djmartin

Orchestra Remind: Students and parents, join this Remind group: remind.com/join/mnhsorch26 The Remind app allows you to send and receive notifications from Mrs. Martinez via text message (or encrypted phone call if your cell provider allows).
You can also text @mnhsorch26 to the number 81010 to join.

Handbook Signature Google Forms – due Aug. 19! – Your child’s first assignment requires parent participation!

Part 1: Students will review the Orchestra Handbook in class on Wednesday, and will have a chance to complete the Student Version of the handbook signature form.

Part 2: Parents and Legal Guardians – please review the handbook, paying special attention to pages 2-7 for concert dates and other important expectations. Once you have the concert dates marked in the family calendar, please complete the Parent Version of the handbook signature form. Once both steps have been completed, the points will go in the gradebook. Please complete both forms by Tuesday, Aug. 19.

School Instrument Rental –
If you are renting a school instrument, please sign and return the contract with the $95 rental fee – thanks!

What’s an Orchestra Letter?
A way to earn a level of distinction through going above and beyond musically and by serving the organization.  Students track their own letter points on this sheet. 

A link to the letter points sheet is also in the navigation at the top of the page: “Resources – Student Resources.”

One way we earn money to support our program is by selling concessions at home football games!
It’s a great way to earn letter points, meet new friends, and serve the community. 

There are five home games this year. 
We need 6 students and 2 adults at each game.  Please sign up here!

All State auditions are coming up Sept. 17-27, with a registration form and fee deadline Aug. 29th!

Find the audition materials in this folder, (*just added – excerpts!)

The registration form linked here.

First concert is Thursday, Oct. 2 @7 PM! Time to get your concert attire!

Concert attire guidelines are linked here.

Option 1:
Black, long-sleeved button down dress shirt with a collar
Black necktie
Black belt
Black dress slacks (NOT jeans)
Black dress socks
Black dress shoes

Option 2:
Black, long-sleeved blouse with modest neckline (crew neck or button down dress shirt preferred)
Black dress slacks (NOT leggings, jeans, or yoga pants) – can be slim fit or boot-cut style slacks
Black dress socks or nylons
Black, closed-toed dress shoes

If your child would like to purchase a used, floor-length black dress for concerts, we have some available for $40 each. Please contact Mrs. Martinez if interested.

As a general rule, skirts and dresses are not permitted, as I prefer not to take on the role of monitoring hemlines. However, if you wish to request an exception, the following criteria must be met:1. The skirt or dress must be ankle-length 2. It must have sufficient fabric to allow for wide-stance seating.

Students returning to orchestra for 2025-26, join the new Remind group!
The Remind app allows you to send and receive notifications from Mrs. Martinez via text message.

Use this link on a PC: https://www.remind.com/join/mnhsorch26

Use this link for a cell: Text @mnhsorch26 to 81010

Friday, August 22, 3:45-5:45 PM at Cottonwood Park (728 S. 154 St.).

We’ll meet at the pavilion on the east side of the park.
Please bring the snack assigned to your last name:

• A-H = salty snacks,
• J-N = sweet snacks,
• P-Z = drinks (single serve best – think Capri Sun, mini waters, mini soda cans).

Rides need to pick up no later than 5:45 please. 🙂

Camp starts on Monday, July 7 at Millard South High School (14905 Q St.) and meets 6-9 p.m. through Friday, July 11.

Leadership Seminar:

• Begins at 4 PM M-F and from 9 AM-12 PM on Saturday, July 12.
• Students who signed up for Leadership Seminar should plan to arrive at 3:45 p.m. M-F.
• Please bring a check payable to MNHS or cash in the amount of $50 with you on Monday! This will cover your daily seminars and Friday’s dinner.
• Bring a sack lunch for the 5 p.m. dinner break, M-Th.
• Saturday’s seminar is a Summer String Studio, where we teach small group and private lessons and music theory to elementary and middle school students!

All Other Participants:
Please plan to arrive by 5:45 p.m. so we can get you signed in and direct you to your first rehearsal spot!

Everyone:
Students can park/be dropped off on the east side of Millard South High School – enter through the main entrance. Check in at the registration table when you arrive.

Dress code is school-appropriate casual. Wear comfortable shoes as students will be walking and participating in activities that require movement.

Location – Millard South High School, 14905 Q St. (149th and Q). Students will rehearse in the Auditorium and classrooms in the 100’s wing and music wing. NOTE – due to shifting summer projects, locations are subject to change. Changes will be announced if/as needed.

Instrument – Please bring your instrument, bow, rosin, shoulder rest, rock stop, etc! We will provide stands and music.

Music Theory/Composition students – Please bring your charged laptop as well as your instrument.

Schedule – A link to the daily schedule and elective roster is HERE.
We did our best to get everyone placed in the electives they requested. Every student should be listed in 2 electives; 1 in the first elective column, 1 in the second elective column. If this is not the case, please let us know. barom@mpsomaha.org and djmartin@mpsomaha.org!

NO snacks/meals provided – Feel free to send a snack and a fillable bottle of water with your child. Please avoid sending food containing nuts.

Concert!
We close our week of music with a concert at 8:15 PM on Friday, July 11 in the Auditorium! Families, please join us to celebrate our students’ success!

Camp Shirt – Camp shirts will go home Thursday and be worn Friday. If you registered before June 1, we definitely have a shirt for you. If we got your registration late, we may not have been able to get you included in the order; plan to wear a black or dark gray t-shirt on Friday.

If your child isn’t feeling well or has a fever, please keep them home and let us know ASAP by emailing barom@mpsomaha.org and djmartin@mpsomaha.org!

Camp ends at 9:00 p.m; please have rides arranged for timely pick-up!

We need student volunteers for MPS 4-8 grade Orchestra Camp!
Dates, location, and sign up are on this form.

Congratulations to our Philharmonic Orchestra for earning a Highly Superior (I) rating at the May 10 Young Orchestra Festival! Our students knocked it out of the park! Thanks to Annabelle’s mom for recording!

Letter Awardees – Congratulations to the students who earned enough letter points (and turned them in) to qualify for their 24-25 Orchestra Letter Award!

Orchestra Awardees – Congratulations to our 24-25 Orchestra Award recipients:

Millard North Orchestra Outstanding Senior Award: Isabella Zhang

Arion Foundation Award for Outstanding Musical Achievement: Jessica Lu

Millard North Orchestra Spirit Award: Caelestis Corrigan and Rachel Ma

Director’s Award: Emercyn Koski

National School Orchestra Award: Calista Nelson

Outstanding Freshman: Auspy Li