Welcome

Important Dates and Times!

Tue-Thu, 5/19-5/21: Finals 5&6, 3&4, 7&8 (seniors only)
Wed, 5/20: Practice for students attending State Solo and Ensemble (details below)
Fri, 5/22: Finals 1&2 (all grades)
Mon, 5/25: Holiday (Memorial Day)
Mon, 5/25 (1-5 pm): State Solo and Ensemble at the University of Texas (details below) 
Tue-Thu, 5/26-5/28: Finals 5&6, 3&4, 7&8 (except seniors)
Fri, 5/29: Summer Break
6/2-8/9: String Ensemble Chamber Music Program for Advanced Players at Austin Community College (details below)
Thu, 6/18: Deadline to complete the Austin ISD Budget Comment Card (details below)
6/21-6/26: String camp at Texas State University (details below) 
8/3-8/7 (9 am-noon): Summer camp for all orchestra students (details below)

Helpful Links and Info

• Private Lessons
• Scholarships
• Corporate Sponsors
• Fees, Instruments, and Uniform Requirements

Orchestra Uniforms

All students (including seniors) should have taken their uniforms home after the last concert to have them professionally cleaned and then returned back to school by Friday, May 15th. The uniforms must be returned with the tag and plastic bag from the dry cleaner. Students who do not have their uniforms professionally cleaned and prefer to have the orchestra take care of this must pay a $25 cleaning fee.

Students may pay the $25 cleaning fee by cash or check make out to the Austin High Orchestra Booster. Students who do not fulfill their uniform obligation will be placed on the obligation list that will need to be cleared before taking the class final.

If students are using a school instrument please bring the instrument back for inventory of the instrument before the end of the year and a $60.00 check (or cash) for the yearly usage fee.

State Solo and Ensemble Information

Practices for orchestra students attending State Solo and Ensemble will be on Wednesday, May 20th. The State Solo and Ensemble contest will be held at the University of Texas on Monday, May 25th, from 1:00 to 5:00 pm. Students, please check the link for your time and room number for State, as well as practice time on Wednesday.

Click the tabs at the bottom of the link below:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1crSuc7GQ-DsvQh-gbvdkpKZ18vY9kwDTT6yqkZKBXLg/edit?usp=sharing

Orchestra Summer Camp

Join us August 3rd through August 7th, from 9:00 am through noon, for a mandatory week-long, half-day camp for AHS orchestra students at Austin High. Students will work on music for the upcoming school year, get measured for performance attire, play games with friends, and more!  Additional information and the registration link is available here!

ACC Music Summer Camp

Austin Community College is hosting a Summer 2026 String Ensemble Chamber Music Program for Advanced players from June 2nd through August 9th on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm. Please email Dr. Jose Flores for more information and registration (jose.flores@austincc.edu)

String Camp at Texas State University

Texas State University is hosting a string camp for orchestra students from June 21st through June 26th. Additional information regarding the camp and the link to register are available here!

Austin ISD Budget and Potential Budget Cuts (Link to Budget Comment Card Included)

On Monday, May 4th, Austin High faculty attended a meeting with Austin ISD trustee Lynn Boswell. The school district is facing serious funding issues for the 2026-2027 school year. As a result, the school district is looking at several options, including moving away from block scheduling, as well as cutting certain programs, such as fine arts. Parents and students who would like to have their voices heard and who wish to advocate for our fine arts programs should do the following:

1)  Complete the Austin ISD Budget Comment Card here by June 18th. Please note this is not the same survey families previously completed. The Austin ISD board will vote on the final plan at their meeting on June 18th.

2) Call and or write to Dr. Melvin Bedford, Austin High principal.  Ultimately, the decision of where to cut spending may fall to the principal of each AISD campus.  Therefore, parents should voice their support for our orchestra program to Dr. Bedford, as well as any other programs that are important to them. Please be polite, but earnest. Let the administration know what a positive impact the fine arts have had on your children, and how electives/extracurriculars may have influenced your decision to enroll at AHS. Dr. Bedford’s contact information is below:
512-414-2505 ext. 71615
melvin.bedford@austinisd.org

3) Call or write to the Austin ISD Board of Trustees.  Their contact information is below:
trustees@austinisd.org
Tel: (512) 414-2413

lynn.boswell@austinisd.org
AISD office address for all board members:
4000 S. I-H 35 Frontage Rd. Austin, TX 78704

4)  Attend Austin ISD Board meetings. Information regarding meetings is available here. Please also find additional budget information here.

Students that would also like to have their voices heard should similarly write to the principal and board of trustees. 

Adult Orchestra Volunteers

The orchestra relies on adult volunteers for different events throughout the year. If you are interested in volunteering or know you will be volunteering in the orchestra room and helping students, please submit an application on the AISD Voly site. Also check out our volunteer webpage for additional info.

Get Messages Using Remind

Please make sure that you and your student(s) sign up to get important messages and reminders. To sign up for Remind, compose a text message to the number 81010.

Camerata Orchestra: @a2aa82
Philharmonic & Recital Orchestras: @g4kcfc2
Chamber Orchestra: @hh2949
Orchestra Parents: @hak8gd

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

Our Platinum Sponsors

Our Gold Sponsors

And thank you to the many orchestra families who have given so generously.