MRHS Orchestra and Mariachi

I hope everyone had a great summer break! We are excited to welcome your student back to school for the 2024-25 school year!

Students do not need to bring instruments to the first day of school.

Your Directors, Officer Team and Booster Club have been working hard over the summer to ensure our students have an excellent experience in Orchestra this school year!

Some highlights to look forward to:

• Get the chance to perform at Minute Maid park for National Anthem performance with Choir on 9/24 for 40,000 people!
• Hispanic Culture Night at MRHS with Mariachi
• Sinfonia (Varsity) - Hispanic Heritage concert with Paetow HS Orchestra
• Creating music in the pit for our Broadway Musical, Sister Act this January/February
• More Orchestra and Mariachi Collaborations
• Fun nights with Orchestra friends: Main Event, Roller Skating, Socials
• Day Trip to Sea World in San Antonio w/MRHS Band Saturday, 3/1/25 - TBD
• Fun end of the year Orchestra Banquet
  

Orchestra and Mariachi Events - ALL STUDENTS

Orchestra Google Public Calendar - ALL STUDENTS

Sinfonia

Camerata

Chamber Purple

Luna de Jalisco

El Torito Bravo

I want your student to be successful in Orchestra!

There are many things in Orchestra that should be intrinsic at the high school level; at the same time there are many aspects that do not come naturally for all students.

I want to help your student overcome items that may hold them back when they leave high school.

Orchestra is a four year course that helps your student transition into high school, keeps your students engaged and accountable and then helps them transition from 12th grade into the real world! There are many things to consider as you help guide your student and shape their future!

Here are just a few things we will focus on this school year with your student:

Practice and self-discipline, motivation, positive talk, time management, confidence, team work, attitude, communication, avoiding burnout

Please look through our website!

You will find information on:

• Calendars
• Reminds
• Forms
• Fee Information and Payments
• Concert Study Recordings
• Instrument Shop Info
• Link to your Handbook

Come support our students as they perform the National Anthem at Minute Maid Park (anthem performance is at 7pm)!

The Game is on Tuesday, September 24 at 7:10pm.

Tickets are in section 424-425. You will get ticket notification to your email in September, need to login to the MLB app and download tickets. There are no paper tickets.

There are 241 tickets for MRHS, MRJH and MDJH students, families, friends and teachers on each campus (varsity students only from the JH). Purchase your tickets here⚾!

Any tickets being paid by cash; the student will need to notify Director to adjust counter online.

Hard Deadline to purchase tickets is Thursday, 8/29 by 2:35pm!

Our required Parent and Student meeting is Monday, 8/26 at 7pm in the MRHS 9th grade cafeteria. Please enter through the 9th Grade Center entrance.

Please bring a case of water with you, this will help us with social activities, traveling, car washes, etc...

At the Parent meeting we will talk through the whole year and hit home big items, such as; handbook, UIL, behavior expectations, private lesson options, and much more!

Text the handle below to 81010. Reminds are required for students and highly suggested for parents/guardians.

Sinfonia @sinfunny25

Camerata @camcam25

Chamber Purple @chambap25
Chamber White chambaw25
Luna de Jalisco @moon25
​El Torito Bravo @bull25
Junior High Mariachi @mrmd25

Orchestra and Band are looking into traveling together for a day trip to Sea World on Saturday, 3/1/25!

Please take this survey to let us know if you might be interested in traveling. We will not perform at Sea World, it is a fun day trip for students to enjoy 😀

Survey

Freshman Breakfast

Welcome Freshmen, come to the Orchestra room from 9-10am on Tuesday, 8/13 for breakfast and ice breakers. Come meet your Directors and Officer Leadership Team! Enter through the double doors closest to the Band Trailer in the tennis court parking lot.

Locker Day Sign Out

All students can come in early to sign out lockers from 10-3pm on Tuesday, 8/13! Come meet your 2024-25 Officer Team! Don't worry, if you don't sign out your locker today, we can sign you out one when school starts. Please enter through the double doors closest to the Band Trailer in the tennis court parking lot.

Poster Making Friday

Come to the Orchestra room from 3-4:30pm on Friday, 8/16. Booster will provide light snacks while students make posters with friends to be hung up around the Orchestra room!

Ice Cream Social

Probably the most memorable social of the school year. First impressions are everything! Come hang out and eat ice cream with the orchestra program from 3-4:30pm Thursday, 8/29. We will announce our Big/Little matches at this event.

Grill and Chill BBQ

Friday, 9/13 from 5-8pm at Mary Jo Peckham Park Pavilion. This is an annual tradition and want to see students and families in attendance! MRHS Orchestra Booster will provide hotdogs and water and ask that you bring a side dish, desert, or drink to share. Please use the link to sign up for this special event. JH and HS students and families from MRHS, MRJH, MDJH and KJH are invited!

The playing level of -All-Region Orchestra and Mariachi music is at an extremely high level of playing! We want the students in our program to strive to play at this level.

Music was released May 1st and auditions are in October. We want as many students as possible to enter into the Region Contest, pay the entry fee and follow through.

All-Region is the pathway to being a Texas All State Musician.

Our Mariachi Interest Meeting is Thursday, August 22nd at 7pm.

All families with students interested in joining our widely popular MRHS Mariachi program should attend this meeting. Please enter through the 9th grade center, the meeting is in the 9th grade cafeteria. MRHS Mariachi is the only one of its kind in Katy ISD, try something new and have fun making music in a dynamic ensemble led by Mr. Roca.

Katy ISD Fine Arts has purchased a new license for Cut Time and we will no longer be using Charms.

Cut Time will be a great way for the program as a means of central communication. You can login to Cut Time from your phone, messages will be sent by text, you can access the calendar, see events, volunteer for events, and see you financials.

I'm very excited that our program will be moving towards a more efficient way to communicate with everyone, and keep everyone current about what's happening with their student.

Please make sure to login and update your contact information.

Welcome back Mariachi Students we are so excited about this new School year. We will continue the legacy of Mariachis at Morton Ranch HS.

This year we will have amazing collaborations with different orchestras, our own Concert again on April the 24th and many other surprises!

Rehearsals will be on Tuesdays: 3 to 4 pm for El Torito Bravo and 4-5pm for Luna de Jalisco.

We offer the great opportunity to play Mariachi music everyday during 5th period please let me know if you are interested, and we can assist you to make it fit in your schedule.

Looking forward to another great year filled with Mariachi Music, Que viva el Mariachi!

Please consider taking your rental back to your shop and ask for a maintenance check in or instrument upgrade.

Your student will have an excellent year if their instrument is easy to play and sounds good - is set up well. Lisle Violin, Katy Violin, Sam's Strings and Fishburn Violin are all fantastic options in and around Katy ISD.

Please consult Mr. Katz before purchasing an instrument. I highly recommend the instrument rental system.

We are offering private lessons on Monday evenings with our awesome Katy ISD Private Lesson Program.

We are able to bring your top quality instruction for a very affordable price right in your very own Orchestra room!

I highly suggest in investing into your student's musical future by getting them private lessons for the 2024-25 school year! They will have a better experience in Orchestra and be competitive to do well at UIL, Solo and Ensemble and Region.

Sign up for private lessons at our parent meeting on Monday, 8/26 at 7pm in the 9th grade cafeteria.

We are excited to fundraise with Adrenaline again starting Monday, 8/26! We will dive into detail at our Parent Meeting how you can help your student fundraise so Orchestra and Mariachi can have a successful school year!