Community Music EDUCATION Programs 2025-26

ABOUT THIS ENSEMBLE

Student age & grade range 

• 11 -14 years old, 6th - 8th grade

Program director

• Amy Eichers, SHS Orchestra Teacher, 23 years teaching Orchestra & Choir, DSSO second violin, DSSO Youth Sinfonia Co-Conductor 

Ensembles & Activities (what they do each year)

• Spartan Orchestra (9th Grade)

• Concert Orchestra (10-12 grades)

• Advanced Concert Orchestra (9-12 grade, entrance by audition)

• Advanced Orchestra Methods

• Chamber Orchestra (extra curricular group)

• Private and Group Lessons

• Ensemble Coaching

• Music Theory

• Music Composition

• Music Listening Contest

ENJOY PAST SHS ORCHESTRA CONCERTS HERE

ABOUT THIS ENSEMBLE

Student age & grade range 

• 11 -14 years old, 6th - 8th grade

Program director

• Jenna Mattson, Superior Middle School Orchestra Teacher, 25 years teaching Strings, Orchestra & Classroom Music grades K-12

Ensembles & Activities (what they do each year) 

• Per Mrs. Mattson: "In each grade, students learn to read music and play their instruments independently, in a group, and on stage in a concert setting. 6th and 7th graders meet every other day in Instrument Groups to learn to play their instruments and read music. 6th graders learn the basics of reading music and the complicated position and posture of shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers to learn to play Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, and how to hold and use the bow to make a strong sound. In 7th grade, we learn additional pitches and learn to use our bows in more advanced ways so we can be expressive in our playing by playing loud and soft, and short, smooth, or accented notes to bring more meaning to the pieces we perform. In 8th grade, we learn even more pitches and more advanced bow techniques to expand our musicality. We start learning vibrato and perform many advanced pieces. One of the most important skills we build in 8th grade is learning how to play complicated pieces as a group, when each section of the Orchestra has a unique and challenging part that has to fit together to make beautiful and exciting music. This is why 8th grade Orchestra meets every day--these are essential skills that take time and focus each and every day in a large group."

Expected Number & Location of Performances

• 6th graders perform in the Winter and Spring SMS Orchestra Concerts at Superior Middle School (SMS), 7th graders have one additional Festival Performance at SMS plus Solo and Ensemble. 8th graders perform all other concerts plus a Fall concert with the SHS and Superior Strings Day with SHS and UWS Orchestras, and a Spring Middle School Festival at UWS. 

Mrs. Mattson, what is unique / special about this program? 

• Superior has a long and proud legacy of Orchestra. We are one of the very few strings programs in Northern WI and MN. The SMS Orchestra learns and connects with the SHS and UWS Orchestras to show students how they can keep playing music throughout their high school and college careers, and how rewarding and fun it is to fill your days with music. Many Superior School District Orchestra students go on to college as Orchestra members, some of them as music majors or minors. 

Mrs. Mattson, what impact does this program have on your students? 

• Learning to play an Orchestra instrument is really challenging! Sticking with that challenge builds character, perseverance and resilience and helps kids know they can overcome obstacles and improve through hard work and dedication. Students learn to respect and support the learning of their classmates because all Orchestra students have different skills and challenges. It takes many years to make a beautiful sound and takes a lot of practice and hand and finger strength and training our ears to play in tune. Students build brain connections from reading and decoding music notes on time with the steady beat, while listening to their fellow students, hearing and adjusting their own sounds, and letting the music connect with their emotions and the meaning in the pieces they play. It's truly magical what is going on in their brains! It is such an honor to watch them develop into musicians and the impact that has on the rest of their lives, from how they connect with their classmates to how they approach the learning in other classes. Oh, and it's a lot of fun!

ENJOY PAST SMS ORCHESTRA CONCERTS HERE