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OMG Meeting This Week! Updates 1/12

Welcome 2026!

We hope everyone's first week back to school went well!


Oiler Music Guild Meeting


Tuesday, 1/13 @ 7pm

Join us for important program info! Updates on Programs and Spring Semester!

It is super important that we have someone from each family there to get important info on our second semester ensembles/volunteering needs/etc.

Come in person to meet our new Orchestra Director, Brian Onderdonk.

And come for treats!!

In M1

or via Zoom



Coming Up This Week!


Come Support OMG at our upcoming events!


Tuesday, January 13th @7pm- Oiler Music Guild

Thursday, January 15th @7pm- APA Orchestra Winter Chamber Recital at FCC

Friday, January 16th @7pm- Pep Band for Varsity Basketball Game @ HBHS

Next Week- Finals Week! Good luck!!



Orchestra Updates & Schedules


Happy New Year Everyone!

I hope everyone had a wonderful and restful break. We are still in the process of figuring a lot of details out so please bear with us through a lot of the changes coming up...

First and foremost, as a reminder, the Chamber Music Concert is January 15th at 7pm at First Christian Church just down the street. Mr. Pham and Mr. Meyers will be running the show, but the music and groups have all been up to the students, featuring some original arrangements and fun instrumentations! Participation is not mandatory. I will send a separate email once we have finalized the call time and set up details so please be on the lookout for that.


Orchestra rehearsals will remain the same as usual for the next week and I will send out an update later regarding rehearsal times for the week after the concert:


Tuesday 1.13.26

  • 2pm-3:45pm Wind Orchestra (all winds and percussion to work on your chamber music)

  • 4:00-5:45pm String Orchestra (all strings)

Thursday 1.15.26 CHAMBER CONCERT DAY

  • Call time, rehearsal and set up times coming soon

  • 7pm Chamber Music Concert at FCC

Now that the business is out of the way, here is an exciting opportunity for students! Read about it below:

MMET is looking for brass (all but tuba, also piccolo trumpet), woodwinds (2 tenor saxes, bari sax, 3 clarinets, english horn, alto flute, bass flute), and all strings for their upcoming Beatles/Beach Boys show! The concert takes place on February 13th at 7pm and Saturday February 14th at 2pm and 7pm at First Christian Church! This is a great opportunity to collaborate with other departments in APA to put on a fun show! I highly encourage anyone interested to please reach out to me via email or Slack and will pass the information along. If you told me in person yesterday, your name has been noted and will be sent so no need to message me again!


As always, please feel free to email me or Slack message me with any questions. I cannot guarantee I have all the answers at the moment, but I will do my best to get them!


Best,

Jessica Farmer

APA Brass Specialist



Band Updates and Schedules


This past week we returned to classes, our drumline began meeting for rehearsals, and we started off the new year strong!I want to congratulate all of the students that auditioned for the HBUHSD District Honor Band. We had 25 HBHS students make the group, one of our best-represented years ever! Rehearsals start this coming week.


Honor Band results and chair placements are below...




HBUHSD District Honor Band Schedule


Here is the rehearsal/performance schedule for the Honor Band:

Jan 14th 6-8:30pm - Rehearsal @ FVHS

Jan 28th 6-8:30pm - Sectionals (Woodwinds @ Marina, Brass @ FVHS, Percussion @ HBHS)

Feb 2nd 6-8:30pm - Rehearsal @ HBHS

Feb 10th 8:30am-4pm - All-day Rehearsal @ HBHS Auditorium

Feb 11th 3:15-4:45pm - Rehearsal @ HBHS Auditorium

Feb 11th 7:30pm - Concert @ HBHS Auditorium



Parent Booster Meeting This Tuesday!


Please attend our Oiler Music Guild parent meeting this coming Tuesday @ 7pm in the HBHS Band Room. It is super important that we have someone from each family there to get important info on our second semester ensembles/volunteering needs/etc.


Weekly Schedule


Monday

  • 2-3:30pm Wind Ensemble Sectionals

  • 3:30-6pm Sight Reading Audition Availability

  • 6-9pm Drumline


Tuesday

  • 7pm - Oiler Music Guild Parent Meeting!


Wednesday

  • 1:41-3:22pm Wind Ensemble

  • 3:30-5pm Sight Reading Audition Availability

  • 6-8:30pm District Honor Band Rehearsal @ FVHS


Friday

  • 1:41-3:22pm Wind Ensemble

  • 3:30-5pm Sight Reading Audition Availability

  • 3:30-6pm Drumline

  • 7pm Pep Band @ HBHS Varsity Basketball Game


Saturday

  • 10am-5pm Drumline Saturday Rehearsal




 
 
 

APA Orchestra October 20th Notes and Updates!


Hello, orchestra students and families!


Whew! Can you believe that, in just the 8th week of the semester, the pit orchestra's Fall production is already wrapped and our opening Large Ensembles program is just a week and a half away? Lots of things happening and on the move for our students.


Also, if your student has outstanding emergency forms, please make sure they are returned to Mr. Myers as soon as possible!


In this week's update:

  • Rehearsal Schedules

  • Volunteer reminders

  • Pit Orchestra Wrap-up potluck!

  • Photo Day

  • Fall Concert Information

  • Fall Recital Information and Updates

  • Upcoming dates

  • Concert attire reminders

Rehearsal Schedules


Tuesday, October 21st

Wind Orchestra:

(all winds and percussion)

2:00 p.m.-3:45 p.m.


String Orchestra:

(all strings)

4:00 p.m.-5:45 p.m.


Pianos

Wednesday, October 22nd

Pianos:

4:00-5:30 p.m.


Thursday, October 23rd

Wind Orchestra:

(all winds and percussion)

2:00 p.m.-3:45 p.m.


String Orchestra:

(all strings)

4:00 p.m.-5:45 p.m.


Friday, October 24th

Pianos

4:00-5:30 p.m.


Pit Orchestra:

6:00-7:30: End-of-Production potluck and celebration!


Volunteer Reminders

With events, fundraisers, and performances rapidly approaching, parents are encouraged to check out options for completing your volunteer requirements! Volunteer opportunities to support OMG and the APA Orchestra specifically can be found at our guild sign-up link: https://signup.com/group/1113305906047


Coming up, we will need support volunteers for our off-campus performance at the Rose Center Theater on October 30th. We will have roles and opportunities posted in the coming weeks!


Note: These volunteer positions can be credited towards APA volunteer hours, but are specifically for the APA Orchestra! Additional volunteer opportunities can be found through APA's general volunteer positions. Thank you to everyone who has been so involved over the past few weeks with the Musical Production!

Pit Orchestra

We've made it! The Fall production of Shrek wrapped on a high note with closing night, and the students absolutely rocked the house. With such a compressed rehearsal schedule, two different conductors, and a mix of cast, the students carried themselves professionally and performed at a high level.


We wrap up the production on Friday with our end-of-show potluck party, from 6-7:30 p.m. We'll sign show posters, students will be receiving gifts to celebrate their involvement (coordinated by our all-star Orchestra VP's), and we'll send the show off in style!


We ask that members of the ensemble bring the following:

  • Strings/Winds/Brass: Snacks and dinner foods for sharing

  • Percussion/Rhythm Section: Drinks (juice, soda, etc.)

Fall Concert: October 30th

Our opening concert of the season is nearly here! We will be performing at the Rose Center Theater in Westminster, CA (14140 All American Way, Westminster, CA 92683) on October 30th from 7:00-8:30 p.m., and will feature our String and Wind Orchestra ensembles.


Parents should plan to drop off students at the Rose Center Theater for call-time at 4:00 p.m. All students are to assist with setup and tear-down.


Schedule:

  • 3:00 p.m. - Students load Percussion Equipment and large instruments for transportation to the Rose Center (Rental U-Haul)

  • 3:30 p.m. - Truck departs HBHS

  • 4:00 p.m. - Call-time: Rose Center theater

  • 4:15 p.m. - Load-in and set-up

  • 5:30 p.m. - Sound check and dress rehearsal

    • String Orchestra

    • Wind Orchestra

  • 6:30 p.m. - HOUSE OPENS

  • 7:00 p.m. - Concert!

    • String Orchestra

    • Wind Orchestra

  • 8:00 p.m. - Concert Ends

  • 8:20 p.m. - Stage strike and load-out

  • 9:45 p.m. - Clear of building, truck departs for HBHS

  • 10:15 p.m. - Truck arrives at HBHS, unload equipment.


This concert is our first addition to our performance calendar this year, and we’re incredibly excited for you to hear what the students have been working on!

Photo Day

Our APA Orchestra Photo Day is coming up!


On November 4th, we will be completing full program photos in the afternoon during class time. Please plan to attend that day with concert attire for the full group photos. Students and families will have the opportunity to order full group, small group, and individual photos.


Pre-Orders for photos open October 27th.

Recital

The Fall recital venue is currently shifting due to hourly restrictions with our original venue. We are currently planning on hosting our Fall Piano and Chamber Recital at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa. We will have access to a recital hall venue, concert piano, and a much better acoustic space! It is likely shifting back to the first week of December due to venue availability.


Students will receive more information about the upcoming performance in the next week. This recital will feature our piano students and small chamber groups!

Upcoming Dates!

October 30th: APA Orchestra Fall Concert

November 4th: APA Orchestra Photo Day

Concert Attire!

As a reminder, all students will need one of the following attire combinations for our opening concert on October 30th:

  • Option A: Suit or Tux

    • Black tuxedo or suit (pants and jacket, no jeans)

    • Pressed black dress shirt

    • Black bow tie or necktie

    • Black dress socks (no ankle socks)

    • Black dress shoes (no Vans, Converse, or sneakers. Black marching shoes are okay!)

    • Solid Black Belt (if required)

  • Option B: Dress

    • Plain black, floor to mid-calf length gown with long or 3/4 sleeves

    • Black dress shoes (two-inch heels or less, please)

    • Solid black belt (if required)

  • Option C: Slacks or Skirt and Top

    • Long or mid-calf black skirt or black dress slack, with a black top having 3/4 or full-length sleeves.

    • Black socks or leggings and close-toed black dress shoes (two-inch heels or less, please)

    • Solid Black belt

    • Black tie or bowtie (if desired)

  • In ALL cases:

    • No excessive jewlery, sequins, sparkles, or distracting accessories

    • Pants, skirts, and dresses should be well-fit, and not skin-tight (both for presentation and for playing technique!)

    • No jeans

    • Shoes must be all black, and cannot be sneakers.


If there is any portion of the concert attire you need to update or fit your student for for pants, dress shirts, and jackets, Friar Tux--Huntington Beach has an excellent relationship with the school. They can get you outfitted at a discounted rate for HBHS.


Thank you for your involvement and support of the APA Orchestra programs!


Mr. Myers

Mr. Bement


 
 
 

APA Orchestra October 7 Notes and Updates!

Hello, orchestra students and families!


As the calendar turns to October, we’re already in Tech week, and our first performances with all of the major ensembles in APA Orchestra are within the next month!


We had a fantastic turnout of students at Walk for the Arts, and while we didn’t advance in the Tug-of-War competition, it was a great afternoon of community, bonding with students across the APA program, and celebrating a successful first fundraiser of the year. If your student still has an outstanding donations packet to return, make sure they get it back to the APA Office ASAP!


Also, if your student has outstanding emergency forms, please make sure they are returned to Mr. Myers as soon as possible!


In this week's update:

  • Rehearsal Schedules

  • Volunteer reminders

  • APA Pit Orchestra Reminders

  • Fall Concert Information

  • Upcoming dates

  • Concert attire reminders

Rehearsal Schedules


Tuesday, October 7th

Wind Orchestra:

(all winds and percussion)

2:00 p.m.-3:45 p.m.


String Orchestra:

(all strings)

4:00 p.m.-5:45 p.m.


Pit Orchestra:

5:30-10:00 p.m. (TECH REHEARSAL)


Pianos

Wednesday, October 8th

PIANOS WILL MEET THURSDAY THIS WEEK ONLY

Our piano instructor is out sick this week, and we will shift to Thursday for the Piano students this week. Thank you for your flexibility, and please let Mr. Myers know if you are unable to make it.


Pit Orchestra:

5:30-10:00 p.m. (DRESS REHEARSAL)


Thursday, October 9th

Wind Orchestra:

(all winds and percussion)

2:00 p.m.-3:45 p.m.


String Orchestra:

(all strings)

4:00 p.m.-5:45 p.m.


Pianos:

4:00-5:45 p.m.


Pit Orchestra:

5:30-10:00 p.m. (DRESS REHEARSAL)


Friday, October 10th


Pit Orchestra:

5:30 p.m: Call Time

7:00 p.m: Opening Night!


Saturday, October 11th:

Pit Orchestra

5:30 p.m: Call Time

7:00 p.m: Show #2


Saturday, October 12th:

Pit Orchestra

12:30 p.m: Call Time

2:00 p.m: Show #3

Volunteer Reminders

With events, fundraisers, and performances rapidly approaching, parents are encouraged to check out options for completing your volunteer requirements! Volunteer opportunities to support OMG and the APA Orchestra specifically can be found at our guild sign-up link: https://signup.com/group/1113305906047


Coming up, we will need support volunteers for our off-campus performance at the Rose Center Theater on October 30th. We will have roles and opportunities posted in the coming weeks!


Additionally, APA has performances coming up for Musical Theater, which are awesome opportunities to help the production and see a bit of the show while completing your hours.

Pit Orchestra

We're digging in as we have our last week of "regular" rehearsal before a full-show sitzprobe and tech week launching next week! Students, NOW is the time to make sure you're on top of assignments and homework for your classes so that the following week doesn't get too overwhelming.


Please double-check the rehearsal schedule, and make sure that you (or your student) can be present at every rehearsal! With such a limited amount of time, every minute in rehearsal is vital to prepare for tech week.


The Pit Orchestra future rehearsal dates are as follows:


TECH WEEK

  • October 7th: 5:30-10:00 p.m.

  • October 8th: 5:30-10:00 p.m.

  • October 9th: 5:30-10:00 p.m.

SHOWS:

  • October 10th: 7:00 p.m.

  • October 11th: 7:00 p.m.

  • October 12th: 2:00 p.m.

  • October 17th: 7:00 p.m.

  • October 18th: 7:00 p.m.

  • October 19th: 2:00 p.m.

NOTE: All dates for musical rehearsals and performances are mandatory. Any possible conflicts must be communicated with Mr. Bement and Mr. Myers as soon as possible for discussion about options, as the rehearsal schedule is very impacted.


Volunteer commitment:

As the students put in long hours for the preparation and rehearsal for the show, we traditionally feed the students for each day of tech rehearsal and at each show. This involves a small meal that gives them sustenance and nutrition to get through the rehearsal, and helps provide a much needed boost for the students.


This year, we ask that each family with a student involved in the show contributes to one portion of a meal for the students across the two week run of the production. Dates are available for sign-up here: https://signup.com/go/QXcjJnj

Fall Concert: October 30th

Our opening concert of the season is coming up soon! We will be performing at the Rose Center Theater in Westminster, CA (14140 All American Way, Westminster, CA 92683) on October 30th from 7:00-8:30 p.m., and will feature our String and Wind Orchestra ensembles.


Students will meet at HBHS to load percussion and large instruments in a rental truck, and will carpool in groups (Volunteers will be needed primarily for the transportation!) over to the theater. We’ll have a sound check and performance, and then return equipment that evening to the high school before wrapping up!


This concert is our first addition to our performance calendar this year, and we’re incredibly excited for you to hear what the students have been working on!

Upcoming Dates!

October 6th-9th: Tech week: Shrek the Musical

October 10th-12th, 17th-19th: Shrek the Musical

October 30th: APA Orchestra Fall Concert

November 4th: APA Orchestra Photo Day

November 6th: APA Strings Disneyland Recording Workshop

Concert Attire!

As a reminder, all students will need one of the following attire combinations for our opening concert on October 30th:

  • Option A: Suit or Tux

    • Black tuxedo or suit (pants and jacket, no jeans)

    • Pressed black dress shirt

    • Black bow tie or necktie

    • Black dress socks (no ankle socks)

    • Black dress shoes (no Vans, Converse, or sneakers. Black marching shoes are okay!)

    • Solid Black Belt (if required)

  • Option B: Dress

    • Plain black, floor to mid-calf length gown with long or 3/4 sleeves

    • Black dress shoes (two-inch heels or less, please)

    • Solid black belt (if required)

  • Option C: Slacks or Skirt and Top

    • Long or mid-calf black skirt or black dress slack, with a black top having 3/4 or full-length sleeves.

    • Black socks or leggings and close-toed black dress shoes (two-inch heels or less, please)

    • Solid Black belt

    • Black tie or bowtie (if desired)

  • In ALL cases:

    • No excessive jewlery, sequins, sparkles, or distracting accessories

    • Pants, skirts, and dresses should be well-fit, and not skin-tight (both for presentation and for playing technique!)

    • No jeans

    • Shoes must be all black, and cannot be sneakers.


If there is any portion of the concert attire you need to update or fit your student for for pants, dress shirts, and jackets, Friar Tux--Huntington Beach has an excellent relationship with the school. They can get you outfitted at a discounted rate for HBHS.


Thank you for your involvement and support of the APA Orchestra programs!


Mr. Myers

Mr. Bement


 
 
 
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