News

First Playing Test & Chair Placement

The first playing test—which also determines chair placement for our October 1 concert—will be assigned next week.

Submission Deadlines:
Chamber Orchestra: September 11
Symphony Orchestra: September 14
Philharmonic Orchestra: September 16
Feedback Process: Once submitted, I will evaluate each test using a rubric and return detailed scores and comments. Students can apply this feedback to target their practice before our first performance.

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✈️ 2027 Orchestra Trip (April 6–9, 2027)

The Bus is Full! This is great news! (We have a waitlist for those wishing to travel in the event a spot opens up.)
1 More Chaperone! Parents/Guardians with students attending the trip – we would love to have you share this experience with us! Please email djmartin@mpsomaha.org if you are available/interested.
September 1 Payment: The 4th payment is due on the portal (or the 1st payment if you are registering now).

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🎺 Section Leader Interviews

This week, Symphony and Chamber Orchestra students interviewed for our Section Leader Team. Selected students will plan and lead weekly sectional rehearsals. Philharmonic students will have the opportunity to interview later this quarter.

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🍿 Football Concessions Volunteers (Fundraiser)

Selling concessions at home football games is a primary fundraiser for our program! This year, we have the opportunity to double our funds by staffing both the North and South side stands across four home games.

Need: 12 students and 4 adults per game.
Benefits: A great way to earn varsity letter points, fulfill service hours, and meet other families.
Sign Up: Please sign up here.

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📅 Key Dates & Auditions

All-State Auditions (Sept. 16–26)

Sept. 1: Registration form and fee deadline.
Materials: Available on Google Classroom and in the shared folder.
Audition Recordings: Recordings must be made in person with the director. Sign-ups open next week for the following time slots:
Saturday, Sept. 19 (10:00 AM – 4:00 PM)
Tuesday, Sept. 22 (3:30 PM – 6:00 PM)
Wednesday, Sept. 23 (3:45 PM – 8:30 PM)
Note: Participating students and parents will receive a direct email next week with full details.

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Orchestra Parent Meet-and-Greet: Tuesday, Sept. 15 @ 7:00 PM

Location: MNHS Lecture Hall A (Upstairs—park on the east side of the building and enter through the main doors).
Agenda: Meet other orchestra families, discuss volunteer opportunities, and prepare for our upcoming concerts. (If you cannot attend, please review the posted meeting slides!)

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First Concert: Thursday, Oct. 1 @ 7:00 PM

Student Call Time: 6:30 PM (Required/graded event; performance concludes around 8:15 PM).
Dress Code: Long-sleeved black dress shirt, black dress slacks, black dress shoes, and black dress socks (mid-calf length). Students: Remember to turn in your concert attire photo on Google Classroom *this assignment will be posted soon! Refer to the handbook for full guidelines.
Details: Invite friends, family, and neighbors! Please sign up to bring a refreshment for our post-concert social. A YouTube livestream link from our professional videographer will be shared closer to the date.

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🎓 Senior Corner: College Auditions

If your senior plans to continue playing in college, ask to meet with string faculty or orchestra directors during campus visits! Be sure to inquire about audition procedures, required repertoire, instrument access, ensemble options for majors and non-majors, and music scholarships.

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📸 Picnic Recap

Thank you to everyone who joined us at Cottonwood Park! A special thank you to Megan F. and Wenjing for taking and sharing fantastic photos.

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📱 Stay Connected

Remind App: Visit remind.com/join/mnhsorch27 or text @mnhsorch27 to 81010 for direct updates.
Email Settings: Ensure your email address is up to date in Synergy/ParentVue and check that updates aren’t going to spam.
Website: Access our full event calendar and handbook anytime at www.mnhsorch.com.

It’s good to be back! Thanks everyone for working so well with our sub last week!

Orchestra Picnic !

Orchestra Party THIS FRIDAY Aug. 21 @ Cottonwood Park (728 S. 154 St.), 3:45-5:45 PM.
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 🙂

Stay In-the-Know!

Join the Orchestra Remind Group:
Visit remind.com/join/mnhsorch27 OR text @mnhsorch27 to the number 81010.
This allows you to send and receive text updates directly from Mrs. Martinez.

Not receiving emails?
Make sure your email address is correct in Synergy/ParentVue and that you recognize the emails from Synergy/ParentVue as not spam.

2027 Orchestra Trip (April 6–9, 2027)

Interested in Chaperoning?
See email from Mrs. Martinez sent through the trip portal on 8/11. Email djmartin@mpsomaha.org by Friday, 8/21 if you are interested/available!

September 1: Fourth payment due on the portal (or first payment if signing up now).

Resources:
Watch the Kickoff Meeting Recording (high-quality iPad recording)
Review the Canva Slides & Trip Itinerary

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 the sheet (accessible through Google Classroom).

Football Concessions

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

Important Upcoming Dates & Deadlines

Handbook Signature Forms (Due Wednesday, August 20):
Part 1 (Student): Students will review the handbook in class and complete the Student Signature Form.
Part 2 (Parent/Guardian): Please review the handbook (paying special attention to pages 2–7 for concert dates and expectations). Once dates are added to your family calendar, complete the Parent Signature Form.

Note: Points go into the gradebook once both forms are completed.

All-State Auditions (Sept. 16-26):
Registration form & fee deadline is September 1.
Audition materials are available in the shared folder and on Google Classroom

First Concert: Thursday, October 1 @ 7:00 PM.
Student call time is 6:30 PM

Instrument Maintenance/Step-Up Instruments

Investing in your instrument makes playing more rewarding and instills a sense of pride in one’s performance. Make sure you maintain your instrument, especially by getting the bow re-haired once per year and getting a quality set of strings (like D’Addario, Dominant, or Pirastro) every 1-2 years (pdf, the download takes a minute).
If it’s time for a step up instrument, make sure to reach out to Mrs. Martinez for input before you make the purchase for advice on what to look for!

Stay Connected

Our full event calendar and handbook are updated regularly at this website.

If you have questions or need further information, contact me at djmartin@mpsomaha.org or check this website.

🎺 1. Classroom & Instrument Schedule

Philharmonic (5th Hour): Bring instruments starting Wednesday, August 18. Violins and violas – have a friend reserve a spot for you in the instrument storage room on Friday. Before school, bring your instrument into room 1520 and put it in the storage closet. You will be assigned a spot during 5th period. If you are renting a school instrument, it should be in the closet with your name on it – make sure to have your contract and payment completed and returned!

Chamber & Symphony Orchestra (1st, 2nd, & 6th Hour): Bring instruments starting Thursday, August 13. Follow the same steps outlined above.

Instrument Check: Please inspect your student’s instrument before classes start. Purchasing a new set of strings and having the bow rehaired are great ways to ensure they start the year sounding their best!

📱 2. Communication & Open House

Join the Orchestra Remind Group:
Visit remind.com/join/mnhsorch27 OR text @mnhsorch27 to the number 81010.
This allows you to send and receive text updates directly from Mrs. Martinez.

MNHS Open House: Thursday, August 13, from 6:00–7:00 PM.
Note: I will be absent Aug. 12-14 due to a family obligation, but please review the open house slides and reach out via email if you have any questions.

My sub is the the wonderful Ms. Megan Siebe!

✈️ 3. 2027 Orchestra Trip (April 6–9, 2027)

August 15: Final sign-up deadline. All information must be submitted and payments kept up to date to secure a spot (subject to waitlist).

September 1: Fourth payment due on the portal (or first payment if signing up now).

Resources:
Watch the Kickoff Meeting Recording (high-quality iPad recording)
Review the Canva Slides & Trip Itinerary

🗓️ 4. Important Upcoming Dates & Deadlines

Handbook Signature Forms (Due Wednesday, August 20):
Part 1 (Student): Students will review the handbook in class and complete the Student Signature Form.
Part 2 (Parent/Guardian): Please review the handbook at www.mnhsorch.com (paying special attention to pages 2–7 for concert dates and expectations). Once dates are added to your family calendar, complete the Parent Signature Form.
Note: Points go into the gradebook once both forms are completed.

Orchestra Picnic: Friday, August 21, from 3:45–5:45 PM at Cottonwood Park. More details to follow next week!

All-State Auditions (Sept. 17–24):
Registration form & fee deadline is September 1.
Audition materials are available in the shared folder; the registration form will be released next week.

First Concert: Thursday, October 1 @ 7:00 PM.

🎻 5. School Instrument Rentals

We have a limited inventory of violins, violas, cellos, and basses available for rent through the school for $95 for the year. Please email Mrs. Martinez if you need to rent a school instrument.

👔 6. Concert Attire Guidelines

Please review the required attire options ahead of our first concert on October 1:

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 a modest neckline (crew neck or button-down preferred)
Black dress slacks (slim fit or boot-cut; NOT leggings, jeans, or yoga pants)
Black dress socks or nylons & black closed-toed dress shoes

Used Concert Dresses: We have a limited supply of floor-length black dresses available for $40 each. Contact Mrs. Martinez if interested.

Skirt/Dress Policy: Skirts and dresses are generally not permitted to avoid staff having to monitor hemlines. Exceptions may be requested if the attire meets two strict criteria:
1. It is full ankle-length.
2. It contains sufficient fabric to accommodate wide-stance seating while playing.

🔗 7. Stay Connected

Our full event calendar and handbook are updated regularly at www.mnhsorch.com.

If you have questions or need further information, contact me at djmartin@mpsomaha.org

Students should still practice at least 10-15 minutes a day over break to cement precise intonation, rhythm, bowings, and musicality. They also have recordings to reference if they are traveling/do not have access to their instruments.

Current Renters: If your student is staying in orchestra next year, I will check out the same school instrument to them for 2026-27.

New Requests: If your student needs a school instrument for next year but doesn’t have one yet, please contact me.

Not Returning? Instruments must be returned by the end of class on finals day.

Omaha Area Youth Orchestras (OAYO) auditions are open!
If you are interested in taking your performance to the next level, OAYO is a great place to do just that. Audition information may be found at the OAYO audition website.

MNHS Orchestra takes one major trip every four years, and 2027 is the year! All students enrolled for the 2026-27 school year are eligible. We have an action-packed plan for April 6-9, 2027 in St. Louis, MO!

• Kickoff Meeting: Monday, April 27 | 6:30 p.m. | MNHS Band Room
• Note: The Worlds of Fun trip (May 17) has been canceled. Trip deposit refunds will be issued this week.

Tuesday, April 14, 7 p.m., MNHS Auditorium – all orchestra students perform + Senior Recognition Night

Time: 7:00 p.m. (Student call time is 6:30 p.m.)
Location: MNHS Auditorium
Special Event: This evening includes our Senior Recognition Night.
Attire: Concert black (Seniors are welcome to wear prom attire!).
Grading: This concert is required and worth 200 points.

Action Items for the Concert:
Refreshments: Use this link: Post-Concert Refreshments Sign Up to contribute.
Program : Click this link for the PDF.
Live Stream: A link to the stream will be available shortly.