Throughout the year, I’ll be updating this page with announcements, upcoming events, and other information. I'll be sending an email to families when it is updated. Please reach out if you have any questions or need clarification.

Carley Gerdes - carley.gerdes@nhcs.net

Calendar of Events ● AHS Orchestra Handbook

Contract Reminder✍️

This is a reminder to everyone that I need the handbook and orchestra contract filled out and returned. The getting that sheet signed is a completion grade for your student, so until those get returned, your student will have a 0 for that assignment. 

The green instrument check-out form will need to be signed and returned for all cello and bass students, and any violin or viola students who are using a school instrument. 

All County Permission Slips have gone home! I need these by Monday in order for your student to participate. 

The dates for All County are as follows:

• • Monday, October 19th 7:30PM-9:00PM - Rehearsal at Hoggard High School

  • Friday, October 23rd during the school day - clinic at Minnie Evans Arts Center

  • Saturday, October 24th 8:30AM - clinic at Minnie Evans, concert at 2:00PM

In order to participate in All County:

• • Students are required to attend all three dates above.

  • No ISS/OSS/Detention between now and the event.

  • Students will audition in person at the Monday night rehearsal. This audition will be used to determine seating within the orchestra.

You may have received an emial from me recently about an advocacy effort that the NHCS Orchestra teachers are organizing. That message was sent by all of the orchestra directors and was to raise awareness to the state of the orchestra programs in the county. To be transparent with everyone, the middle school orchestra programs county-wide have been getting smaller and smaller due to many factors. Over the last few years, when an orchestra teacher leaves to retire, move, etc, the county has chosen to spread the teachers over multiple schools or multiple subjects, rather than hiring a new teacher to fill the role. However, if there isn't a teacher willing or able to do that... a program may be at risk of being cut completely. We want the county to understand that orchestra is important to our community, and that it is worth the time, money, and effort it will take to grow our programs! 

I have received an overwhelming amount of support from many students and families. Thank you to everyone who wrote a testimony for me to share, the voices of NHCS students and families are extremely important in this effort.

If you would like more specific information about how to support us, let me know!

This is a reminder about the required dress code for concerts. If you have not ordered your attire yet, I encourage you to do so ASAP. Depending on shipping times, sizing, etc, it is best to go ahead and get it taken care of.

If you have trouble getting proper attire for your student, let me know ASAP and I will help get what you need. I am also happy to answer questions or provide approval on concert attire options before purchasing.

As a reminder, here are the concert attire options:

Here are three websites that offer great dress options and full-package tuxes.

• https://www.concertattire.com/   

• https://formalfashionsinc.com/ 

• https://sepapparel.com/ 

October  

• Monday, Oct 12 - Fall Fundraiser Begins 

• Monday, Oct 19 - All County Orchestra Rehearsal 

• Friday, Oct 23 - Saturday, Oct 24 - All County Orchestra Clinic 

• Wednesday, Oct 28 - Fall Orchestra Concert 

November  

• Monday, Nov 1 - Fall Fundraiser Ends 

• Friday, Nov 13 – Busch Gardens agreement form & deposit due 

December  

• Wednesday, Dec 16 - Winter Orchestra Concert  

January  

• Saturday, Jan 9 - Eastern Regional Orchestra Auditions 

February  

• Friday, Feb 26 & Saturday, Feb 27 – Eastern Regional Orchestra Clinic and Concert 

March  

• Monday, Mar 1 - NHCS Orchestra Festival 

• Wednesday, Mar 10 - Pre-MPA Orchestra Concert 

• Monday, Mar 15 or Tuesday, Mar 16 (TBA) - Eastern Regional Orchestra MPA 

April  

• Friday, April 9 – Final Busch Gardens payment & permission slip due 

• Saturday, April *** – Busch Gardens trip

May   

• Tuesday, May 18 - Spring Orchestra Concert 

June 

• Friday, Jun 4 - Last Day of School 

For event descriptions, click here.