Welcome

Important Dates and Times!

Wed, 5/13 (5-7 pm): Middle school meet the teacher at Austin High School
Fri, 5/15: Deadline to return professionally dry-cleaned orchestra uniforms (details below)
Fri, 5/15: Deadline to complete the survey for the 2027 spring orchestra trip (details below)
Fri, 5/22: Finals
Mon, 5/25: Holiday (Memorial Day)
Tue-Thu, 5/26-5/28: Finals
Fri, 5/29: Summer Break
8/3-8/7 (9 am-noon): Summer camp for all orchestra students (details below)

Helpful Links and Info

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

8th Grade “Meet the Teacher” (Adult and Student Volunteers Needed)

Do you have or know an 8th grader who will be joining Austin High Orchestra next year? Don’t miss our “Meet the Teacher” event on Wednesday, May 13th, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at the Austin High Orchestra room. This is a drop-in event and a great chance for rising freshmen to meet Ms. Solis, see the orchestra room, and ask questions. Parents can ask questions as well and also sign up to get the orchestra newsletter and volunteer with the Orchestra Booster.

We also need at least two adult and four student volunteers to help Ms. Solis with this event.  Please sign up to volunteer using this link!

Orchestra Uniforms

All students (including seniors) should have taken their uniforms home after the last concert to have them professionally cleaned and then returned back to school by Friday, May 15th. The uniforms must be returned with the tag and plastic bag from the dry cleaner. Students who do not have their uniforms professionally cleaned and prefer to have the orchestra take care of this must pay a $25 cleaning fee.

Orchestra Spring Trip

Students, please use the link here to cast your vote for the 2027 spring orchestra trip. Make sure to cast your vote by Friday, May 15th!

Orchestra Summer Camp

Join us August 3rd through August 7th, from 9:00 am through noon, for a mandatory week-long, half-day camp for AHS orchestra students at Austin High. Students will work on music for the upcoming school year, get measured for performance attire, play games with friends, and more!  Additional information and the registration link is available here! 

Austin ISD Budget and Potential Budget Cuts (Link to Budget Comment Card Included)

On Monday, May 4th, Austin High faculty attended a meeting with Austin ISD trustee Lynn Boswell. The school district is facing serious funding issues for the 2026-2027 school year. As a result, the school district is looking at several options, including moving away from block scheduling, as well as cutting certain programs, such as fine arts. Parents and students who would like to have their voices heard and who wish to advocate for our fine arts programs should do the following:

1)  Complete the Austin ISD Budget Comment Card here by June 18th. Please note this is not the same survey families previously completed. The Austin ISD board will vote on the final plan at their meeting on June 18th.

2) Call and or write to Dr. Melvin Bedford, Austin High principal.  Ultimately, the decision of where to cut spending may fall to the principal of each AISD campus.  Therefore, parents should voice their support for our orchestra program to Dr. Bedford, as well as any other programs that are important to them. Please be polite, but earnest. Let the administration know what a positive impact the fine arts have had on your children, and how electives/extracurriculars may have influenced your decision to enroll at AHS. Dr. Bedford’s contact information is below:
512-414-2505 ext. 71615
melvin.bedford@austinisd.org

3) Call or write to the Austin ISD Board of Trustees.  Their contact information is below:
trustees@austinisd.org
Tel: (512) 414-2413

lynn.boswell@austinisd.org
AISD office address for all board members:
4000 S. I-H 35 Frontage Rd. Austin, TX 78704

4)  Attend Austin ISD Board meetings. Information regarding meetings is available here. Please also find additional budget information here.

Students that would also like to have their voices heard should similarly write to the principal and board of trustees. 

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.