Welcome

Updates

Important Dates and Times!

Tue, 9/30: Deadline to pay instrument rental and yearly orchestra fees
Fri, 10/3 (1:05 pm): Early release, ACL
Sat, 10/4 (1 pm): Regionals at Bowie High School (details below)
Mon, 10/6 (8 pm): Monster Concert Meeting
Fri, 10/10: Student Holiday
Mon, 10/13: Holiday – Indigenous People Day
Thu, 10/16 (5-8 pm): Orchestra Fundraiser Spirit Night at Double Dave’s on William Cannon
Mon, 10/20: Holiday – Diwali
Thu, 10/23 (6:30 pm): Orchestra Booster Board meeting (all are invited to attend)
Sat, 11/1: Monster Concert Festival at Austin High (more details)
Tue, 11/4 (4-10 pm): Orchestra Fundraiser Spirit Night at P. Terry’s on William Cannon
Wed, 11/12 (5:30-7:30 pm): Orchestra Fundraiser at Kendra Scott store on Congress Ave

Helpful Links and Info

• Private Lessons
• Scholarships
• Corporate Sponsors
• Fees, Instruments, and Uniform Requirements

TMEA Region Audition

TMEA Region Auditions will be held at Bowie High School on Saturday, October 4th, with registration beginning at 1:00 pm and tryouts at 2:00 pm. The tryouts are expected to end around 5:00 pm.

Yearly Orchestra Fees and Instrument Rental

Fees can be paid online at MySchoolCentral for your student’s $150 orchestra fee and $60 instrument rental (for those students who are renting). Payment items are listed alphabetically. Look for “Orchestra Fees” with a violin thumbnail.

Fees and instrument rentals can also be paid in person by cash or check made payable to “Austin High Orchestra.” 

Note: THIS IS NOT RELATED TO THE BOOSTERS. This money goes to the school directly.

The deadline to pay the fees is Tuesday, September 30, 2025.

If a student needs help with these expenses, use this link to apply for a scholarship. If you have applied for a scholarship, you will be receiving a response THIS week!

Dallas Trip

Kudos to our orchestra students who participated in a Master Class at SMU with Dr. Cumming. This incredible opportunity allowed them to expand their musical skills and deepen their passion for performance. Keep reaching for excellence!

A big THANK YOU to Crystal McQueeney for planning and organizing the Dallas Orchestra Trip!! A fun time was had by all! Also thanks to Tracy Harp, Jennifer Pac, Sarah Leder, Don Valdez, Francisca Garcia Acosta, Shanna Orenstein, and Stacie Mitchamore for chaperoning!! We could not do it without you!

AISD All-City Orchestra

Congratulations to the talented AHS Orchestra students who represented Austin High at the AISD All-City Orchestra: Jade Garcia, Owen Harp, Cormac Lewis, Isaac Guajardo, Noah Facundo, Eli Celestino, Kayla Benson, Gabriel Guajardo, Gideon Head, and James Maloney!

Your hard work and dedication continue to make us proud!

Monster Concert and Festival / Volunteer Requests

Calling all ghouls, goblins, and good-hearted volunteers! The Austin High School Orchestra needs YOU for its biggest fundraiser of the year — the Monster Concert on Saturday, November 1st, 2025! 
This spooktacular event will be a night to remember, and we need your help to make it a howling success! Whether you want to help out with game booths, serve food, support behind the scenes, or ensure security, we’ve got a spot for you.

Volunteer Opportunities Include:

• Game Booths: Help keep the crowd entertained with festive games.
• Food Service: Serve up some delicious treats to hungry concert-goers.
• Backstage Support: Be the secret behind-the-scenes hero that keeps everything running smoothly.
• Security: Keep things safe while still enjoying the eerie excitement.
• Haunted House: Help bring the fright to life in our spooky maze!

In addition to the fun, you’ll get a chance to hear some talented orchestras play and might even catch a Ballet Folklorico performance. What better way to enjoy an evening full of music, mystery, and mayhem?!

Why Volunteer?

• Free Concerts
• Fun Atmosphere
• Great Food (Can you say loaded nachos?)

So, what are you waiting for? Dust off your cape, grab your broomstick, and sign up to help us make this year’s Monster Concert a night full of thrills, chills, and incredible music! Sign up now and let’s make this event the most hauntingly fun Monster Concert yet!

Sign-Up to Volunteer (Day Before and Day Of)

Building the Haunted House for Monster Concert (Volunteers Needed)

Want to get in the Halloween spirit? We’re looking for volunteers to help plan and set up the Haunted House! We need your creative energy to make it come to life.

Here are the dates and times we could use some helping hands:

• Fri, 10/17: 5 – 8 pm
• Sat, 10/18: 9 am – noon
• Fri, 10/24: 5 – 8 pm
• Sat, 10/25: 9 am – noon

Come get your hands a little messy, hang some cobwebs, and help set the stage for one of the most frightfully fun parts of the Monster Concert!  Whether you’re good at building, decorating, or just want to be part of the eerie excitement, we’d love to have you!

No experience necessary—just bring your enthusiasm and creativity!

Sign-Up to Volunteer (Haunted House and Carnival Prep)

Adult Orchestra Volunteers

The orchestra relies on adult volunteers for different events throughout the year. If you are interested in volunteering or know you will be volunteering in the orchestra room and helping students, please submit an application on the AISD Voly site. Also check out our volunteer webpage for additional info.

Get Messages Using Remind

Please make sure that you and your student(s) sign up to get important messages and reminders. To sign up for Remind, compose a text message to the number 81010.

Camerata Orchestra: @a2aa82
Philharmonic & Recital Orchestras: @g4kcfc2
Chamber Orchestra: @hh2949
Orchestra Parents: @hak8gd

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

Our Platinum Sponsors

Our Gold Sponsors

And thank you to the many orchestra families who have given so generously.