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Our Welcome Packet for information of particular interest to incoming eighth graders and their
parents is available for easy printing just click: Welcome Packet
Dear 8th Grade Families,
Welcome to Samohi, a great school with a long tradition of musical excellence. Samohi has six orchestras, six bands, six choral
groups, as well as classes in piano and guitar. Several factors contribute to the strength of the music program. Among them are our
strong elementary and middle school programs, a supportive community, an outstanding music faculty and fine arts coordinator,
enthusiastic administrative support, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, dedicated parents and students like yourselves.
The Samohi Orchestra program offers opportunities to all musicians ranging from entry to advanced levels. Courses offered are
Beginning/String Orchestra, Concert Orchestra, Philharmonic Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra. All
Orchestras meet everyday, with the exception of Chamber, which meets after school twice a week. Students enrolled in Concert,
Philharmonic and Symphony Orchestras receive one hour per week of small group instruction taught by paid coaches funded by the
Samohi Orchestra Parents Association.
We are pleased to welcome you to Samohi’s Orchestra Program and look forward to sharing information with you. If you have any
questions, please don’t hesitate to e-mail us at orchestraparents@aol.com. And, please, visit our website at www.
Samohiorchestras.org for information about schedules and upcoming events.
2008-2009
SANTA MONICA HIGH SCHOOL ORCHESTRA PROGRAM INFORMATION
Santa Monica High School Orchestra Program
Joni Swenson Director
Jason Aiello Orchestra, Piano & Guitar Teacher
Santa Monica High School Band Program
Terry Sakow Director
Santa Monica High School Choral Program
Jeffe Huls Director
Santa Monica High School Administration
Dr. Hugo Pedroza Chief Educational Officer/Principal
Catherine Baxter Dean, Administrative Services
Gregory Runyon S House Principal
Wendy Wax Gellis A House Principal
Becky Romano M House Principal
Jose Iniguez O House Principal
Steve Martinez H House Principal
Eva Mayoral I. House Principal
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District
Diane Talarico Superintendent
Dr. Sally Chou Chief Academic Officer
Tom Whaley Fine Arts Program Coordinator
2008-2009 Important Samohi Orchestra Dates
September 8 1st Orchestra Parents Association meeting Orchestra Room, 7pm
October 1 CODA tapes are due
November 1 Orchestra Sing-a-long Barnum Hall
December 9 Orchestra Winter Concert Barnum Hall, 7pm
February 5 Spaghetti and Strings Samohi Cafeteria, 6-9pm
March 26 & 27 Stairway of the Stars Civic Center Auditorium
April 27 Orchestra Spring Concert Barnum Hall, 7pm
April 2 SCSBOA Orchestra Festival Barnum Hall
May 2 SCSBOA Solo&Small Ensemble Festival Madison Campus, Santa Monica College
May 26 Orchestra Pops Concert Barnum Hall, 7pm
June 2 Orchestra Senior Gala Barnum Hall, 7pm
2008-2009 Orchestra Festivals and Honor Orchestras
There are numerous opportunities for Samohi musicians to participate in Honor Orchestras on a regional, state or national level.
(See Ms. Swenson for further information concerning audition requirements for Honor Orchestras.
CODA (California Orchestra Directors Association) www.codaorchestras.org
• CODA Honor Symphony and Festival String Orchestra; December 2008 - San Jose
Audition excerpts are usually posted online in late July. Recorded CD or cassette tape audition excerpts are due in early
October for consideration for the December CODA event.
• All State Honor Orchestra; March 2009 - Ontario, California
CODA Honor Symphony audition excerpts are also used for All State. The excerpts are posted online in late July.
Recorded audition excerpts are due in early December for consideration into the 2009 All State Orchestra.
SCSBOA HONOR ORCHESTRA (Southern California School Band & Orchestra Association) www.scsboa.org
• January 2009 - CSU, Long Beach
SCSBOA has begun to use CODA Honor Symphony excerpts for auditions. Auditions take place at 2 different locations in
southern California.
SCSBOA Large Ensemble Festival
• April 2, 2009 – Samohi
SCSBOA Solo and Small Ensemble Festival
• May 2009 – Madison Campus of Santa Monica College
ASTA with NSOA HONOR ORCHESTRA (American String Teachers Association with the National School Orchestra
Association) www.astaweb.com
• The National High School Honor Orchestra occurs every other year and only 11th and 12th grade students are eligible. The
next National HS Honor Orchestra will take place in 2010 in Santa Clara, California.
Samohi Orchestra Awards
MAY WONG SCHOLARSHIP AWARD: A senior member of the orchestra is honored each year for excellence in musicianship,
service to the Samohi orchestra program and leadership.
GLEN KATZ AWARD: This award is presented annually to a senior music student who is planning to pursue music in college and
has made significant contributions to the Samohi Music Department.
NATIONAL SCHOOL ORCHESTRA ASSOCIATION AWARDS: Under the sponsorship of the Music Educators National
Conference, two students are selected for this award each year based on outstanding performance and their contribution to the
orchestra.
INDIVIDUAL ORCHESTRA AWARDS: These awards are presented to the most outstanding musicians in each orchestra - two
students in the Symphony, Philharmonic, Chamber, Concert and String Orchestras and one student in the Beginning Strings.
CON BRIO AWARDS: The Con Brio or Spirit awards are given to the two students who have made significant overall
contribution to the Orchestra Program.
KIWANIS FINALISTS: Certificates are presented to the finalists in the annual Kiwanis solo instrumental competition.
FERMATA AWARDS: Graduating seniors who have participated in the orchestra program for four years are commended with
certificates.
Santa Monica High School
Orchestra Course Descriptions and Audition Information
There is a home for everyone in the orchestra program at Samohi. Listed below are descriptions of the 6 orchestras
that are available. In order to place students in the correct ensemble, auditions are held in the Spring at John Adams
and Lincoln Middle Schools as well as at Samohi.
Each student will be asked to play:
• two major scales – the number of octaves is up to the individual
• a four minute prepared piece that exhibits the musician’s abilities best (Students should submit a copy of their
solo.)
• a short sight read excerpt
Beginning Strings
Grade Level: 9-12
Year Course (5 credits per semester)
Prerequisite: None
This course provides introductory instruction on violin, viola, cello, and string bass. Rehearsals focus on proper technique,
ensemble performance skills, basic string repertoire, note reading skills and beginning level theory.
String Orchestra 1-8 P
Grade Level: 9-12
Meets UC/CSU Requirements
Year Course (5 credits per semester)
Prerequisite: Minimum of one year of prior study of a string instrument.
This course continues to develop technique associated with playing a stringed instrument. Students will rehearse, analyze, and
perform string ensemble music. May be repeated for credit.
Concert Orchestra 1-8 P
Grade Level: 9-12
Meets UC/CSU Requirements
Year Course (5 credits per semester)
Prerequisite: Admission by audition only and/or written permission from the director.
This intermediate level orchestra utilizes increasingly complex scales and repertoire to further develop technique.. Sectional lessons
for each instrument are scheduled after school on a regular basis. May be repeated for credit
Philharmonic Orchestra 1-8 P
Grade Level: 9-12
Meets UC/CSU Requirements
Year Course (5 credits per semester)
Prerequisite: Admission by audition only and/or written permission from the director.
Philharmonic is an advanced level full orchestra. Musicians in this ensemble will study pieces from various musical periods. There
will be public performances by the entire orchestra throughout the year. Solo and small ensemble performances are also highly
encouraged. Sectional lessons for each instrument are scheduled after school on a regular basis. May be repeated for credit.
Symphony Orchestra 1-8 P
Grade Level: 9-12
Meets UC/CSU Requirements
Year Course (5 credits per semester)
Prerequisite: Admission by audition only and/or written permission from the director.
Symphony is Samohi's most elite full orchestra. The repertoire is varied as well as challenging. In addition to performing as a large
symphonic orchestra, students also prepare solos and small ensembles throughout the year. Sectional lessons for each instrument
may be scheduled after school on a regular basis. May be repeated for credit.
Chamber Orchestra 1-8 P
Grade Level: 9-12
Meets UC/CSU Requirements
Year Course (5 credits per semester)
Prerequisite: Admission by audition only and/or written permission from the director.
The Chamber Orchestra is the most advanced Orchestra ensemble at Samohi, comprised of the most advanced Symphony
Orchestra string members. This ensemble performs highly advanced repertoire. The Samohi Chamber Orchestra meets after
school, twice a week for two hours at each rehearsal. There are many public performances throughout the year. May be repeated
for credit.
Orchestra Concert Attire
Male orchestra members should wear a tuxedo or black suit, with a white shirt and a black tie, together with black socks and shoes.
Special rates are given to Samohi Orchestra students at Elite Tuxedo, 2074 Westwood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025, and (310)
474-9090. Make sure to have your tuxedo by October 1, 2008.
Female orchestra members should wear a long black dress, skirt or slacks, and a black blouse. Sleeves may be long or short. Black
shoes should be worn.
Samohi Symphony Orchestra on tour, Vienna, March 2008
Santa Monica High School Orchestra Parents Association (OPA)
2007 - 2008 Officers & Committee Chairs
Orchestra Director Joni Swenson jtswenson@aol.com
Orchestra Teacher/Webmaster Jason Aiello jason.aiello@smmusd.org
President Patricia Eastman pseastman@aol.com
VP Volunteers & Festivals Anita Circenis jcircenis@aol.com
Secretary Jeanne Ladner jladner@atmos.ucla.edu
Treasurer Amy Van Pelt ABVP@aol.com
Public Relations George Kahn george@georgekahn.com
Publicity Michael Weiss mkweiss@earthlink.net
Fundraising/Spag.&Strings Alex Novakovich alexnova@earthlink.net
Concerts Jane Munoz mjaamunoz@msn.com
Hospitality Ishara Bailis ibailis@mednet.ucla.edu
Roster Claire Miller millerdca@roadrunner.com
Trip Coordinator Teri Zakzook tootaah@aol.com
Sing-a-long/Awards Susan Jain spjain@summer.ucla.edu
8th grade Welcome Wendy McGinty wwmcginty@aol.com
Concert Flowers/Projects Lace Bencivengo paintworkstudio@yahoo.com
CD/DVD Linda Dugan lakdd@padbell.net
Merchandise Sales Saeed Farzam sfarzam@juno.com
Merchandise Sales Susan Vance rovance1520@yahoo.com
Volunteer Opportunities Abound! We look forward to your participation in the Orchestra Parents Association.
We count on every Orchestra family to volunteer to support our music students in this excellent program!
E-mail ORCHESTRAPARENTS@AOL.COM or contact any of the volunteers above
to find out more about opportunities that interest you for the 2008-2009 school year, and for years to come!
We welcome your questions. Please e-mail orchestraparents@aol.com
REMEMBER -- Each time you search the Internet, raise money for the Samohi Orchestra Program!
Go to: www.goodsearch.com Enter: Samohi Orchestras (in the box entitled “I’m supporting") Click: Verify.