January 23-24, 2026 – Regional Auditions – specific times emailed
January 29th, 2026 – ASU School of Music Performance
Our orchestra will be visiting the ASU School of Music to attend a performance by the ASU Chamber Orchestra, along with a professional string quartet, The Harlem Quartet. This ensemble performs a wide variety of music, ranging from classical to jazz and Latin styles. You can watch a video of them here: Harlem Quartet
The field trip will take place on Thursday, January 29th. We will depart campus at 9:30 AM and return at approximately 1:20 PM. The concert itself runs from 10:30-11:30 AM. After the performance, we will walk to the ASU Student Memorial Union for lunch. Students who plan to purchase lunch on campus should bring money; otherwise, they are welcome to bring a packed lunch.
Please note that only students who are currently passing all of their classes are eligible to attend this field trip.
January 30th, 2026 – AMEA performance
Our American Music Educators Association (AMEA) performance is coming up quickly on Friday, January 30th, and we are very excited for this important opportunity for our students. The performance will take place at the Mesa Convention Center (263 N. Center St., Mesa, AZ 85201).
We will depart campus at 7:00 AM and return at approximately 12:45 PM. This performance is open to the public, so please feel free to invite family members, friends, and neighbors. It is always wonderful for our students to see familiar, supportive faces in the audience. Audience doors will open at 9:15 AM, and the performance will begin at 9:30 AM.
Our orchestra will be first on the program, performing the opening 30 minutes. Following our performance, the Corona del Sol Wind Ensemble will perform the second half of the concert. Students are required to remain for the entire performance so that we can also support their musical endeavors, just as they will be in attendance listening and supporting our orchestra as well.
This is a required performance for our students, and a tremendous honor to be chosen for the AMEA state music educators’ conference. Administrators from our school, as well as district administrators and school board members, will be in attendance as well. Our students have been working extremely hard, and I have been pushing them to prepare thoroughly so we can perform at our very best. Please encourage your child to practice at home. Our performance will include selections from first quarter, along with several new pieces. Additionally, I am excited to let you know that your students will be working with two guest clinicians this month-Dr. Walt Temme (retired educator, Phoenix Youth Symphony Conductor, and current director of orchestras at CGCC) and Bill Bitter (retired educator, retired Metropolitan Youth Symphony conductor, and in demand clinician throughout the US),-who will help us further refine our sound. I am very excited for our students to have this opportunity.
The concert will conclude at 10:30 AM. Afterward, we will travel to Organ Stop Pizza for lunch before returning to campus around 12:45 PM to CELEBRATE all of our student’s hard work!
Students are expected to wear their full concert uniform, including dress shoes for this event.