.osmsinc.com/p/DA041-669​

MANDATORY Spring Trip Meeting

3/14/2025

 
​As we finalize flights, hotel rooms, and final payments, this is a reminder of our MANDATORY meeting for all travelers and their parent/guardian.
Students must check in at the meeting, where they will receive important and detailed trip information. We will cover:
✔ Flight groups & airport procedures
✔ Detailed itineraries
✔ Packing lists
✔ Code of conduct
✔ Park behavior and procedures

📅 Wednesday, April 9th
🕖 7:00 PM
📍 CHS Auditorium

Thank you to our BINGO Business Sponsors!!

2/26/2025

 
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Bingo Night Help & Donations Needed!

1/6/2025

 
It’s time for Friends of Music’s annual Bingo Fundraiser on February 15, 2025! This is our largest - and most fun! - fundraising event of the year, and we need your help. We are looking for donations to help us create our prize baskets.

Thank you for helping make FOM Bingo a successful night again this year for the music department!

Sign-up to DonatePlease take a look at our sign-up genius for items we’re in need of. You can donate new items or unused items in new condition that you may already have. CHS FOM Music: FOM Bingo Donations

We are collecting donations until Friday, January 31st. You can bring items in to your director or the main office. Please have items labeled as "Friends of Music Bingo Donation".

Amazon WishlistWe have also created an Amazon wish list with additional items we need that you can purchase directly from Amazon and have them shipped to our Bingo Coordinator:
https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/BWIZKWF9D7GX

Direct DonationIf you’d like to donate but don’t have time, please feel free to make a direct donation via the paypal link below. 100% of the money donated is tax deductible and will go to the event to purchase items.
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=C6746YFU8X8WN


Sign-up to Volunteer
Help make our Bingo Night a success! Please consider signing up for a slot [or two!] to volunteer your time. We made sure to break up the times so that there is still time for volunteers to play Bingo and join in the fun! Silent Auction and Raffle table volunteers are more than welcome to play Bingo at the table - you are generally only busy during breaks. We also need donations of paper plates and coolers. You can take coolers home that night. See sign up slots. CHS FOM Music: Friends of Music Bingo Night Volunteers

Concessions Coordinator Needed
We are currently looking for a Concessions Coordinator (or grab a friend to share the job). The Concessions Coordinator will oversee purchasing, set up on Bingo Night, and work with volunteers to help with sales. Our Bingo Coordinator will oversee donations and getting night of volunteers. We can provide you with a list of items to be purchased and what coordinator has done in past years, so it's a great way to jump into an established volunteer role. You will have as much guidance as you feel you need. Please contact Megan if interested or if you have any questions: [email protected]

December CHS Music Newsletter

12/20/2024

 

Read More

Director's Wish List: Support the Growth of Our Music Program

11/29/2024

 
The Centennial High School music program thrives on the dedication of our students, staff, and the generous support of families like yours. To continue offering enriching musical experiences, we rely on donations that help us provide high-quality instruments, equipment, and resources for our ensembles. Friends of Music has put together a  wish list of items that would significantly enhance our students' learning and performance opportunities. We invite you to consider donating towards one of these key needs. CHS Friends of Music is an approved 501(c)(3) charitable organization and all donations are tax deductible.

Instrument Upgrades & Repairs
Help us maintain our collection of instruments by contributing to much-needed repairs or purchasing upgraded instruments. High-quality, well-maintained instruments allow our students to sound their best and hone their skills.

Sheet Music & Licensing Fees
Each ensemble requires a diverse selection of music to learn and perform. Your donation will help us purchase new sheet music and cover the necessary licensing fees, ensuring our students have access to a wide repertoire.

Guest Artists & Clinicians
Bringing in professional musicians, guest conductors, and clinicians for workshops or masterclasses is an invaluable way for our students to learn from experts. Your donation will help us offer these enriching experiences.

Every dollar makes a difference in the lives of our students and the future of our music program. Please consider contributing to one of these wish list items today. Together, we can ensure that Centennial High School’s music program continues to inspire, educate, and flourish.

Orchestra Wish List

Donate Now

Band Wish List

Donate Now

Choir Wish List

Donate Now
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Thank you for your Support of our music programs!


Centennial High School  ​

4300 Centennial Lane 
​Ellicott City, MD  210420
www.centennialeagles.com
centennialmusic.org
[email protected]
​@chsfriendsofmusic


  • Home
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  • News
  • Performance Calendar
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    • Volunteer
  • Student Clubs