Kenosha Unified School District’s 62nd annual Orchestra Festival will be presented on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at Indian Trail High School and Academy. This event will showcase nearly 1,300 elementary, middle, high and charter school orchestra students.
Tickets for field house seating are SOLD OUT. If you need tickets, please contact Amanda Marquez (Fine Arts Department @ ESC) by calling: 262-359-6388
The event will also be streamed live on the district’s YouTube channel. Guests may watch the live stream for free without a ticket in the Indian Trail auditorium - first come first serve seating.
James Mick, PhD, is Professor of Music Education at Ithaca College in upstate New York. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in string pedagogy, orchestral rehearsal techniques, instrumental conducting, and the psychology of music teaching and learning. In 2020, Dr. Mick was awarded Ithaca College’s Faculty Excellence Award.
In the event of severe weather, families should check the district’s website, Channel 20 and social media, as well as other various local news and radio stations, for changes in the schedule of activities slated to take place throughout the weekend of the festival.
5th grade students will be grouped up in front of the auditorium doors after the performance.
Middle school students should plan with their families on a good pick-up location. Staff will not be available to help locate parents or students after the performance.
As we prepare for Orchestra Fest, students will participate in additional rehearsals prior to the performance. These rehearsals will bring grade-level orchestras together district-wide to rehearse as large ensembles and ensure a strong, unified performance. Please plan for students to arrive 10 minutes early to allow time for setup and tuning so we can begin promptly.
Families will choose one location/day and attend both rehearsals:
Mondays, 3/9 + 3/16
Washington, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Tuesdays, 3/10 + 3/17
Lance, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Wednesdays, 3/11 + 3/18
Mahone, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Thursdays, 3/12 + 3/19
Bullen, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
March 12 @ Tremper
6:30pm - 7:45pm
February 21 @ Bradford
8:00am - 1:00pm
March 20 @ Ruth Harman
7:30am - 8:45am
(with guest conductor)
On Saturday, March 21, all orchestra students will have a morning rehearsal followed by an evening performance. Ruth Harman 5th graders will be split into instrumental homerooms, while the middle schoolers will all be in the upper gym.
MORNING REHEARSAL SCHEDULE
6th Grade - 7:45am - 10:00am
5th Grade - 8:30am - 10:00am
7th & 8th Grade - 10:00am - 12:30pm
EVENING PERFORMANCE
All students are to report to their homerooms at 5:30pm to tune and get seated. Students need to bring their instrument, accessories and music! 5th grade musicians will not have assigned seating, while middle school musicians will.