DHS-Holmes Orchestra Boosters

Dear Orchestra Families, Friends, and Alumni,

What an incredible year it has been! Thank you for your steadfast support of student-musicians at Holmes Junior High and Davis Senior High. Whether you volunteered on field trips, donated to the Boosters, attended concerts, brought cookies for intermission, or simply encouraged your student to keep practicing, you have made a difference. The mission of the DHS-Holmes Orchestra Boosters is to support our orchestra students, and your generosity advances that mission every day.

As the school year winds down, we welcome general donations to help us plan events and supplies for 2026-27, as well as contributions to our 2026 Spain Tour Fund. Questions about donations or employer matching gifts? We'd love to hear from you.

Wishing you a wonderful summer!

DHS-Holmes Orchestra Boosters

Maggie, Aparna, Sheetal, Kate, and Jia-Min

Students in Holmes Intermediate and Holmes Advanced Orchestras took part in three beloved outreach events this February and March, inspiring the next generation of Junior High musicians!

• Holmes Advanced Orchestra walked to Birch Lane and North Davis Elementary Schools to perform for 1st–6th graders — four performances in all.
• Holmes Advanced students spent an afternoon at the Elementary Workshop coaching 5th and 6th grade string players, wrapping up with a side-by-side concert for families.
• Holmes Intermediate and Advanced students joined the All-City Orchestra for a giant side-by-side showcase concert for families.

A heartfelt thank you to our parent volunteers, instrument transporters, and Holmes students for keeping this wonderful tradition alive!

The DHS Symphony had the pleasure of performing four separate outreach concerts for hundreds of local elementary students. This year, the DHS Symphony performed the original work "America, Happy 250th Birthday!" composed by Andy Tan, written by Andy Jones, animated by Gabriel Villasenor, and narrated by Cody Craven. Thank you to everyone who came to the Saturday public concert! View more photos and video HERE.

Congratulations to all the talented student musicians who participated in the annual Concerto Competition!

Congratulations to Violinist Kiran Thole and Pianist Eva Wilson!

Kiran Ming Thole performed the Karol Szymanowski Violin Concerto No. 2, Opus 61.

Eva Wilson performed the Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5, mov III.

Kiran and Eva had the honor of performing their concertos with the DHS Symphony Orchestra at the Wennberg Orchestra Festival at the Mondavi Center on Sunday, April 12th 2026. Read their bios HERE. They also both received $1000 awards from the James Kidd Foundation for the Arts.

View all the performances HERE.

Thousands of cheering fans enjoyed a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem before a Kings vs. Pelicans game on April 3. Thank you to parents for driving and chaperoning! Photos and video HERE.

Congratulations to the DHS Chamber Orchestra, the Holmes Intermediate Orchestra, and the Holmes Advanced Orchestra for all receiving "unanimous superior" ratings for their performances during the April 4, 2026 CMEA Golden Empire Music Festival!

The Holmes Advanced Orchestra had fun day in Santa Cruz while participating in "Music in the Parks" at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. They were joined by the Holmes Choir, Holmes Band, and many other Junior High and High School groups from Northern California. The Holmes Orchestra was honored to be awarded "Best Junior High Orchestra" and "Best Overall Orchestra." Incredible accomplishments! More photos HERE.

The Baroque Ensemble welcomed renowned violinist Rachel Barton Pine for two days of workshops and rehearsals, culminating in a beautiful collaborative performance preceded by Pine's lecture and solo set. The Ensemble is grateful for her generous support of their upcoming trip to Spain. See more photos and video HERE.

Thank you to all the musicians, volunteers, and audience members who made this year's Wennberg Orchestra Festival so memorable! On April 12, the stage overflowed with talent and teamwork as seven ensembles performed: the Davis All-City Orchestra, the DHS Strings Tutoring Program, Holmes Intermediate Orchestra, Holmes Advanced Orchestra, DHS Chamber Ensemble, DHS Baroque Ensemble, and DHS Symphony Orchestra. The evening also featured 2026 Concerto Competition winners Eva Wilson and Kiran Ming Thole, each performing their winning piece with the DHS Symphony. Congratulations to all! More photos and video HERE.

Another year celebrating the growth of all the orchestra students at Holmes Junior High! Special congrats to the 9th grade orchestra; best wishes as you head into 10th grade! Video & program of this concert are HERE.

Amid a full night of musical achievements, we also said farewell to graduating seniors. Special performances included a premier of a piece by student composer Nathaniel Lee and senior soloists Joseph Gonzalez, Haoching Liu, and Samuel Lao. View the concert program, the highlight video, photos, and the senior slideshow HERE.

The Baroque Ensemble is heading to Spain on June 25-July 5! Thank you to families and community members who have made this trip possible. We wish the Ensemble and chaperones a fun and memorable trip. Be on the lookout in the Fall for videos and photos of the trip! More information here.

The DHS Symphony Orchestra will be heading to NYC in June 2027! The tour is currently in the planning stages, but the Orchestra already has their spot booked as part of the National Concerts at Carnegie Hall! Please consider supporting the Symphony in the Fall as they raise funds to help make this trip a reality.

Be sure to stay in touch by subscribing to this newsletter (click subscribe near the bottom). Best wishes on your future endeavors!

Are you an alumni or community member that could help support the priorities of the DHS-Holmes Orchestra Boosters?

• Direct donations from individuals can be made by clicking HERE. You have the option listed as a donor in our many concert programs throughout the school year.
• We are equipped to accept matching donations through your workplace.This is a great way to maximize your impact! Please contact treasurer@dhs-holmes-orchestras.org for information.
• If you own a business, your financial or in-kind donation can be acknowledged with a logo in our many concert programs. Please reach out for details.

Donations of any size are greatly appreciated and directly impact students at Holmes and DHS.

Small ensembles from DHS and Holmes are available for your event! Past quartets and small ensembles have performed at weddings, celebrations, and receptions, and all proceeds go back to the students via supporting DHS-Holmes Orchestra Boosters. Please contact Mr. Moreno with inquiries.

In addition to attending our concerts and events, we invite you to:

• follow us on Facebook (@Davis Senior High Orchestras @holmesorchestras),
• follow us on Instagram (@dhsorchestras)
• check out our Orchestras Alumni webpage,
• subscribe to our Youtube Channels (@Davis High School Orchestras, @holmesjuniorhighorchestra807),
• listen to the Baroque Ensemble on Spotify!
• invite friends and family to subscribe to this newsletter using the Subscribe button below, and
• send us an email to let us know how you've been!