Orchestra Updates
Upcoming Concerts!
Tuesday, March 3, 6:15-approx. 8:30 p.m. MNHS Auditorium – 10-12th grade orchestra students will perform with their 8th grade counterparts. Rehearsal starts at 6:15; concert at 7:30 p.m. Info letter is here.
The concert will be livestreamed on YouTube (link is only available from the link in Mrs. Martinez’s email).
Parents – Please sign up to bring refreshments!
Program draft is available here.
More detailed info is linked here.
Wednesday, March 4, 12:15-1:15 p.m. – Philharmonic recital @MNHS Auditorium – info letter attached here (and was emailed home recently)
Tuesday, March 10, 11:30-1:30 p.m. – MNHS Alum Eshaan Giri (2023) performs with the Yale Spizzwinks @ MNHS Auditorium
Wednesday, March 18, 1-3 p.m. – 1st Hour Chamber Orchestra students rehearse with Omaha Symphony Music Mentors @ MNHS Auditorium
Thursday, March 26, MPS Orchestra Clinic – 1st hour Chamber Orchestra students will perform their DMC repertoire for judges and MSHS and MWHS orchestra students at MWHS Auditorium. Final details will be released soon.
Tuesday, April 15, 7 p.m., MNHS Auditorium – all orchestra students perform + Senior Recognition Night
Saturday, May 9, morning – Philharmonic students perform at the ASTA Young Orchestra Festival held at MSHS
Saturday, May 9, 1 p.m., MNHS Auditorium – Seniors and selected sophomores and juniors perform at our Community Concert and Carnival!
Saturday, May 23, 10 a.m. – Chamber and Symphony Orchestra performance at Graduation @ Baxter Arena
July 6-10, 6-9 p.m. – MPS Upper Level Orchestra Camp at MNHS!
Honorable Mentions
Senior string players will take their individual and group photos between 5-6 p.m. Please check your email to find information from Amy Rezac Elgohary.
MPS Upper Level Orchestra Camp registration is now open!
Congratulations to our MNHS Orchestra members selected to the 2026 UNL Spring Strings!
Violinist Sophie Quarles and bassist CeeCee Soderlin.
Thank you Cody Practice Club mentors for a great season of mentorship! CPC concluded Feb. 24.
Congratulations to the Calamari Quintet on their performance at the 2026 NCA Lunar New Year Festival on 2/21!
UNO School of Music Auditions – Seniors! If you plan to pursue music/audition for scholarships at UNO, the deadline is March 7! See this link for more information and to apply. UNO will hold auditions in February and March, although you can also schedule alternate times. See me if you need repertoire or need help preparing.
What is MakeMusic Cloud? MPS purchased a subscription to a powerful music learning tool called MakeMusic Cloud for all HS orchestra students. We have discovered that several student laptops need adjustments in order to function properly with the program. Please consult this trouble-shooting document if your student is experiencing microphone issues.
Worlds of Fun Your child has a special opportunity to travel and perform with the Millard North Orchestra at the 2026 Worlds of Fun Festival of Music! This trip is now open to students in Philharmonic Orchestra! Please sign up this week so we can move forward with purchasing tickets.
Congratulations to our MNHS Orchestra members selected to the 2026 UNO BOCH Honors Orchestra! Violins: Lucy L, Saara M, Advaith N, Arun R! All are welcome to attend their final performance Saturday, 1/30 at 4 PM in the UNO Strauss Performing Arts Center!
Congratulations to Ryan Dong, winner of the 2026 MNHS Concerto Competition and to Lucille Liu, runner up! Ryan will perform Sarasate’s Zigeunerweisen with the orchestra on March 3.
Congrats to our Orchestra students who earned National Merit and Perfect ACT Scores!
See news broadcast of perfect ACT recognition here.
Weather Concerns
Winter Weather
During winter weather, stringed instruments can come unglued and/or crack because of dry air and cold temperatures. To mitigate the effects of weather on your instrument, I highly recommend getting a humidifier and humidity gauge for your instrument. Keeping your instrument in moderate temperatures (60-78 degrees Fahrenheit) and managing humidity will add years of playability to your instrument’s life.
Inclement Weather – FYI – here is the Late Start schedule for MNHS Orchestra and the handbook entry relating to Orchestra Inclement Weather procedures.
Additional Music Courses
If your child plans to major or minor in music in college, I would recommend they also sign up for Intro to Music Theory and AP Music Theory. We also have a cool course called Digital Music Production and Songwriting.
If you’re considering becoming a music teacher, check out TeachMusic.org, a groundbreaking online resource for students and parents navigating the music education career path!
Course Recommendations – Should be up-to-date in Synergy!
If you have questions or need further information, contact me at djmartin@mpsomaha.org
