Give the Gift of Music 2023: RMS in SDUSD VAPA MS Honor Music Ensembles.

Participating in the VAPA MS Honors Orchestra was exciting! It was fun to be in a community who cared about the music and worked hard towards a common goal. The experience was cheerful instead of stressful. Everyone there had a passion for it and enjoyed it as much as I did.

– Aileen, Viola, RMS Adv Orchestra.

Mr. Elias Kocivar, Honor Band & Orchestra RMS Music Students, Principal Steinberger at SDUSD MS Honor Ensembles Concert, February 2023

This year, a record number of seven RMS Students represented Roosevelt IB MS at the SDUSD VAPA MS Honor Band, Orchestra and Choir Concerts. Let’s Support the RMS Music program that prepares our Students to reach the level of SDUSD VAPA Honor Music Ensembles!!

Give the Gift of Music TODAY!!

If you prefer to donate by check, please contact RMS Music Boosters to make arrangements: roofriendsmusicboosters@gmail.com.

BRAVO to our SDUSD Visual & Performing Arts Honor Music Students!!

8th Grade

Sofía Buby, Orchestra, Double Bass.
Katie Ferbert, Orchestra, Violin.
Ruby Tullis, Treble Choir.
Oslo Treviño, Band & Orchestra Winds, Trumpet.

7th Grade

Aileen Gienapp, Orchestra, Viola.
Paige Shepherd Decker, Orchestra, Violin.
Roma Snodgrass, Orchestra, Violin.

Before this year, I had never had an opportunity like this one, so my Honors Orchestra experience was a novelty to me. It was a great chance to learn what being in a more professional orchestra is like and to meet new people. I also really enjoyed making music with like-minded peers. Overall, I think that this was a really good experience.

– Sofía, Double Bass, RMS Advanced Orchestra and Jazz Band.

I didn’t know what to expect. Would the pieces be difficult? What if all of the kids are so much better than me? What I found was a welcoming group of fun and musical people. I made friends, I had fun, I ate good food before rehearsals (thanks mom and dad for getting us burgers). It was a blast!

At the concert, all of us standing before the audience was an amazing time, a beautiful moment that I hope to experience again. It was hard to say goodbye to everyone after the concert, especially since I know that most of my orchestra friends are in 8th Grade. They’ll be moving on to the HS Honor Orchestra next year. I hope to join them.

– Roma, Violin, RMS Advanced Orchestra.

I didn’t plan on pursuing music. The summer before 6th Grade, my mom signed me up for music camp at Roosevelt MS. I wanted to try out for Band, but they were full. My friend Roma and I both decided to give it a shot with the violin. Once I heard the sound the violin makes on the A string, I was hooked. I love it!

Mr. Bill, the RMS Music Strings Coach, told me about Honor Orchestra. At first, I was a bit hesitant, but my family and friends encouraged me to do it. I practiced my scales and dynamics. Then, came the auditions. In a week, I found out I got in! I was so happy!

Thanks to carpools, my friends and I went to our rehearsals together. Practices lasted from 5:30 to 9:00 PM; it was crazy, but we learned so much. We practiced and practiced until we got to perform.

From the wings, I could see my family. From inside, I got to see all the new friends I made! We played “Dragon Dances,” “Doves Vagary,” “Adagio Cantabile” (which I got to introduce), “Danza de mi Corazon” which we played with the Orchestra Winds / Band. All in all, it was a great experience, and I’m happy I was a part of it.

– Paige, 7th Grade, Violin, RMS Advanced Orchestra.

Save the Dates!

SDUSD VAPA Jazz Ensemble Concert

April 21 (Friday, 7 – 8 PM), Hoover HS.
Featuring RMS Music Students: Oslo Treviño (Trumpet) and Pax Willoughby (Double Bass).

RooFriends Music Boosters & AmateurPianists.org present “Music for a Lifetime” Concert.

April 22 (Saturday, 11 AM – 12 PM), RMS Auditorium. FREE!! All are welcome to attend.
Featuring RMS Orchestra, SDHS and McKinley Elementary Students with AmateurPianists Musicians.