FAQs

If your child decides to audition, a fee is due.  The fee ranges between $25 – $30 for each event.

Regionals Audition and Performance:

A fee is assessed to cover the costs of the venue and judges. It is typically $30. If a student is invited to join the Regional Orchestra or Band performance, there is an additional fee that is required for participation. It is also typically $30.

All State Audition and Performance:

The fee is normally $30 per audition. Only students who performed at Regionals are eligible to audition for All State.

Students who are selected to play in the All State Orchestra performance do not have to pay a performance fee. The Boosters cover this fee for the students as a recognition of their excellence. Depending on district funding and location, families may be asked to cover some expenses associated with travel. This is new in the 2026-2027 school year and amounts will be communicated as soon as possible.

Solo/Ensemble:

Soloist are responsible for the entire fee, usually $25. If an ensemble is playing, the fee is assessed once per group and the group can decide how to divide the payment. It is usually around $10-$12.50/person. Those who are invited to perform in Tier 2 will need to pay an additional fee, which is typically the same amount as the initial audition fee.

Payment:

Please send a check or cash to the Boosters or pay online here.  Fundraising proceeds can also be applied to any of these fees by emailing our Treasurer and asking to have the proceeds applied.

Strolling Strings is a group of CVHS musicians that are active members in Concert Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, or Symphonic Strings in grades 9-12. These musicians memorize their music and use their talents and skills in the community. Our students have played the National Anthem at assemblies and Gilbert Town events and performed in the community at Solera Ladies Club luncheons, holiday events (e.g., Gilbert Rotary Club Annual Holiday breakfast) and ZooLights, and at assisted living communities near CVHS. We also partner with our on-campus preschool.

Strolling Strings meets during A hour, but there is NO extra orchestra class fees (just the one for your regular Orchestra Ensemble class). However, all students are responsible for purchasing their own uniforms, which range from $54 (for gentleman) to $81 (for ladies). Students own this uniform for the remainder of their school career and many sell their uniforms to underclassmen when they graduate. If a student cannot afford a uniform, but really wants to be in Strolling Strings, financial assistance is available.

Is there an audition?

No audition is necessary. The only prerequisite is that the student be concurrently enrolled in Concert Orchestra I, Concert Orchestra II (Chamber), or Symphonic Strings.

Why take Strolling Strings?

From former CVHS students:

“I think people should join strolling because it is awesome to be able to go out into the community and play for different audiences and in different settings off stage. It’s also really nice that it is a smaller class than our other orchestras because the group is a lot closer, and you get to form deeper bonds than you do in the larger ensembles.” – Haley Kruse, Alumni 2019

“Strolling Strings is a truly amazing class—it’s where I made many of my first friendships in high school and where we are able to spread even more joy through the music we play.” – Rebecca Orillo, Alumni 2019

Last, but not least, we receive donations as a result of a few of our community gigs. These donations help keep the program free for students to participate in.

All students are encouraged to work towards this distinction, beginning in their first year of Orchestra. This program recognizes high school students who have demonstrated high levels of proficiency in the Arizona Arts Education Standards through personal expression and creative experiences in arts education programs at the time of graduation. The Seal is placed on their diploma and noted on their transcript (may take up to 90 days after graduation to post). Specific requirements here.

Here are some additional opportunities to play in our community.

Gilbert Town Fiddlers

Metropolitan Youth Symphony

Youth Symphony of the Southwest

100% of the fees you pay go directly back to your child and our Orchestra program.

$40 Orchestra Booster Uniform fee – this pays for an annual orchestra t-shirt and dry cleaning for their assigned uniform. It also helps cover the cost of special sheet music, clinicians, and other costs associated with orchestra performance. You can pay by check or cash to the orchestra dropbox box in the director’s office OR via credit card on this website. (There are processing fees.)

$25 per semester Orchestra class fee – this pays for music purchases, competition fees, transportation costs, basic instrument needs and more. You can pay by check or cash at the book store OR via credit card online via Infinite Campus.

Student Specific events will help students raise funds for their own Orchestra activities. We hold these funds in “escrow” for the students to use as they wish for any Orchestra events, trips, or auditions. Funds will never be disbursed directly to the student. Boosters disburse these funds on behalf of the student at the parent’s request to the vendor asking for payment. Any remaining funds at graduation will be rolled into the Booster General Fund. 

Examples of this kind of fundraiser are: Car Wash pre-sale, Salsa Love sales, Swig Card sales, and ButterBraid sales. Students receive a percentage of each item sold as a credit in their Orchestra Booster account. These events are subject to change annually.

All other fundraisers will go into the Booster General Fund to support the Orchestra as needed and as outlined in our bylaws. Student Specific Fundraisers will be explicitly described as such and the portion retained by the student detailed in the information about the fundraiser.

Check out other ways to support us here.

The maximum allowable credit for contributions to Public School Tax Credit organizations is $200 for single, married filing separately, and heads of household filers, or $400 for married filing jointly.

This is a dollar-for-dollar program where the amount donated is directly removed from your state tax liability total. Claiming the donation is done on your annual tax return. Think of it like pre-paying a portion of your tax bill, but the check is given to the school, not the state treasurer.

You and anyone who wishes to donate on your child’s behalf can donate. The boosters will track and apply the tax credit balance to the child’s account, and you will email Treasurer@CampoVerdeOrchestras.org to have the credits applied to an obligation.

Use this link to send in your Tax Credit Donation.

Parents can contribute through their Infinite Campus sign in. 

All others should use the Community Donation option. Select Campo Verde High school –> Orchestra Tax Credit –> Student’s Name.