About the Program
East High School is proud to offer orchestra. The Iowa High School Music Association sanctions our high school orchestra festivals and events. The orchestra has been steadily growing in numbers in recent years. This year, the orchestra has its highest enrollment in East High history. Through involvement in orchestra, students learn valuable life skills including teamwork, concentration and focus, and confidence.
Participants
The East High Orchestra includes strings and band students in grades 9-12, most of whom have been participating in Orchestra since fourth grade.
Students in Action
Purpose
The purpose of Orchestra is to provide an enriching experience that explores orchestral repertoire in all time periods.
Rehearsal
The Orchestra rehearses every other day during 1st block.
Events
The Orchestra performs at many events, including the EHS homecoming coronation, a holiday tour, and the EHS graduation ceremony. In addition, the following events are special events for orchestra students.
Madrigal Dinner – The East High School choir department puts on an annual Madrigal dinner—which has been in existence for nearly 40 years. The choir department collaborates with the drama club and orchestra in order to make this event a success!
USD Symphonic Clinic – Each year, the USD’s Symphonic Band and its directors provide a clinic for nearly 300 high school musicians. Students perform for the college musicians who give them tips to improve their playing.
Annual Fall EHS Symphonic Orchestra Concert – The East High full symphonic orchestra puts on an annual concert featuring various wind, brass, and percussion players from the East High band.
Concerto Aria Concert- A unique event which offers the opportunity for any student to play a solo with the orchestra, regardless of the level. The repertoire ranges from early Renaissance to the present. Two pieces are written especially for EHS as a world premiere.
Sioux City Symphony Orchestra Principal Players Program – Middle and high school students who participate in the Principal Players Program receive additional instruction and guidance from the lead string players of the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra.
Honors Orchestras and Festivals – Students can also choose to prepare, audition, and participate in honors orchestras and festivals. These events include, but are not limited to, the Iowa All-State Festival, the Northwest Iowa Honors Orchestra, the Dorian Orchestra Festival, the University of South Dakota Orchestra Festival, the Iowa String Teachers Association Orchestra Festival, and the IHSMA Solo and Ensemble Festival.
View Upcoming Orchestra Events
Celebrating Success
The Orchestra, as well as the students who perform solos and in ensembles, have received Superior and Excellent ratings at contests. The students have many opportunities to attend professional orchestra concerts in Omaha, Lincoln, and Kansas City as well as masterclasses at all three Iowa universities. Students have also benefited from participation in Skype sessions award winning composers.
Recently, East High was one of only three orchestras invited to perform at the UNI Orchestra Invitational.
Meet the Director
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- Eleanor May-Patterson
- maye@live.siouxcityschools.com