News

The link to download a pdf of the Dec. 5th Concert. Thursday, December 5, 2024 MNHS Orchestra Program

• We will host guest orchestras from Burke High School at this concert.
• We appreciate donations of refreshments for our post-concert celebration.
• The program is here.

This concert is a collaboration between Burke and MNHS Orchestras! Timeline is as follows:

• • 5:45 pm – Burke call time/any available MNHS section leaders arrive to help
    • Burke will unpack in room 1520
  • 6:00 pm – Burke’s soundcheck on stage
  • 6:15 pm – MNHS arrives – Philharmonic unpacks in 1514; Symphony and Chamber in 1518
  • 6:30 pm – combined COTB rehearsal in auditorium (Burke and MNHS)
  • 6:45 pm – house opens for auditorium seating.
  • 7:00 pm – Concert begins!
  • 8:30 pm – Approximate concert end-time

Perfume/cologne – Performers, please avoid applying perfume or cologne for concerts.

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. However, if an orchestra student can make both game/meet and the concert work, great! If not, the concert is a graded activity for an academic course, so that takes precedence over games or meets. Good news – the conflicts are pretty minimal as we only perform 6 times during the year, and this usually only affects one game/meet per season. When I was in high school, I got to compete in athletics and music and debate, learning many important values and life skills in all of them. I support our students as they learn about their entire selves through these activities while also upholding the integrity of the ensembles and the work we’ve done to prepare and perform.

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.

Accepted students will receive notification via email by December 9, 2024. At that time part assignments and final instructions will be included.

Students selected for the BOCH Festival should plan to arrive on campus the afternoon of Friday, January 24, 2025.

We have 42 students auditioning for a spot in the 2024 Nebraska All State Orchestra!
Auditions are finishing up this week. Results will be announced October 21.
As always, no matter what the outcome, you have become a better musician by having gone through the process.

Monday, Oct. 14th.

All students in grades 11-12 are invited to UNO’s Music Major For A Day event!

Parents/Guardians must register their students using this link.

Note: If you/your child decides to attend, parent/guardian is responsible for calling the student out for a college visit and arranging transportation to and from the event.

Everyone (families included!) should order an orchestra shirt so we can represent when we’re out and about at All-State, All-Millard, and on concert days! 

Orders and money (check to MNHS or cash accepted) are due Tuesday, Oct. 15.

Vala’s has made us aware that fire pits are not an option due to the recent burn ban in effect. Those of you who have been in the MNHS orchestra program for a while may remember this same thing happened a few years back. Here’s the (slightly modified) plan:

We’ll still have a gathering! I’ll be there 6-8 p.m. – families are welcome to come to Vala’s before that if you’d like!

We will still have campsite #19 available, which is a great place for students to meet up with their friends and have some snacks before heading out to the other areas of the park.

If you’d planned on bringing hotdogs or buns, please consider sending a handheld food that does not require cooking (like sandwiches or wraps)

If you’d planned to bring s’more ingredients (graham crackers/marshmallows/mini chocolate bars) please bring an alternative like cookies and frosting (to dip cookies in!)

If you’d planned to bring other snack items, your plans have not changed 🙂

Take a look at the sign-up genius as I’ve made some changes to the requested food items.

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, Oct. 9, 6-8 p.m.  See this link for more information.

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!

We appreciate everyone who worked last Friday’s game and all who have signed up to sell concessions at Buell Stadium next game night. (10/11/24, 6 pm – 9pm)!  

First concert is Thursday, Oct. 3, at 7 PM! 

This is a required, graded assignment for all MNHS Orchestra students. 

Attention Students:
All Symphony Orchestra students (from 1st, 2nd, and 6th hours) are to report to the auditorium Thurs, Oct. 3rd, during 2nd hour for our only rehearsal as a full ensemble.

Orchestra students report at 6:30 PM for warm-ups; concert should conclude by 8:15 PM. 

We do have a concert attire dress code – long-sleeved black dress shirt, black dress slacks, black dress shoes, black dress socks that go to mid-calf.  More detailed guidelines may be found in the orchestra handbook.  (Students, remember to turn in your concert attire photo in Google Classroom.)

MNOrch concerts are a good time!  Please plan to attend, and invite your neighbors, friends and family as well!  Our kids do great work – it will be an evening to remember!  Plus, we all bring refreshments for after the concert (please sign up to bring refreshments!

We have our concerts recorded by a professional videographer, who also provides a livestream on YouTube, so friends and family can watch from wherever they may be!  The YouTube link is only distributed via email from Mrs. Martinez.

Please advertise our concert on social media! I’ve created a graphic (attached) if you’d like to use it.

The Program can be found here.

The concert attire!

• 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.

Monday, September 16, at 7:00 p.m. in MNHS Lecture Hall C

Lecture Hall C is upstairs – park on the east side of the building and enter through the main doors.

Our main goals are to meet and greet each other as orchestra fans, learn about ways to get involved, and get ready for the September and November concerts.

Can’t make it? Check out the slides for more information!

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