This school year we will once again have our 'live' elementary honor band and orchestra! Please see the information below to learn how we will be choosing students to participate in one of our honor groups this school year!
The History of Honor groups in PYLUSD
The PYLUSD has had a long history of providing an avenue for students of exceptional talent on a musical instrument to be able to perform together in a setting where their talents can shine. We have accomplished this by giving these students the opportunity to perform together in either our district honor band or honor orchestra. At one time or another we have had honor bands and orchestras at the elementary, middle and high school levels. We now currently only offer this great opportunity to our elementary school students.
How Students are chosen to participate
Over the years we have implemented a couple of different ways to evaluate the talents of the students for participation in these fine ensembles: these are auditions and music teacher recommendation/nomination. We have utilized both successfully in the past. This year, and for the foreseeable future, the elementary music team and district music administration has decided that we will be implementing the teacher recommendation/nomination process to choose students for these ensembles.
Students from each school with be nominated by their school's music teacher for participation in each of our honor groups. Each individual music teacher will evaluate their own students from each of their schools and choose the students, based upon their professional opinion, that are best qualified to participate in each honor group.
Nominated students will be receiving a letter from their music teacher inviting them to participate in one on the ensembles. Nominated students and parents are asked in the letter to accept or decline the nomination.
The rehearsal and performance schedule for these groups is listed below.
Rehearsals - 2022-2023 School Year
All Honor Band and Orchestra rehearsals will be held from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM on the following dates:
- Tuesdays, February 14, 21, & 28 2023 and March 7, 14 & 21 2023
All Honor Band rehearsals will be held in the Wagner Elementary School Multi-Purpose Room.
All Honor Orchestra rehearsals will be held in the Lakeview Elementary School Multi-Purpose Room.
Dress rehearsal & Concert - 2021-2022 School Year
The Elementary Honor Band and Orchestra concert will be held at the District Performing Arts Center at El Dorado High School on Monday, March 27, 2023 at 7:00 pm.
There will be a dress rehearsal field trip for all honor band and orchestra students on the day of the concert, March 27, 2022 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm in the District Performing Arts center at El Dorado High School. Students in the honor groups will be busses from their schools to El Dorado for the dress rehearsal then back their schools when the dress rehearsal is done.