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UNL Young Artist Award recognizes Nebraska high school juniors who are talented in art, music, dance, theater, or film and emerging media. Selected students and their families are invited to UNL for Red Letter Day in the spring to see what a career in the arts may be like.

Applications are due to the website by Dec. 2.

Every orchestra student, grades 9-12, is required to record and submit a Mid-Year Assessment that will serve as their first second semester grade and help determine their orchestra placement for the 2023-24 school year.  Students received the materials in class Dec. 1, and have received practice strategies and some work time in class.  However, they are expected to do most of the prep work on their own outside of class.  Assessment Materials are also linked here, as well as on Google Classroom.

Our next concert is November 30.  The theme is Haunted Holiday. 

The Program

We appreciate donations of refreshments for our post-concert celebration. You can check out a (very) rough draft of the program here.

Perfume/cologne – Performers, please avoid applying perfume or cologne for concerts. Some of our students have sensitivity to strong odors. This, coupled with the bright, hot lights on stage, can cause some to pass out. The general rule is to follow typical hygiene practices (bathing, deodorant, etc.) but not to add any additional perfumes or cologne that may trigger a reaction from your fellow musicians.

Reminder About Concert Attendance – Orchestra is a co-curricular activity, meaning it is considered an academic class (curricular) that has requirements outside of the school day (co-curricular). Several of our orchestra students are engaged in sports, work, and other extracurricular activities. In the event of a conflict, the orchestra concert takes precedence because it is the outcome of our academic work.

School Attendance on concert days – students must attend at least 4 classes on the day of the concert in order to participate. For example – if a student needs to rest, then feels better, they need to attend periods 1-4 or 4-7 to perform at the concert. However, if a student stays home the entire day, even if they feel better for the concert, they are not allowed to attend. Hopefully everyone is happy and healthy next week! If there is an illness/emergency, parents/legal guardians must email or call Mrs. Martinez to notify her of the absence.

The online application must be completed by the end of day Monday, November 27, 2023; students will be notified of their acceptance via email by December 11, 2023. Specific audition requirements for each area are included in the letter linked here.

Additional information regarding the festival and audition process may be found at the BOCH Festival website: http://music.unomaha.edu/boch. 

In order to prepare for our all-orchestra piece, all orchestra students are asked to meet Monday, Nov. 27, 8:15 a.m. in the auditorium. 
They will need their instruments. Music must be memorized.

MNHS Orchestra is 30% of the string section! Congratulations to our 26 students – a MNHS Orchestra record!

The final concert is at the Lied Center on Friday, Nov. 18 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are available at this website if you’d like to attend. 

All Staters – remember our extra rehearsals from 10-noon at MNHS band room on 11/4 and 11/11.

Orchestra students and families are invited to volunteer to set up at our annual craft fair at MNHS on Friday, Oct. 27, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Orchestra students who volunteer will earn letter points for orchestra (community outreach) and can earn volunteer hours for MYP, etc.

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, Oct. 11, 6-8 p.m. 

It’s a MNHS Orchestra tradition to gather at Vala’s to hang out, meet other orchies, and enjoy this Nebraska fall tradition. 

Who? All Millard north HS orchestra students and their families
When? Wednesday, oct. 11, 6-8 PM
where? Vala’s Pumpkin Patch, 12102 S. 180 St., Gretna, NE at Site #19 (In the Corn stalk teepee area)!
Cost? Admission on wednesdays is $18.69 per person (plus tax)
What to Bring? Go to this website to RSVP and sign up for your food item(s)!

MN Orchestra will provide plasticware and napkins.
Please bring skewers/roasting sticks to share – label with your name!
Check the weather to see what clothes you should wear! It can get chilly! You will probably need a jacket!

We will gather at site #19 for a cookout dinner and socialization.

Students are free to explore the pumpkin patch with their friends.

Mrs. Martinez will stay from 5:30-8:00 p.m. The orchestra-sponsored event ends at 8:00 p.m. The pumpkin patch is open until 9 PM, and students may stay with parent knowledge/permission.

See this link for our flyer.

*This is not a required activity but will earn students letter points and lifetime memories!

Ever wonder what it’s like to be a music major in the Strauss Performing Arts Center? Here’s your chance!

6305 University Dr. North Omaha, NE

UNL is hosting the following events this year:

Viola Bash – Saturday, October 7, 2023. Registration Link: https://go.unl.edu/viola-bash

Bass Day – Saturday, October 14, 2023. Registration Link: https://go.unl.edu/bass-day

Cellobration – Saturday, October 14, 2023. Registration Link: https://go.unl.edu/cellobration-form

Details about these events can be found here!