Orchestra Off-Beats
Weekly Newsletter for the Plano Senior High School Orchestra

Weekly Updates & Important Reminders (October 9, 2026)
Below is a quick summary of this week's key updates. Please scroll down for full details!
- Congratulations to ALL the students who had their All Region Audition past Saturday. We are very proud of every single of them!
- 10th Grade Visit Day with Clark and Vines was so much fun!
- Vertical Raise: We are getting closer to our goal everyday! Please continue to support!
- HAVE AN AMAZING FALL BREAK!
In case you missed the parent meeting, here is the slideshow!
Congratulations 2026 All Region Members
We are super proud of everyone who auditioned for All Region. Whether or not they made it, they are all winners for becoming better players than they were before. So many things can shape a moment, no matter how well they prepared. Every audition is a chance to learn and grow, and their effort and progress did not go unnoticed. Please congratulate the outstanding students who made very competitive All Region 2026.
(Violin 2, Symphony) Grace Beckworth (Area) - Plano Senior
(Violin 2, Symphony) Samvarth Seegehalli (Area) - Plano Senior
(Violin 1, Philharmonic) Theodore Kolin - Plano Senior
(Violin 2, Philharmonic) Timothy Wu - Clark HS
(2nd Alternate) Alia Yau - Plano Senior
Viola:
(Symphony) Jason Wu (Area) - Plano Senior
Cello:
(Symphony) Craig Benson (Area) - Plano Senior
(Philharmonic) Mako Nishimura - Plano Senior
Bass:
(Symphony) Jackson Walker (Area) - Plano Senior
Registration is CLOSED!
Once we receive the official number of travelers, I will be reaching out to chaperones!
If you are registered, please don't forget to make monthly payments accordingly.
1st payment due Sep 24, 2026
2nd payment due Oct 24, 2026
3rd payment due Nov 24, 2026
4th payment due Jan 24, 2027
Final payment due Feb 24, 2027
The fundraiser will close on October 23rd! Please support!
Vertical Raise’s streamlined online platform allows us to raise funds digitally through email, text & social media. Through these mediums, supporters can visit our fundraiser page and help support our cause. Vertical Raise has helped thousands of programs across the country run successful fundraisers and with your help, we can exceed our fundraising goal!
• Want to be a Corporate Sponsor & get your business logo featured on the fundraiser?
Click on the Become a Corporate Sponsor link on any fundraiser landing page.
• Double your Donation at Check Out! If your employer utilizes a matching donation
program, you can enter your employer’s information and our automated system will send
your donation info to them to be matched.
• Safe & Protected: Vertical Raise is the safest online donation platform available. All
information & contacts are private, 100% secure and will never be redistributed.
All Region & All State 🎵
All Region/State Google Classroom
Class Code: kkqu3lhs
All State Taping (10/24): Allen High School
All Region Clinic and Concert (12/11-12): Robinson Fine Arts Center
Orchestra Website
- Updating your Student and Family Profiles
- Spirit Wear
- Monetary Donations
- Volunteers
- Program Information
- Banquet
- AND MORE!
All fees will be collected Rycor this year. Click button below to access the Rycor system.
Booster Club Board and Other Volunteers
BOOSTER CLUB BOARD
Please consider volunteering your time and energy to the orchestra program by being a part of the Booster Club Board. We need to fill the following positions for next year.
Please contact Valerie Caviness, President, if you are interested.
VP/Secretary
Assistant Treasurer
Member-at-Large
Thank you so much for your support!
VOLUNTEER INFO
Wanting to volunteer for orchestra, but not commit to the booster? Go ahead and fill out the volunteer form for PISD to get your approval for the year and contact Valerie Caviness for more information on where we will need help this year.
Thank you for your time and service!
2026-27 PSHS ORCHESTRA CALENDARS
FULL ORCHESTRA CALENDAR
All rehearsal dates are required for Chamber/Symphony students. Please alert Mrs. Shin in writing if you are aware of a conflict. We perform extremely difficult literature and we need everyone at every rehearsal. The students received a one page orchestra calendar that has the full orchestra calendar on the back. Please click on the link below for a digital copy. All rehearsals are in the orchestra Google Calendar. Thank you for your support of our amazing full orchestra tradition of excellence!
Fundraising and Ways to Give Back to the Orchestra
Do you want to donate to the orchestra program, but don't know how?
Don't worry, there are many ways to help!
Spirit Nights
Help support our program by having lunch or dinner at your local restaurants on specific days throughout the year.
Monetary Donations
Anyone can donate directly to the orchestra booster club on our website. Click the link below to go directly to our website donation page.SUPPLIES NEEDED - PLEASE DONATE!
Many of you indicated that you would be willing to donate supplies to the orchestra program. Below is a list of items we always need and either the booster club purchases them or I purchase them myself. We would LOVE to have a surplus on hand so that we always have supplies. Please consider donating the following items or click the button below to see our amazon wishlist! Thank you!
- Paper Plates
- Kleenex
- Plastic Cutlery
- Canned Soda (variety of flavors)
- Capri Sun (variety of flavors)
- Bottled Water
- Plastic Cups
- Pencils
- Black Binders
- Tab Dividers
Private Lessons
Private lessons are classes for our students to grow one-on-one with a professional and are highly encouraged, especially if they are involved in full orchestra. The district fee for private lessons is $25 for a 25 minute lessons. Lessons are are offered during orchestra class in the practice rooms. Students will fill out a signature page during the first week of school with the option to sign up for lessons, then Mrs. M will pair those students with a teacher. Lessons will begin as early as the second week of school.
You are welcome to contact any of our lesson teachers on your own time using the link below to find their contact information.
Please email Mrs. Martinez with any questions about private lessons at school; we would love for everyone to have a private teacher if possible!
Handbook and Other Classroom Information
Click the links below for more information about events and expectations for the year.