Dowell MS is conducting their All-Region Workshop on Friday, Sept. 20th from 4:00-6:00pm in the Fine Arts Wing.
Students will work with clinicians on their All-Region Music with their respective instruments. This event is required for all Honors level students, and open to any student interested in auditioning for the All-Region orchestra.
Hope to see you there!
Greetings,
Dowell Orchestra is having their upper level movie night on Friday, Sept. 6th from 4:00-6:30pm.
We will watch a newly released movie (PG rating), and then have a pizza dinner in the cafeteria afterwards!
This movie night is open to all Upper Level Students (Philharmonic, Sinfonietta, and Honors), beginners will have their in October.
Hope to see you all there!
We are so excited for tomorrow!
Students do not need their instruments for the first day of school, but please have them bring it on Friday.
Here are our upcoming dates:
Orchestra Parent Meeting (All Orchestra Students): Tuesday, August 20th at 6:30pm – DMS Cafeteria
Fine Arts Fun Night (Open to All Orchestra Students): Sunday, August 25th from 6:00-8:00pm at the APEX Center in McKinney. Entry fee is $5
Upper Level Movie Night (Philharmonic, Sinfonietta, and Honors Students): Friday, Sept. 6th from 4:00-6:30pm in the DMS Orchestra Room/Cafeteria. Pizza Provided.
We are so excited that you will be joining us for a great year at Dowell Orchestra! We cannot wait to see you all in the orchestra room!
This is our list of supplies and information that you will need for the beginning of the year.
School Supplies for Orchestra
NEW 1.5 inch black binder with clear view cover.
5 full sheet divider tabs
Zipper pencil pouch to be kept in binder
2 pencils with erasers (No PENS!)
2 yellow highlighters
Beginners, if you have not yet rented your instrument, please do this ASAP at dallasstrings.com or by calling Dallas Strings at 469-675-0085.
Method Books (Upper Level Students) – Can be purchased at music stores (including Dallas Strings) and online.
Philharmonic: Essential Elements: Book 2 – Purple book
Sinfonietta: Essential Elements: Book 2 – Purple book AND Expressive Techniques for Orchestra
Honors: Expressive Techniques for Orchestra AND Essential Techniques 2000 for Strings Book 3 – Green book
We’ll see you all soon!
Mr. Michael Graber
Mr. Michael Graber is an educator and violinist dedicated to string education and performance. Originally from South Dakota, and a four-year member in the South Dakota All-State Orchestra, Mr. Graber obtained a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in May of 2011, where he studied under Professor of Violin, Sally O’Reilly. Mr. Graber continued his music studies at Texas Tech University and graduated in May of 2014 with a Master of Music in Violin Performance, where he studied under Professor of Violin, Dr. John Gilbert. It was at Texas Tech that Mr. Graber discovered his passion for teaching music, and in conjunction with his master’s degree also obtained a Texas Teacher’s Certification in the Fall of 2014.
Awarded a Teaching Assistantship in Violin from 2011 to 2014 and a Lead Teacher position at Texas Tech University’s ‘String Project’ from 2013 to 2014, Mr. Graber gained a wide variety of teaching experience in conjunction to his master’s studies at Texas Tech. While in Lubbock, he held the positions of Violin Instructor at Texas Tech Band and Orchestra Camp during the summer of 2014, Supplemental Violin Instructor at Lubbock ISD, and Violin Sectional Coach for Youth Orchestras of Lubbock. In 2015, Mr. Graber became the Assistant Orchestra Director at MacArthur High School in San Antonio, TX; a position that he held until 2017.
Mr. Graber is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Orchestra Directors Association, American String Teachers Association, and the national music honor’s society Phi Kappa Lambda: Theta Kappa Chapter. An active performer, he has held section violin contracts with Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, Midland-Odessa Symphony Orchestra, Mid-Texas Symphony, and is currently under contact with the Las Colinas Symphony. Residing in McKinney, Mr. Graber enjoys hiking, running, reading, traveling, spending time with family and friends, and exploring DFW.
| Date | Day | Time | Event | Group | Location |
| 8/20 | Tues | 6:30pm | Parent Meeting – All | ALL | DMS Stage & Cafeteria |
| 8/25 | Sun | 6:00-8:00pm | Fine Arts Fun Night – APEX Center | ALL | Apex Center |
| 9/6 | Fri | 4:00-6:30pm | Upper Level Movie Night | P/S/H | Orchestra Room/Cafeteria |
| 9/20 | Fri | 4:00-6:00pm | All Region Workshop + | S/H | Fine Arts Wing |
| 10/8 | Tue | 1st P. | String Fling Rehearsal + | B | DMS Stage |
| 10/10 | Thur | 7:00pm | String Fling/Fall Concert + | B/H | DMS Stage |
| 10/16 | Wed | 8:15am | Practice Buddy Breakfast | ALL | Orchestra Room |
| 10/18 | Fri | 4:00-6:30pm | Beginner Movie Night | B | Orchestra Room/Cafeteria |
| 10/19 | Sat | ALL DAY Times TBA | All Region Auditions | P/S/H | Allen HS |
| 11/1 | Fri | 4:00-10:00pm | DSO Trip – Meal Provided | P/S/H | Meyerson Symphony Center |
| 11/7 | Thur | 6-8pm | Roller Skating! | All | Thunderbird Rink (Plano) |
| 11/21 | Thur | 12-2:00 | Dallas Strings Beginner Trip + | B | Dallas Strings |
| 12/2-3 | Mon Tues | All periods | Winter Concert In Class Rehearsals + | ALL | DMS Stage |
| 12/4 | Wed | 7:00pm | Winter Concert + * | ALL | McKinney Boyd HS |
| 12/13-14 | Fri Sat | 6-9pm, all day | All Region Clinic & Concert | P/S/H | Allen HS |
| 12/13 and 16 | Fri, Mon | ALL DAY | Fine Arts Elementary Feeder Tour + | H | Feeder Elementary Schools |
| 12/18-19 | Wed Thur | All Day | MISD MS Orchestras: Electrify Your Strings with Mark Wood + | P/S/H | MHS Sperry Auditorium |
| 1/29 | Wed | 4-7:30pm | UIL Clinic + | S/H | DMS Stage/Fine Arts Wing |
| 2/1 | Sat | ALL DAY | Beginner Solo/Upper Level Ensemble + | B/P/S/H | Faubion MS |
| 2/11 | Tues | 6:30pm | Pre-UIL C & SR + | S/H | DMS Stage |
| 3/2-3 | Mon Tue | 3rd & 6th periods | UIL Rehearsals on stage + | S/H | DMS Stage/Fine Arts Wing |
| 3/4-5 | Wed Thur | TBA | UIL + | S/H | Lowery Freshman Center |
| 4/4 | Sat | ALL DAY Times TBA | Upper Level Solo/Beginner Ensemble + | ALL | Faubion MS |
| 4/7-8 | Tue Wed | ALL DAY | STAAR TESTING | 7th/8th | DMS |
| 4/9 | Thur | 6-8pm | Whirly Ball! | ALL | Whirly Ball (Plano) |
| 4/17 | Fri | 3:45(set up) 5:30-7:00(event) | 5th Grade Instrument Selection | Volunteers | DMS Stage/Cafe, Orchestra Room |
| 5/8 | Fri | ALL DAY | Pinstack Competition + | P | Pinstack in Allen |
| 5/11-14 | Mon-Thur | ALL DAY | STAAR TESTING | All | DMS |
| 5/15 | Fri | ALL DAY | Six Flags Reward Trip | ALL | Six Flags in Arlington |
| 5/19 | Tues | 7th P. | Combined Beginner Rehearsal + | B | Stage/Orchestra Room |
| 5/20 | Wed | 7pm | Spring Concert + | ALL | McKinney Boyd HS |
| 5/21 | Thurs | 8am-3pm | Peak Music Festival Competition | H | Denton (Murchison Center) |
| 5/22 | Fri | All Day | NRH20 Music Festival + | B | North Richland Hills |
| *Legend: B=Beginner P=Philharmonic S=Sinfonietta H=Honors |
+ Mandatory Attendance Required
* Winter Concert date may change to Tues, 12/17 at 7:00pm – McKinney North HS
