Mesquite High School Orchestra

As many of you know, there are some great events and activities in preparation right now with the orchestras. Your students are working very hard on their pieces, and in addition we have some extra things to make note of. Please be sure to read this email carefully, and remind your student of their responsibility in order to make these events great.

Booster Meeting 1/20- There is an executive board meeting for the orchestra board at 6:30, then the general meeting will be at 7:00pm. Important topics include upcoming Texas Roadhouse Strings Extravaganza (including silent auction), Carnegie Hall Debut concert, upcoming See’s candy fundraiser, corporate sponsorship, and much more! We need parents who will come and voice their opinion and volunteer! Please consider joining us for a great (quick) evening while supporting your students!

Texas Roadhouse Strings Extravaganza 2/2- This will be a great evening of good food provided by Texas Roadhouse, a wonderful silent auction and basket auction featuring awesome deals, great music provided by the strolling strings (at dinner) and the Symphony orchestra along with our “feeder” 6th grade programs and Mesquite Junior High. The festival concert starts after the dinner portion and will be under one hour in length.

All MHS Orchestra students are responsible for selling at least 5 tickets to the dinner, and we will have the orchestra families from Islands, Playa Del Rey, Oak Tree, Gilbert El, and MJHS school joining us at dinner and for the concert. This is a huge fundraisier for our students, and a very important recruitment tool to keep our future program strong! Order forms went home with the students last week and are attached in this email as well. The forms with payment are due no later than 1/29. The dinner cost is $12 in advance, $14 at the door and features a menu of BBQ Chicken or Pulled Pork, Baked Potato, Dinner Salad, Rolls with Honey Butter, Dessert and Beverage. In addition each dinner ticket includes a drawing to win a Sam Club Gift Surprise.

In addition, students from MHS Orchestras are asked to donate an item towards the basket auction. The items can be anything to do with the basket “theme”, including gift certificates, but must be school appropriate. The donation categories are:

1st Violin-Sweetheart/Valentine
2nd Violin-Spa
Viola- Game Night/Family Night
Cello-Breakfast/Brunch
Bass- Movie Night

We have already received amazing products for these baskets and we will be giving these baskets to the highest bidders the night of the Extravaganza so be sure to bid on the one you want!

Carnegie Hall Debut Concert 2/24- This is a special Engagement Preview Concert for the Symphonic Strings trip to New York. The group will perform the repertoire they will be performing in Carnegie Hall for family, friends, and community supporters. There will also be a cake reception following the performance provided by Cathy’s Rum Cake Worldwide. The concert will be held on Wednesday, February 24th at 7:00pm in the Ballroom of Villa Siena (890 W. Elliot Road Suite 104, Gilbert AZ) Tickets will be sold starting February 1st for $10 each. This is a first come, first serve event and we only have 350 seats available so please make sure you buy your tickets in advance. We will also be accepting donations for the trip the night of the performance.

We are also accepting Corporate sponsorships for the Symphonic Strings trip and have sent out letters to local businesses for their help. If you know of a business that would be open to sponsoring our students please print out the attached sponsor letter and give it to them. We have sponsorships at the $100, $250, and $500 levels.

Regional Auditions and Solo & Ensemble Festival 1/29-30 – Please check with your individual students as they prepare for these festivals. All students participating received their individual performance times and these times are posted in the orchestra room as well. Students are to dress in nice attire, bring their I.D. with them, and provide their own transportation to and from the event. The event is located at Highland High School. Results of the Festivals will be given the following Monday.

Thank you for your support of the MHS Orchestras and please contact me if you have any further questions!

Amber Dudley
Director of Orchestras
Mesquite High School

We now have letters ready to be passed out to anyone who owns a business and is willing to help our students. We have limited time and are in need of more funds to help make this trip possible.