Please check on a weekly basis for the most up to date news and changes
Website Updated: December 18, 2025
Check out the Gallery for pictures of our 4th annual International Christmas Potluck on December 17. Thank you so much for your participation. The food selection was amazing. Please extend a Big thank you to your parents as well. Looking forward to our end of school year spring potluck in May 2026.
Wonderful winter concert, everyone. Thank you for your hard work and dedication
LGPE AUDIO IS POSTED START LISTENING AND PRACTICING
Upcoming Performances/dates
Saturday, January 10, 2026 All State, Final Audition.
Riverwood International Charter School, located at 5900 Raider Dr, Sandy Springs, GA 30328
Finalists, you need to practice your audition material a minimum of 1 hour a day
to even have a chance to get into the ALL STATE ORCHESTRA!!!
State audition music, info/map/directions here:https://www.gmea.org/aso-audition-information
February…TBA Whitewater Orchestra Festival (7th and 8th grade students)
Wednesday, March 4 Large Group Performance Evaluation (LGPE)
(7th and 8th grade students) Location: Carver HS. Time TBA.
Tuesday, March 24 Beginning Orchestra Festival (BOF).
Only 1st year students. Location: Hardaway HS. $10.00 registration fee
Monday May 4, Dress Rehearsal (regular dress code) for the Spring Concert (Gym?)
3:15- 4:30pm Beginner group - Gym All must be present!
4:30 - 6:00pm Intermediate/advanced group - All must be present Gym
Students need to be present 10 minutes before rehearsal and stay 5 minutes to clean up after the 6 pm rehearsal!
Tuesday May 5, 2025 at 6 pm. Spring Concert
All students! All students. Location: Richards Gym. Students need to stay after the concert and help clean up!
Concert Dress Code at all concerts:
Each student has to be wearing the following for all concerts:
Black dress shoes – no tennis shoes
Black dress socks/stockings – no white socks
Black dress pants/skirt (covering the knees)
White dress button up shirt – no low cuts for the ladies, no logos
Violation of the dress code will result in no performance and a lowered grade.
New Orchestra Students:
click here to watch this video and see a little of what we do in orchestra. It also helps in choosing an instrument, if you don't know what you would like to play yet.
a little bit from our syllabus....
Dear Parents:
All students interested in taking orchestra classes must first obtain permission from their parents. In doing so, the parents must be in agreement to accept all responsibilities for any damages that may occur to any school owned instruments. Most of the larger instruments (cello and bass) are provided by the district, however violins and violas are a few; therefore it is highly recommended to purchase or rent your own instrument. For sizing your child for an instrument, please stop by Baker Music or Everything Musical store. It is a free service.
Parents are expected to purchase some materials that are needed throughout the course.
The method book is: “Essential Elements for strings” By Hal Leonard
(Violin, viola, cello, bass, depending on the instrument being played)
The method book can be purchased at Baker Music Store, Everything Musical or amazon.com
Beginner orchestra students need book 1 once instrument is decided on (book is orange)
Returning Intermediate 7th grade students need book 2
Returning Advanced 8th grade students need book 3
Books must be purchased by August 18, 2025 otherwise grade points will be deducted
Concert Dress Code
Each student has to be wearing the following for all concerts:
Black dress shoes – no tennis shoes
Black dress socks/stockings – no white socks
Black dress pants/skirt (covering the knees)
White dress button up shirt – no low cuts for the ladies, no logos
Parents, students need to take their instruments home and practice daily, otherwise a pop test
will be administered the next day.
Cellos need to go home on weekends if daily is not possible.
Bass, whenever possible, given its large size, and vehicle limitations.
This is being enforced as of Friday August 15.
Orchestra is a performance based class, therefore:
After school rehearsals are a mandatory part of being in any orchestra.
The rehearsals incorporate all sections of the orchestra, so that all parts of the music are covered at the same time. We use these crucial times for concert and festival preparation, school functions or any last minute invitations to perform for an event.
Orchestra supply list 2025-2026 (prices are based on average online pricing)
Due Date August 18
1. Pencil, Eraser
2. Method Book (Essential Elements for strings, about $10.00)
3. Rosin ($5.00-$12.00)
4. A 3 ring binder with protective sleeves for sheet music ( black preferred)
5. Stopper for cellos and bass ($7.00-$20.00)
6. Shoulder rest for violins and violas ($12.00-$30.00)
7. An extra set of strings and rosin, as they will break!
8. If using a free school instrument we request that you consider purchasing your own bow!
$35.00-$100.00. The larger the instrument the more the bow costs.
9. When using a school instrument, on violins, violas and cellos we request that you cover the cost of a new string set (yearly) for optimal sound performance and safety $20.00-50.00
10. Daily Dose of Positive attitude
Places to shop in Columbus:
Baker Music Shop, #2 Midtown Loop, (706) 563-7924
Everything Musical, 2400 W. Britt David Road, (706) 323-1809
Places to shop online for best price guarantee (they do rentals too):
Sharmusic.com and Swstrings.com
Please do not purchase instruments from Amazon or Ebay without consulting with me first. Most instruments are junk and you will regret your purchase.
Orchestra room “free will” supply list.
We depend on you for this
1. Large hand sanitizer
2. Large box tissue paper with lotion (Kleenex, Puffs)
3. Large box of disinfecting wet wipes
4. Cloth cleaning rags (clean, cut up old T-shirts work too)
5. "NOW" essential oils (EO) for our room diffuser (this is a natural and healthy alternative to wall plug-ins which are chemically based and harmful). You are always safe with any mint or citrus family EO. Seasonal EOs are always welcome also.
Thank you so much in advance for keeping us germ free and keeping our instruments looking new.
Please ensure that your child is practicing daily at home. Our success depends on each
student practicing diligently, every day, at home. All the pieces have audio files on our website for playback purpose as well as play-along.
Please share our Orchestra Donorschoose projects website:
https://www.donorschoose.org/classroom/7995313
ARCHIVES
Wednesday, December 17 International Potluck during each class period.
More info via email comin soon.
Please bring a dish for sharing, that best represents your culture.
Remember, we do authentic food, not the usual chips/cookies/sodas we get everyday....
(check our gallery tab for past favorite dishes...)
Tuesday December 2 at 6:00pm
Winter Concert at RMS Gym, 6:00pm - Concert black and white dress code. ALL STUDENTS
Students need to go home and return to the orchestra room at 5:30pm, in concert black and white dress code (orchestra back door).
Students need to stay after the concert and help clean up/move stands and chair back to the orchestra room. (About 5 minutes)
Monday December 1
All orchestra Dress rehearsal(not in concert clothes)
3:30- 4:30pm Beginner group All must be present!
4:30- 6:00pm Intermediate/Advanced group All must be present! Please be on time for pickup.
Great performance at the IB Gala Open House. Thank you for your hard work!
Wednesday November 19 t at 6pm
- IB Gala performance - Concert attire
Winter Concert audio and sheet music is posted
You should be able to play each song with a few mistakes at this point.
PRACTICE SLOWLY! 2 improve quickly
Orchestra Merch Store is now open till November 17
Saturday November 8 at 7:30pm
Columbus Symphony Orchestra Concert ( The CSO is sponsoring RMS as guests with FREE tickets) An opportunity to watch and listen to Professional musicians and music. All orchestra students and their parents are invited. This is an opportunity you don't want to miss.
Congratulations YOGC students on your first concert
of the season! Great performance!
Tuesday October 28- NO AFTERSCHOOL REHEARSAL
due to YOGC concert performance. If you can, please come and support our wonderful
musicians perform. Attendance is FREE!
Georgia All State finalists:
Congratulations Nuri, Nathan and Imon for passing the District level. Sate level is on January 10. Good luck!
Saturday October 25- ALL STATE District level audition at Northside HS
Congratulations Honor Orchestra Musicians and thank you for a Great Concert. Excellent way to represent RMS!
District Honor Orchestra seating auditions
Friday October 17 - HONOR ORCHESTRA rehearsal 6:00-8:00 NHS Be seater 15 minutes prior
Saturday OCTOBER 18 - HONOR ORCHESTRA rehearsal9:00-12:00
(be seated 15 minute prior)
rehearsal 1:30-2:45 ( in concert clothes).
Concert 3:30-5:00 FREE ATTENDANCE NHS AUDITORIUM
Special Congratulations to :
Micah Hampton for making Concert Master!!!
Daniel Yao for making principal 2nd violin
Latin Fair: Congratulations and thank you for your wonderful performance on October 8
Everyone loved your music! Keep practicing!
Wednesday, October 8, LATIN FAIR performance: 6th, 7th and 8th grade select students
4:30-5:00pm Across the cafeteria. Dress code: jeans and school T-shirts, or warm colors
(yellows, oranges, reds).
Tuesday, October 7 , afterschool rehearsal only for the Latin Fair performers
Thursday September 25 - HONOR ORCHESTRA first rehearsal and chair audition
5:00-7:30 NHS
Wednesday September 10 -Deadline for ALL STATE Auditions registration
payments on mypaymentsplus
Monday September 8- YOGC ACADEMY rehearsals begin.
Friday September 5 - HONOR ORCHESTRA registration deadline.
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Youth Orchestra Of Greater Columbus - YOGC auditions and sign up for 2025-26 season. Click the logo.
