CONCERT
Fall Orchestra Concert
Thursday, October 8, 2026, 6:00 PM
MHS Auditorium
Philharmonic and Symphony open the year. Call time is 30 minutes before the performance starts.
Calendar
Concerts, contests, auditions, rehearsals and council meetings for the 2026 to 2027 school year, taken from the MHS Orchestra Handbook. Concert call time is 30 minutes before the performance starts unless the director says otherwise.
October 2026
SUN
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
All scheduled dates
- OTHER
District Solo and Ensemble form and payment deadline
Tuesday, November 17, 2026, 8:00 AM
MHS Orchestra Room
Forms and payment are due to Tr. Kleinhenz to be entered in the February district event.
- CONCERT
Winter Orchestra Concert
Thursday, December 10, 2026, 6:00 PM
MHS Auditorium
Second of the five graded concert performances. Winter holiday attire is permitted at the director's discretion.
- AUDITIONS
Northwest Indiana Symphony Youth Orchestra auditions
Sunday, January 3, 2027, 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster
New member auditions for all instruments except brass, which may audition any Sunday before rehearsal. There is a 25 dollar audition fee and a director or private teacher recommendation is required.
MORE INFORMATION - CONTEST
ISSMA District Solo and Ensemble
Saturday, January 30, 2027, 8:00 AM
Crown Point High School
Students perform solos and small ensembles for adjudicators and receive a medal reflecting their score. This is also the deadline to submit payment for State Solo and Ensemble.
- CONTEST
ISSMA State Solo and Ensemble
Saturday, February 27, 2027, 8:00 AM
Northview Middle School, Indianapolis
State level event for students who qualify at district. Checks must be made payable to Maggie Kleinhenz.
- CONCERT
Spring Preview Concert
Thursday, March 18, 2027, 6:00 PM
MHS Auditorium
Both ensembles preview their ISSMA contest programs for a home audience.
- CONTEST
ISSMA High School Organizational Contest
Friday, April 16, 2027, 4:00 PM
Through Saturday, April 17, 2027, 9:00 PM
Lake Central High School, St. John
Philharmonic performs at Group II or III and Symphony at Group I. Students ride the bus with the rest of the high school, and 2 to 3 chaperones with a Level 3 background check are needed.
MORE INFORMATION - CONCERT
String Fever
Thursday, May 13, 2027, 6:00 PM
MHS Auditorium
The end of year concert and the last of the five graded performances.
- CONCERT
MHS Commencement
Sunday, June 6, 2027, 1:00 PM
MHS Fieldhouse
Philharmonic and Symphony both perform at graduation.
Dates to be announced
These events are on the handbook calendar without a confirmed date. They move into the month grid once the date is set.
- COUNCIL MEETINGDATE TBD
Orchestra Council meetings
Meeting schedule set by the council
Reference window: September 2026
MHS Orchestra Room
Council members are nominated and voted in by orchestra students. Meeting times and events are set by the council at its first meeting, where members review the Orchestra Constitution.
- AUDITIONSDATE TBD
Indiana All-State Orchestra audition deadline
Early October 2026, exact deadline to be announced
Reference window: October 2026
Online submission
Online audition submissions are due in early October. Auditions are hosted by the Indiana chapter of the American String Teachers Association.
MORE INFORMATION - FUNDRAISERDATE TBD
Orchestra fundraisers
Various dates through the school year
Reference window: October 2026
MHS
Fundraisers run through the year to cover instrument repairs, accessories, music and equipment. A donation box is available at every concert, and checks can be made out to MHS Orchestras or WWMS Orchestras.
- REHEARSALDATE TBD
Full Orchestra rehearsals for Symphony
Weekly, January through April 2027, day to be set
Reference window: January 2027
MHS Orchestra Room
Weekly after school rehearsals with the band, held January through April in preparation for the ISSMA Organizational Contest. Symphony members must attend 90 percent of these rehearsals.
- OTHERDATE TBD
Indiana All-State Orchestra
January 2027, dates to be announced
Reference window: January 2027
Grand Wayne Center, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Three day invitational for students accepted by audition, held during the Indiana Music Education Association conference. The 2026 fee was 220 dollars and covered two nights lodging, meals, local transportation and sectional coachings.
MORE INFORMATION - AUDITIONSDATE TBD
Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras auditions
April 2027, dates to be announced by CYSO
Reference window: April 2027
Chicago, Illinois
CYSO holds orchestra auditions each spring. Application deadlines for the next season are posted on their auditions page.
MORE INFORMATION - AUDITIONSDATE TBD
Symphony Orchestra placement auditions
April 2027, date to be announced
Reference window: April 2027
MHS Orchestra Room
Open to all students in grades 9 through 11, in person or by video. Includes a set 3 octave scale and arpeggio, 2 octaves for bass, plus three excerpts from Symphony music. Results follow two weeks later.
- OTHERDATE TBD
Elementary Recruitment Trip
A weekday in April or May 2027, date to be announced
Reference window: April 2027
Frank H. Hammond, Eads and Elliott Elementary
Thirteen students travel by minibus to each elementary school for a short concert or presentation. A field trip form is required, along with a 94 percent attendance rate for the semester.
- OTHERDATE TBD
Senior Cruise
A Friday or Saturday in May 2027, date to be announced
Reference window: May 2027
Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois
The music department takes seniors on a dinner boat cruise at Navy Pier. The ticket covers the bus, a meal and time at the pier. Payment of roughly 100 to 150 dollars is due about a month ahead.
- AUDITIONSDATE TBD
Northwest Indiana Symphony Youth Orchestra re-auditions
Late May or early June 2027, date to be announced
Reference window: May 2027
Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster
Returning member re-auditions, scheduled online. The audition covers a prepared selection from the current season, excerpts from the upcoming season and sight reading.
MORE INFORMATION