Congrats to our recently selected junior officer team!  It really was an unbelievably difficult process narrowing down the candidates, and we are so appreciative to everyone who was interested and interviewed.  We really do have the best students in the world!

RESULTS ARE NOT POSTED IN ANY SPECIFIC ORDER.

We are pleased to share that Plano West Orchestras have been named National Winners in two Mark of Excellence competitions!

The Chamber Orchestra was named a National Winner in the string orchestra category, submitting last year’s performances of Schoenberg’s Verklarte Nacht and Mozart’s Divertimento in D.

The Symphony Orchestra was named a National Winner in the full orchestra category, submitting Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, Movement 1, and Brahms’ Symphony No. 3, Movement 3.

Congrats to the following Plano West Orchestra students for their outstanding achievement in selection as All-State Orchestra members!  16 is a Plano West record!

Violin

Kevin Bai – 18 (Symphony)

Alan Bouda – 21 (Symphony)

Cedric Hu – 26 (Symphony)

Raymond Chen – 40 (Symphony)

Tim Wang – 52 (Philharmonic)

Matthew Zhao – 78 (Philharmonic)

Viola

Kevin Lin – 2 (Symphony)

Navin Ahire – 4 (Symphony)

Luke Fullington – 13 (Symphony)

Annette Tsong – 14 (Symphony)

Serena Cheng – 21 (Philharmonic)

Cello

Gahwon Lee – 2 (Symphony)

Bass

Alice Zhao – 9 (Symphony)

Blake Aldridge – 28 (String)

Mikey McNamara – 39 (Band)

Piano

Daniel Che – 4

Home hear Carl Orff’s epic Carmina Burana, performed by the Plano West Orchestra and Chorus.  The performance will be on December 2, 7pm, at St. Andrew United Methodist Church on Plano Parkway.

The church will not allow ticket sales at the door, so all tickets must be pre-purchased.  You will then claim your ticket at the church at the “Will Call” table.  To order your ticket, click here.

Want to place an ad in the Plano West Orchestra’s concert programs for the 2016-2017 school year?  Complete our form and return by October 10.  Students, be sure to put your name on the bottom of any flyers you distribute.

2016-2017 Advertimsement Form and Info

I’m happy to share that the Plano West Symphony made 3rd place in today’s Honor Full Orchestra finals.  This is an amazing result regardless, but one even more so amazing since the full orchestra recorded only 2 weeks after our TMEA string orchestra performance.  This is the first time in Plano West history that the full orchestra made finals, and  I’m beyond proud of the hard work that the orchestra members invested to achieve this result.

Congratulations go out to our friends at Martin HS in Arlington ISD for their win.  I had the privilege to hear their recording at the contest, and it was an outstanding performance without qualification.  Bravi tutti!

I’m pleased to announce that the Plano West Symphony Orchestra (full orchestra), has been named a finalist in the TMEA Honor Orchestra competition!  Although our orchestra program has been named the TMEA Honor Orchestra winner six times in string orchestra, this is the first time in school history that we have been named a finalist in the full orchestra category.  Congratulations to everyone who was involved, especially graduated Seniors!  The final round will be judged on July 21 in San Antonio, Texas.

Dear Students,

Below, you will find a link to find your orchestra placement for next school year.  Students are listed by student ID number in a randomized order that does not reflect your placement within your ensemble.

The nature of auditions is that some people are happy with their placements, but others feel some disappointment.  Please understand that Mrs. Gross and I spent a great deal of time working through the audition results to guarantee that everyone is in the group that will allow them to succeed, but also to become better musicians.  Most importantly, please don’t let the results define you as a musician or as a person.  In the end, none of this matters that much.  But the work that you will do (or not do) means everything about who you will become as a person.

If you’re disappointed, please consider a few points:

1. The level of competition at West is high.  Really high.  The upside of this is that all of our orchestras really play beyond their apparent level.   For example, the third orchestra at West is playing at a level much higher than the top orchestra at most schools in Texas.  Regardless of the group you’re in, it is going to be good.

2.  It is totally normal to be in a “lower” group at West than you were in at Shepton or Jasper.  Juniors, remember that you were auditioning against seniors with more experience and against talented players from the other high school.  Believe me, though, that the level of music we will be playing in the groups will not in any way be a step back from what you are accustomed to.

I’m so excited for our orchestra next year!  This will be the largest Plano West Orchestra in history.  Let’s make it a great year!

RESULTS

We are so pleased to announce our Senior Orchestra Leadership team for next school year.  This was an incredibly difficult selection process, and we are so pleased there was so much interest in being a part of making the Plano West Orchestra the very best!

Officers, please plan on a work day this summer.  Most likely it will be on August 19, so put that on your calendar.  If things change, we’ll let you know.  Be sure to get connected on the Office Facebook page.

Co-Presidents

Zoe M

Alice Z

Members at Large

Krystal L

Sharon S

Raymond C

Serena C

Dominique M

Samantha C

Paolo A

Emily S

Katherine M

Roger D

Eddie W

Ramya P

Shivani K

Mason S

Jacqueline C

Essence R

Amanda W

Alexis R

Ana S.

Tiffany K.

Ian H.

Emily C.

Uma K.

Hana H.

Sri B.

Amit S.

Those wishing to be considered for membership on the Senior Leadership Council should complete the application linked below by Saturday, May 21.

http://goo.gl/forms/IGmoZOSscR