Updates
Important Dates and Times!
Tue, 2/24 (7:10 am): Early practice for non-varsity orchestra players
Wed, 2/25 (7:10 am): Early practice for varsity orchestra players
Wed, 2/25 (6:30 pm): Pre-UIL Full Orchestra Concert (Austin High PAC)
Tue, 3/3 (7:10 am): Early practice for non-varsity orchestra players
Tue, 3/3 (evening): San Francisco Trip Meeting (details below)
Wed, 3/4 (7:10 am): Early practice for all orchestra players
Wed, 3/4: UIL Orchestra Competition – AISD Pac – non-varsity morning, varsity afternoon (details below)
Thu-Fri, 3/5-3/6: AHS hosting middle school UIL (see below for adult volunteer opportunities)
Fri-Tue, 3/13-3/17: San Francisco trip
Sun, 4/26: Orchestra Banquet at the Norris Conference Center
Helpful Links and Info
Solo and Ensemble Results
Congratulations to all students who participated in the Solo and Ensemble competition at Akins High School this past Saturday! A special thank you to parents for supporting the orchestra students! The results are available here!
Orchestra Student Picture Day
Orchestra student picture day was this past Thursday, but you can still order your student’s pictures this week! Parents can pay with the traditional paper form and check/cash (attached) and submit to Ms. Solis.
Or for online ordering, fill out the form, submit it, then follow the link to checkout.
https://forms.gle/XpNri6Ckfpcfc7Z39
Pre-UIL Full Orchestra Concert
The Pre-UIL Full Orchestra Concert is taking place at the Austin High PAC on Wednesday, February 25th, at 6:30 pm.
Students will be fed dinner after school and must be dressed and ready for warm-up by 5:45 pm. Non-varsity orchestra students will warm-up on stage and varsity students will rehearse in the band room.
Students must bring their white shirts, black socks, and dress shoes. Long hair must be tied back.
San Francisco Trip Meeting
We are excited for our upcoming San Francisco trip (March 13-17). To help everyone feel prepared and confident, we will hold an important virtual parent and student meeting on Tuesday, March 3rd, at 7:00 pm.
During this trip we will:
- Review the trip itinerary
- Go over travel logistics
- Share packing guidelines and trip expectations
- Discuss required items and important reminders
- Answer any questions from students and families
Please plan to attend so everyone is fully prepared for a smooth and memorable trip! Please use the link from the newsletter to join.
UIL Full Orchestra Concert Competition
The UIL full orchestra competition is taking place at the Austin ISD PAC on Wednesday, March 4th. Non-varsity orchestra will perform in the morning and varsity students will perform in the afternoon. There is an early morning practice for both orchestras scheduled for 7:10 am that morning.
Non-varsity students need to arrive at school already dressed in their orchestra attire.
Varsity students will change into their orchestra attire during lunch.
Students must wear their white shirts, black socks, and black dress shoes. Students who have long hair must tie it back.
Middle School UIL (Volunteers Needed)
Austin High Orchestra is hosting the middle school UIL on March 5th and 6th. Parent volunteers are needed from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm and 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm for both dates. Adult volunteers can work the whole shift or a portion of the shift if needed. We also need snack donations for this UIL.
Please sign up for snack donations and adult volunteer slots using this link:
https://signup.com/mobileweb/2.0/vspot.html?activitykey=113310610066#anonymous_invite_page
Orchestra Booster Board Positions
We are starting to think about next year (2026-2027) and we need your help with some Booster Board positions and supporters/understudies. We need a volunteer to be leader of the pack next year!
Anyone interested in volunteering for President of the booster board next year? Stacie Mitchamore, the current President, can absolutely help you with getting tuned in with everything Orchestra Board for next year! If not, how about someone to help supply food to the students before performances and socials, etc.? How about being on the silent auction team to acquire donations during the summer at your leisure?
Also, if you are not able to do it next year but would like to do it the following year, you can be an understudy and learn about the position next year in preparation for 2027-2028.
Please let Stacie know if you are interested in helping and thanks in advance! Please email Stacie if interested at: sottenmd@gmail.com
Purchase a Gypsy T-Shirt!
The theater department is selling t-shirts from their recent performance of Gypsy! The link to purchase shirts is here:
https://austin-high-school-red-dragon-theater-booster-club.square.site/product/gypsy-tshirt/NMAACRYQCFWY6VXWJFA4SGEF
Purchase your shirt to help support the theater students!
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
James and Deborah Carrier
The Dettmer Family,
in honor of Sam
Sara Maxwell
Our Gold Sponsors
Anna Morgan-Penz
Memorial Scholarship
The Maloney
Family