United States
THO: Youth String Orchestra Celebrating the 42nd Season!
Tulsa Honors Orchestra, a youth string orchestra, with the founder, JODY NAIFEH, the OMTA Fellow for 2021!
Tulsa Honors Orchestra, Tulsa Honors Baroque and Debutante
Welcome
We will have in person orchestra this year. The plan involves every student (and parents and siblings) wearing masks, bringing your own music stand and we will set chairs 6 feet apart for required social distancing.
VENUE: Tulsa PAC
NEW REHEARSAL TIMES FOR 2020-2021:
THO 4:45-5:45
DEBUTANTE 4:45-5:45
BAROQUE 6:00-7:00
NEW SAFETY GUIDELINES
Welcome Back!
We welcome students back to Tulsa Honors Orchestra!
We will have in person orchestra beginning Monday, September 14, 2020.
Tulsa PAC: NORMAN THEATRE: 110 East 2nd street. Tulsa, OK 74103.
ENTER: 2nd street Entrance Stage Door.
EXIT: 2nd street Entrance by the Ticket Office
ELEVATORS: Only cellists and bassists will use the elevators. (At least for the first two or three weeks): Call Time for cellists and bassists is 4:30pm to use the elevator.
REQUIREMENTS: FACE COVERINGS & SOCIAL DISTANCING:
Masks will be required for every person. We ask that everyone maintain proper social distancing. Thank you!
We will have chairs placed 6 feet apart for orchestra. Please do not move the chairs. They will be set up ahead of time with proper distance placement for 6 feet social distancing. Students will be wearing masks walking into the building, during rehearsals and walking around the building while inside. Parents and siblings coming into rehearsals will also need to wear masks. Music stands will be provided by the PAC. Please treat all equipment with respect! We would love to stay at the PAC as our new home. Please say thank you to all security and staff at the PAC. Let's show the staff how polite our Orchestra can be!
The Tulsa Honors Orchestra will follow CDC guidelines. During the course of the year, it may or may not be possible to have concerts as this might be against CDC guidelines and policies. We will find out as we go. We will be prepared to record the final dress rehearsals of each semester to share with parents on email and social media. We will play this by ear. (Pun intended.)
Parents will need to sign a statement that your student will not arrive to rehearsals with the following symptoms: a fever of over 100º, cold or cough, sickness including vomiting and/or abdominal pain, new loss of taste or smell, or within 14 days of air travel/cruises, or returning from any form of international travel.
Guidelines will be updated on an ongoing basis as we are informed by data and through recommendations of the CDC and the Tulsa Health Department.
2020 Auditions
Auditions will be held in person, with required masks/social distancing for everyone.
Monday, August 31, 2020: AUDITIONS, Naifeh Ranch, 4:45-6:45pm.
Students with last names A-L.
Thursday, September 3, 2020: AUDITIONS, Naifeh Ranch, 4:45-6:45pm.
Students with last names M-Z.
Returning students do not need to audition unless auditioning for a more advanced orchestra level.
Auditions will be held at the Naifeh Ranch: 9700 West 81st street, Tulsa 74131.
Go through the gate to the top of the hill to the A-Frame house.
TUITION: (Payable to "THO")
One orchestra: $100 per semester, or $200 per year.
Two orchestras: $150 per semester, or $300 per year.
(For students in both THO and Tulsa Honors Baroque Orchestras.)
Audition requirements
Auditions are a relaxed process to get to know your Orchestra Directors and show off your skills! Please prepare a one, two or three octave scale. You will play your most polished piece (unaccompanied and it does not need to be memorized.) You will have some rocking sight reading that your Orchestra Directors will give you. Don't be alarmed - we just need to see that you understand how to read notes!
Questions? Please email Karen Harmon at kakaroo1@yahoo.com.
Our Partners
The Tulsa Honors Orchestra
Additional Information
TULSA HONORS ORCHESTRA (THO) is a youth string orchestra in its 42nd year of providing excellent string instruction to youth string players, as well as providing numerous fantastic opportunities for orchestra performances. THO regularly performs at Kilkenny's Irish Restaurant, McNellie's Irish Restaurant, the Tulsa Promenade Mall and the Mayo Hotel.
THO is comprised of 3 orchestras: Tulsa Honors Orchestra, Tulsa Honors Baroque (Advanced Orchestra) and the Debutante Orchestra. THO meets from 4:45-5:45pm every Monday. The Debutante Orchestra, for beginning sight reading students, also meets from 4:45-5:45pm. Tulsa Honors Baroque is a more challenging orchestra, which stays for an additional hour, from 6:00-7:00pm.
Other Performances for the 2020-2021 season usually include the annual Irish Street Festival Performance at Kilkenny's on March 17, the Mayo Hotel Holiday Performance on December 20, 2020 benefitting CAN, the Child Abuse Network, and a Young Composer's Concert (date TBA), in which original student compositions are performed with our Orchestra. This is a very unusual year. Performances this year might be canceled until 2021. OkMozart Performance for Tulsa Honors Baroque has been cancelled until June of 2021.
THO was founded by Jody Naifeh, Mother of Karen Naifeh Harmon, Violinist & Composer, the Tulsa Honors Orchestra Executive Director. Tulsa Honors Baroque directors are Karen Naifeh Harmon and Terry Pollak. THO coaches include Austin Pendergrass, cello coach, Missy Townsend, viola coach, Jocelyn Khalaf, violin coach and Sara Allen & Kyle Wagner, string bass coaches. The Debutante Orchestra directors are Lexy Harmon & Holly Wray.
THO was founded by Jody Naifeh 42 years ago. Jody has recently past away in December of 2019. We are all mourning her loss. Her spirit lives on through the amazing students she taught and through her loving family. The spirit, strength and level of commitment were evident especially in the fact that Jody was conducting the Tulsa Honors Orchestra until 3 weeks before her death. Jody Naifeh was a 2017 Harwelden Award: Bart Betow Memorial Music Education Award recipient and a 2011 Oklahoma Governor's Arts Award recipient and most recently, a Lifetime Educator Achievement Award recipient in 2019 through the National Fiddler's Hall of Fame.
THO last year announced our generous grant from the Oklahoma Art Council for the 2019-2020 year. THO is also appreciative of our generous grant from the Patti Johnson Wilson Foundation. Tulsa Honors Baroque is pleased to receive a Crescendo Music Award Grant from the Rotary Club of Tulsa for the 2019-2020 Season!
Select programming is made possible in part by the Oklahoma Arts Council, which receives support from the State of Oklahoma and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Questions? Please email Karen Harmon at kakaroo1@yahoo.com.
THO Rehearsals are held at the Tulsa Performing Art Center, Norman Theatre.
We are committed to hosting orchestra in a space that we can implement safety protocols to ensure students will be safe during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Tulsa Honors Orchestra does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.
TUITION: (Payable to "THO")
One orchestra: $100 per semester, or $200 per year.
Two orchestras: $150 per semester, or $300 per year.
(For students in both THO and Tulsa Honors Baroque Orchestras.)
Tulsa Honors Orchestra, Mondays 4:45-7:00pm.
Tulsa Honors Baroque Orchestra
The Tulsa Honors Baroque (then the Chamber Orchestra - Advanced Orchestra Students) had the opportunity to perform a Side by Side Concert with the Tulsa Signature Symphony July 3, 2018! The original composition "Catapult"by Karen Naifeh Harmon was commissioned by Erica Parker, of the Tulsa Signature Symphony.
Tulsa Honors Orchestra at Kilkenny's St Patrick's Day
Each year, the Tulsa Honors Orchestra performs Irish Fiddling at the Kilkenny's Street Festival for St. Patrick's Day!
Summer Camps 2021
The Tulsa Honors Orchestra holds summer camps at the Naifeh Ranch to keep students motivated and performing year round!
Twinkle Camp: June 9, 10, 11, 2021. 10:00am-1:00pm.
Cost $125 per student.
Coyote Mountain Advanced Quartet Camp: June 14-18, 2021.
Mon-Thur 9:30am-2:30pm,
Friday Performance at a Venue: To Be Determined,
arrive 10:45am, Perform 11:00am-12:00pm.
Cost: $175 per student.
Coyote Mountain Intermediate Orchestra Camp: June 21-25, 2021.
Mon-Thur 9:30am-2:30pm,
Friday Performance at a Venue: To Be Determined., arrive 10:45am, Perform 11:00am-12:00pm.
Cost: $175 per student.
Blue Jello Beginning Sight Reading Orchestra Camp: June 28-July 2, 2021.
Mon-Thur 9:30am-2:30pm, Friday Performance at a Venue: To Be Determined, arrive 10:45am, Perform 11:00am-12:00pm.
Cost: $175 per student.
Beatles Camp: July (Dates: TBA: please inquire as we get closer to summer.)
Mon-Thur 9:30am-2:30pm, Friday Performance, Venue To Be Determined. Arrive 10:45am, Perform 11:00am-12:00pm. Cost: $175 per student.
