MRHS Orchestra Newsletter
January 2025
Welcome back from winter break and Happy New Year! I hope everyone got a chance to rest, relax and reset over the past two weeks. Orchestra is in "season," this is the time of year where things tend to get busy. We have the musical, solo and ensemble along with our UIL preparation for our Pre UIL Concert before Spring Break - ALL students will perform on this concert with hired judges and a recording engineer.
Parents and students, please look at your Orchestra calendars with all your other activities. I took some rehearsals off of the initial schedule in January and first week of February. Please identify any conflcts prior to the scheduled event and let Mr. Katz know. We operate in the same capacity as a sports team; we need all our players present to make the team complete.
I am excited for our Spring Semester! We will celebrate and recognize our twenty graduating Seniors! We also have fun events planned for your student including a game night at Andretti Indoor Karting and Games, Houston Symphony Trip, and end of the year Orchestra Banquet!
Don't forget to sign up for Houston Symphony and Andretti Fun Night in the online store.
Private lessons are offered on Mondays and teachers have openings! New year, new you! Start private lessons and get help with solo and ensemble along with your spring semester auditions for 2025-26! Inquire with Mr. Katz directly about matching your student with a Katy ISD approved Private Lesson Teacher.
Our Spring Semester concerts will include our String Pre UIL Concert, Mariachi Spring Show and Senior Farewell Spring Concert and Pops.
Please communicate any after school conflicts ahead of time to Directors.
Orchestra Calendars
Each group has their own calendar except for Chamber White. Chamber White does not have after school rehearsals and should refer to the Orchestra Calendar below. All students should use the Orchestra calendar as well.
Spring Semester Orchestra Concerts!
- Thursday, 3/6 7pm in MRHS PAC, Orchestra Pre UIL Concert (All Students will perform)
- Chamber Purple UIL Concert and SIght Reading Evaluation: Monday or Tuesday, 3/25 or 3/26 J.E. Taylor HS, TBD
- Camerata UIL Concert and SIght Reading Evaluation: Wednesday, 4/2 Paetow HS, Time TBD
- Sinfonia UIL Concert and Sight Reading Evaluation: Thursday or Friday, 4/3 or 4/4 at Kerr HS in Alief ISD, Time TBD
- Thursday, 4/24 7pm in MRHS PAC, Mariachi Spring Schow
- Thursday, 5/8 7pm in MRHS PAC, Orchestra Spring Concert and Senior Farewell
String Concert and Sight Reading UIL
Sinfonia (Varsity), Camerata (Non-Varsity) and Chamber Purple (Sub Non-Varsity) ensembles will compete at UIL String Concert and Sight Reading this year! Dates are all located in calendars and specific time and dates will be available two weeks prior to the date.
Our students are working hard to improve their skill set and perform at a high level. We are bringing in some incredible clincians with our Course Fee and "Fair Share" monies to work with your student.
Some of these guests include the Orchestra Director from Sam Houston State University, many professional musicians and retired Orchestra Directors that are now UIL judges. Clinicians are similar to private lessons because your student is getting direct feedback from musicians with outstanding backgrounds.
UIL Concert Study Recordings, please listen daily!
Expectations:
We will have many exams, Sight Reading quizzes, rehearsals and other required materials. It is an expectation that the student will do their very best to turn in assignments in a timely manner. Students can only participate if they are academically eligible per UIL guidelines. Daily attitude and willingness to work hard is a non-negotiable.
Depending on your student's participation they may or may not continue onto the actual UIL. After our Pre UIL concert final rosters will be posted by Director decision. We are looking at student preparation, ability to complete required assignments on time, willingness to make improvements and take feedback, as well as continually working in Sight Reading Factory.
Sight Reading Factory is a paid subscription where students can practice daily on their music literacy/sight reading skills! I have the ability to go into your student's account and see their work.
Katy ISD is recognized for being an Outstanding School District specifically for their Fine Arts Programs. Please continue to support your student as they develop and mature through high school and stay in Orchestra all four years!
Trip to Houston Symphony (optional)
Once they are gone there are no more student tickets left. Tickets are $20 and include transportation fees. If you go onto the HSO website the least expensive ticket is $50.
Houston Symphony Program from Friday, 2/7
We will leave after school, head to the Memorial City Mall Food Court (dinner on your own), then go straight to Jones Hall for the concert. Our bus should be back on campus for student pickup between 9-9:30pm (your student will text or call you on the way home with an ETA). Please ensure your student has a ride home; Directors cannot leave until all students have been picked up by a parent or guardian.
Students should wear formal attire to this event! Something they would wear ro a job interview, or church.
Andretti Indoor Karting and Games, Fun Night Friday, 2/28 6-9pm (optional)
Orchestra is going to Andretti Indoor Karting and Games Friday, 2/28/25 from 6-9pm. Students are to provide their own transportation to and from the event.
Tickets are available to purchase on the online website store or can be paid with cash or check to MRHSO (put into the safe and clearly labeled at school). They are $45 for the package that includes: a go kart race, a game of laser tag, 3 hours of arcade play and our pizza bar (3 slices per person, a house salad, chocolate chip cookies, and beverages). For an additional $7 per student, the ticket will also include a virtual reality game.
Fees to attend
$45 Andretti's Package
$7 VR Add On (optional)
The deadline is now extended into January, don't forget to purchase your tickets!
Required Google Form if going to event!
Parents are required to fill out this online waiver if your student is under 18 yrs old
UIL Solo and Ensemble Saturday, 2/1
If your student entered, and you paid for a pianist your student will need to sign up in class for a time slot to perform with their pianist.
We have two pianists Mr. McMillan and Ms. Gabrielova. They will be here at school 1/22-1/23 and 1/29-1/30 Wednesday and Thursdays. Gabrielova will be here after school only and Mr. McMillan willl be during school and after school.
When your student signs up for a time slot they will choose the same time for both rehearsals. There are no makeups for missed student rehearsals. All students should have two run through rehearsals and the performance at Contest.
Parents are welcome into your student's room at Contest, the judges like when the parents are their supporting their student. Ask your student, they may or may not want you in the room based on their nerves.
This is a UIL event, I will check for eligibilty and students not passing will not be permitted to attend and unfortunately there are no refunds for the entry fee or piano fee. We will still need to pay these fees regardless of the situation.
Good luck to all students! If a student memorizes a Class 1 solo and receives a Division 1 ranking as well as receiving a Divsion 1 ranking on an ensemble they will qualify for State aka KYAC at Jordan High School on Saturday, 4/26. Every year we have many students qualifying for State.
Put the consistent hard work in and you will see the results. Students should dress in formal attire! If they don't know what to wear, please wear your concert attire (picture day clothing).
Sister Act Musical
Sister Act performances are Friday 1/31, Saturday 2/1 and Monday 2/3 at 7pm in the MRHS PAC. Tickets can be bought here.
Parents with students inolved, please make sure you look at the rehearsal and performance schedule it is very busy the last two weeks in January! Please make your plans accordingly, also students need to stay on top of their academics and UIL Orchestra music as well as Solo and Ensemble if they signed up.
This music is not easy and will required practice at home. We have thre scheduled rehearsals before students begin to merge with singers and dancers. Once that happens I will pass the students off to Mr. Van Wyk our Choir Director. He will be the official Music Director (MD) for the musical.
Students should have an MTI Player app where they can access the music and I have sent out a tempo practice guide. Please do not come to these rehearsals sight reading the notes and rhythms, it will reflect poorly on the student and the MRHS Orchestra program.
Make sure to read your Cut Time messages and stay tuned in for updates. Conflicts should be communicated with Mr. Katz a minimum of 48 hours in advance.
Orchestra Fees
We have many students who have not paid their:
1) $50 Katy ISD Course Fee on the Pay N Go, Cash or Check to Katy ISD
2) $100 Required Instrument Usage Fee on the Pay N Go, Cash or Check to Katy ISD (CELLO AND BASS STUDENTS ONLY)
3) $160 Booster "Fair Share" for All students in the program on the Online Store, Cash or Check to MRHS Orchestra
These fees are not going to go away. If unpaid the holds will come back 2nd semester, and prevent seniors from getting their diplomas.
I received a memo from KISD administration and Katy ISD does not accept waiver form for KISD Course Fee or Instrument Usage fees. We had several students turn this form in during the Fall Semester. I went back into those student Cut Time accounts and added the fees back in. If the student/family who received the waiver was approved by the Booster Club to waive the "Fair Share", our Booster will still honor a "Fair Share Waiver."
I'd highly recommend starting a payment plan on your "Fair Share" if haven't done so yet and unpaid.
Virtuosi of Houston
Virtuosi of Houston is a great alternative to the Houston Youth Symphony (and closer...it's located at the Memorial City Mall). I have had many students throughout the years join this group and is highly recommened.
They do major traveling around the world to Europe, Asia and the Middle East. You will get a chance to work with the Orchestra Director from University of Houston who also happened to be one of the conductors at All-Region Orchestra this school year.
- The Youth Chamber Orchestra will have a concert on March 1st at Zilkha Hall in the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, located in downtown Houston.
- Auditions will take place at our studio in Memorial City Mall.
- Each audition will last for 15 minutes and will include scales along with two pieces that the students have prepared.
- Rehearsals will be held for five weeks leading up to each performance, on Tuesdays and Fridays from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM. A 20-minute supper break will be provided during rehearsals.
- Tuition assistance is available for those in need.
For further information, you can visit our website: www.virtuosiofhouston.org. Should you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Karen Needham at kneedham@virtuosiofhouston.org.
Thank you for helping us in our mission to foster musical excellence among the youth in Houston.
Best regards,
Karen Needham
Virtuosi of Houston
Mariachi
Happy New Year and welcome back to the 2025 Spring Semester!
I am so excited about our April 24th Mariachi Concert. We are ready to make magic happen once again.
Please talk with your Counselor about signing up for the Mariachi Class coming up for the 2025-26 school year, this course will offer now a Fine Arts credit, it is called: "Instrumental Music". This class is open to all levels. Tell your Counselor you want to sign up for Orchestra and the 7th period Mariachi, Instrumental Music Course.
As our groups will work now preparing multiple songs our rehearsals will be one hour and a half long for the Spring semester. Our project includes 6 songs for Torito and 7 for Luna and 3 for Junior High, lots of fun and music to learn and memorize!
Rehearsal times will be now 3-4:30 pm Torito and 4:30 to 6 pm Luna. Junior High will stay the same on Mondays from 5-6 pm.
As we approach a really busy season with the Musica, Pre UIL, UIL we encourage students to manage their time and schedules wisely to stay on top of things and give preference to the Orchestra and Mariachi activities.
Full rehearsal schedules:
We have some performances in January for Mariachi Luna, please keep checking the event calendar for real time updates.
We will have more spirit nights later on in the semester so stay tuned and thank you for your support to Mariachi education, we are a family, and every student is extremely appreciated and important for the program.