Final Exams | All Orchestra Classes
As has been the case each year, the first semester final exam for all orchestra students will be an individual audition and assessment. All students receive full credit for taking the audition - so there is no need to be overly anxious. Each student will be assessed on the given materials, and all assessment notes will be shared freely so that students may learn something valuable from the process. Auditions will begin this week on Tuesday (with violins) and will continue as necessary. Violas, celli, bass, and yes, our pianist, will all then be heard.
I would encourage everyone to prepare as best they can so that they feel good about playing and are satisfied with their own individual preparation. We are looking for growth and development out of each and every student, regardless of your current level of experience. Audition materials have been attached below for your convenience.
As has been the case each year, the first semester final exam for all orchestra students will be an individual audition and assessment. All students receive full credit for taking the audition - so there is no need to be overly anxious. Each student will be assessed on the given materials, and all assessment notes will be shared freely so that students may learn something valuable from the process. Auditions will begin this week on Tuesday (with violins) and will continue as necessary. Violas, celli, bass, and yes, our pianist, will all then be heard.
I would encourage everyone to prepare as best they can so that they feel good about playing and are satisfied with their own individual preparation. We are looking for growth and development out of each and every student, regardless of your current level of experience. Audition materials have been attached below for your convenience.
| Final Exam Semester I, 2014-15 (PDF) |
She's Back!
Cellist Meta Weiss will be visiting Mira Mesa High School on Sunday, January 25th for a one-day only masterclass and performance.
You likely will remember Meta as one of the cellists from Break of Reality, who visited Mira Mesa High School last year as part of their nation-wide tour.
Joining Meta for the masterclass will be fellow cellist David Requiro. Both David and Meta have been selected to be Artists-in-Residence at the University of Puget Sound. The two of them will be in Los Angeles on Saturday, and asked if they could come spend the morning with us on Sunday here at Mira Mesa High School.
I am thrilled to have the opportunity to have the two of them on campus. The event will be held at 11:00 AM in the orchestra room on Sunday, January 25th. Musicians of all ages and chosen instruments are invited to attend this informal session.
Both Meta and David have built incredible resumes, and I want to thank both Meta and David for choosing to share their time and talents with us here at Mira Mesa!
For more on Meta and David you could: read this NPR article on David, check out this YouTube video of Meta playing Schumann's Three Romances, check out David's faculty page from the University of Puget Sound, or brush up on Meta's bio via her website.
Cellist Meta Weiss will be visiting Mira Mesa High School on Sunday, January 25th for a one-day only masterclass and performance.
You likely will remember Meta as one of the cellists from Break of Reality, who visited Mira Mesa High School last year as part of their nation-wide tour.
Joining Meta for the masterclass will be fellow cellist David Requiro. Both David and Meta have been selected to be Artists-in-Residence at the University of Puget Sound. The two of them will be in Los Angeles on Saturday, and asked if they could come spend the morning with us on Sunday here at Mira Mesa High School.
I am thrilled to have the opportunity to have the two of them on campus. The event will be held at 11:00 AM in the orchestra room on Sunday, January 25th. Musicians of all ages and chosen instruments are invited to attend this informal session.
Both Meta and David have built incredible resumes, and I want to thank both Meta and David for choosing to share their time and talents with us here at Mira Mesa!
For more on Meta and David you could: read this NPR article on David, check out this YouTube video of Meta playing Schumann's Three Romances, check out David's faculty page from the University of Puget Sound, or brush up on Meta's bio via her website.
Concert Resources
New music for our orchestra students is available. As is traditionally the case, I have updated the individual orchestra pages with recordings to aid students in their preparation.
New music for our orchestra students is available. As is traditionally the case, I have updated the individual orchestra pages with recordings to aid students in their preparation.
- Concert Orchestra - Recordings available for March of the Meistersingers, Loch Lomond, and Labyrinth.
- Symphony Orchestra - Recordings available for Folk Tune and Fiddle Dance, Rhosymedre, and the finale (fourth movement) from Tchakovsky's Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64.
Tchaikovsky Resource Center
A resource center for Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64 is now available.
A resource center for Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64 is now available.
This resource center includes:
We have an amazing opportunity at hand. Please use your resources wisely, and work diligently, in order to make this the best experience possible!
- Bowed Strings Parts - For the symphony in it's entirely, courtesy of the Seattle Symphony (MANY thanks to them for sharing)
- Reference Recordings - Access to the impeccable recording of the work, as performed by the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra under esteemed conductor Yevgeny Mravinsky.
- Video Reference #1 - Another 'take' on the Symphony as offered by one of the world's finest orchestras, the Vienna Philharmonic, under the direction of conducting supernova Herbert von Karajan.
- Video Reference #2 - Take a look at the incredible musicians of the Garfield High School Orchestra, as they perform the finale from this incredible work under the keen eye of their amazing teacher, Mr. Marcus Tsutakawa 'Tsut'.
We have an amazing opportunity at hand. Please use your resources wisely, and work diligently, in order to make this the best experience possible!
Pit Rehearsals
Pit rehearsals for the Mira Mesa High School production of Thoroughly Modern Millie will continue this week. Please check with Mrs. C or visit our calendar for schedule information.
For individual show times and ticketing information please visit the Mira Mesa Theatre website.
Pit rehearsals for the Mira Mesa High School production of Thoroughly Modern Millie will continue this week. Please check with Mrs. C or visit our calendar for schedule information.
For individual show times and ticketing information please visit the Mira Mesa Theatre website.
Shop with Scrip
You can support our students and program simply by buying groceries, filling your gas tank, shopping on Amazon.com, or heading to the mall!
Shop with Scrip gift cards are available at face value, with each company making a small donation to our program. The most recent order for has been attached below and is due by January 22nd.
You may also shop online at the Shop with Scrip site. From there you can purchase digital gift cards, reload an exhausted card, or browse for deals that offer the most 'bang' for your 'buck'. Online orders may be placed at any time.
Signing up for PrestoPay is easy (even I was able to do it without an issue). Thank you for your support!
For those who are new, here is the Shop with Scrip information (which includes our enrollment code) and an overview of the program, as provided by one of our fabulous orchestra parents!
You can support our students and program simply by buying groceries, filling your gas tank, shopping on Amazon.com, or heading to the mall!
Shop with Scrip gift cards are available at face value, with each company making a small donation to our program. The most recent order for has been attached below and is due by January 22nd.
You may also shop online at the Shop with Scrip site. From there you can purchase digital gift cards, reload an exhausted card, or browse for deals that offer the most 'bang' for your 'buck'. Online orders may be placed at any time.
Signing up for PrestoPay is easy (even I was able to do it without an issue). Thank you for your support!
For those who are new, here is the Shop with Scrip information (which includes our enrollment code) and an overview of the program, as provided by one of our fabulous orchestra parents!
| Support Our Orchestra | Shop with Scrip | January 2015 (PDF) |
