Please save the dates to mark your calendar to attend the following four concerts.
All GMS Strings concerts will be held in the Graham Auditorium starting at 7pm :
FALL CONCERT, Tuesday, Oct. 27th, 2026
WINTER CONCERT, Tuesday, Dec. 8th, 2026
SPRING CONCERT, Wednesday, March 24th, 2027
END OF YEAR/FINALE CONCERT, Wednesday, May 19th, 2027
Other important concerts:
CALIFORNIA ALL-STATE MUSIC EDUCATION CONFERENCE, CASMEC Open Space Ensemble Concert (Advanced Guitar Students only) Saturday, Jan. 16th, 2027, Sacramento, CA.
CALIFORNIA MUSIC EDUCATORS FESTIVAL CONCERT, CMEA (Orchestra students only), Saturday, March 6th, 2027, at Graham Middle School.
TOUR TRIP (only for Advanced groups only), Friday-Sunday, April 16th-19th, 2027, Anaheim, California.
Appropriate student concert attire is an essential part of demonstrating professionalism and stage presence in concerts.
Students will be expected to complete a concert attire assignment with the help of the parent/guardian. (The student's assignment will be posted in the google classroom)
Formal (all black) – slacks or a dress/skirt (CALF to floor length), long-sleeved dress shirt (tucked in) or modest, dressy top with sleeves to elbow or longer, belt, black socks or back tights (no ankles showing), dressy closed-toed shoes (1½ inch height heels or less); clean and well-groomed appearance.
Casual Attire – black collared polo shirt, black slacks or solid black jeans (not grey-washed, no holes), OR long black or denim skirt, close-toed black shoes (1½ inch height heels or less), well-groomed appearance.
"Required” performances are mandatory and will only be excused for emergencies such illness, a serious family emergency, or religious holiday or extenuating circumstances approved by the orchestra teacher. All Graham sponsored concerts are required performances. Approval for non-emergency absences requires a parent/guardian emailing 2 weeks prior to the performance. Approval will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Make-up assignments for excused performance absences are due before the end of the trimester in which the performance occurred.
The parents/guardians attendance and support are extremely meaningful to students. All concerts are required, so helping students to prepare for concert attire and concert ettiquette in addition to their learning performance strategies will provide the way for students to enjoy their performance, share their learning, overcome any stage fright, and take pride in their work in front of peers, staff, and parents/guardians. Students and families are expected to stay for the entire duration of the concert except for illness or death in the family or other family emergency. Please communicate at least one week advance any work obligations or situations in which the parent/guardian needs to leave early. We thank you in advance for your presence at the concert since the attendance of students, parent/guardians, teachers, administrators, friends, and members of our community at our concert makes our shared appreciation of music and musical journey even more special!
Silence all cell phones and electronic devices prior to the performance. Cell phones can interfere with wireless microphones and recording equipment, as well as creating unwanted noise.
Please remain seated and quiet during the performance.
Only enter or exit during applause between works or before the musical selection starts.
If very young children become restless and disrupt others' ability to listen, please take them from the auditorium until they are quiet.
Please refrain from talking during the performance.
Please show your appreciation for the performance by clapping after each selection.
Please give a standing ovation for an outstanding performance.
Arrive at the assigned concert time in concert uniform.
Pay attention to the conductor.
Be attentive and respect the silence when on stage.
Listen to the other performing groups for the purpose of giving positive feedback and learning.
Watch what other performing groups do well and what can be improved.
Wait to applause after the musical piece is completely finished.
Respect the performers by being a silent, attentive listener when you are in the audience (avoid distracting with cheering and whistling).
Take all performance materials and equipment especially music off stage when you leave the stage.
Be aware of your instrument, music, and surroundings. Put your instrument away only when given instructions by the chaperones.
Respect and follow the instructions of the chaperones backstage before going on and when coming back off stage.