THE HOWARD COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL HONORS ORCHESTRA 

Excellence of Character - Artistic Passion - The Power of Community

Music:

A Path to

Community

MSHO is a group of young musicians who represent the passion and enthusiasm for the creation of
beautiful music, for which Howard County students are known. This group is comprised of four
students from every middle school in Howard County, and will meet for two weeks of intensive rehearsals, culminating in a final performance. Through this experience, students will
learn to create challenging and high quality music with students from diverse backgrounds.

Character

Artistry

Community

Directors nominate students for the group in November. The ideal candidate demonstrates the following:

1. An enthusiasm for playing their instrument and making music as part of an orchestra.

2. A positive and coachable attitude with a willingness to make mistakes as part of the learning process.

3. Is consistently prepared and on-time for rehearsal.

4. Is self-motivated, hard-working, and disciplined.

5. Demonstrates respect for the director, their fellow musicians, and the music they are playing.

6. Can perform at an above average ability level as a result of their hard work and discipline.

Then, four of these nominees are selected for instrumentation reasons, and they will go on to represent their school in our ensemble.

Amanda McKay Co-Director of the middle School Honors Orchestra

Amanda McKay is the Orchestra & Band teacher at Ducketts Lane Elementary School.

Mrs. McKay holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Maryland and a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from National University, as well as National Board Certification in Early/Middle Childhood Music.

Mrs. McKay has also taught Orchestra at Harper’s Choice MS, Glenwood MS, Stevens Forrest ES and Swansfield ES.

In addition to teaching in HCPSS, Mrs. McKay has a private violin & viola studio in Columbia, MD.

Beyond music, Mrs. McKay loves spending time with her family, traveling, gardening and playing with her backyard chickens.

Jennifer kim, Co-Director of the middle School honors Orchestra

Ms. Kim is the current orchestra director at Talbott Springs Elementary School and Bollman Bridge Elementary School, helping them develop their musical abilities and instill a love for performing. Her active involvement in the Howard County music community includes collaborating with students in several GT/Sinfonia/Honors groups as a sectional coach. Recently, Ms. Kim performed in a side-by-side concert with the Howard County Youth Orchestra, formerly known as the High School GT Orchestra. In addition to her teaching responsibilities at school, she also manages a growing private violin/viola studio, with students who have been accepted into various honors groups throughout the state.

Outside of her teaching commitments, Ms. Kim dedicates time to her own musical pursuits. She regularly performs with the York Symphony Orchestra in Central PA, where she won the position of section violist in 2018. Ms. Kim also frequently performs with the Harrisburg Symphony and Maryland Symphony Orchestras.
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Ms. Kim has been a musician her whole life; at the age of four, she started piano lessons, began playing the viola at the age of eight, and started voice lessons at nine years old, and since her early years, she actively participated in various ensembles in her native New York community and beyond. Ms. Kim's academic achievements include earning a Bachelor of Music Degree in Viola Performance and Music Education, as well as a Master of Music degree in Viola Performance, both from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. During her time as a student, Ms. Kim has held several leadership roles in the Peabody Concert, Symphony, and Chamber Orchestras.

Rehearsal Schedule

All Rehearsals will be held at Clarksville Middle School:

• Monday, March 10, 2025 - 5:00-7:00pm 

• Wednesday, March 12, 2025 - 5:00-7:00pm

• Saturday, March 15, 2025 - 10:00am-12:00pm

• Monday, March 17, 2025 - 5:00-7:00pm

• Wednesday, March 19, 2025 - 5:00-7:00pm

Dress Rehearsal and Concert will be held at Atholton High School:

• Saturday, March 22, 2025 - 12:00pm Dress Rehearsal, 3:00pm Concert

• SNOW DATE: Sunday, March, 23, 2025

Availability

Due to the concentrated nature of this ensemble experience, it is imperative that students are available for all rehearsals, including snow dates, and for the entirety of each rehearsal. Please check your calendars and schedules to ensure that you can commit to all of the dates and times before accepting the nomination from your school director.

Attendance

Attendance is mandatory. Absences will only be excused for illness, death in the family, or court appearance. This is the Howard County policy for excused absences. Each student must be present for the entire rehearsal time. If students arrive late or leave early, the entire group suffers. The purpose of full rehearsals is to develop a particular sound through balance and blend. If a student is absent from a rehearsal, he/she must bring a note from a parent explaining the absence. A student’s membership will be reviewed after one unexcused absence(s) or excessive tardiness.

Preparation

Preparing the music is mandatory. Students are expected to practice at home in preparation for rehearsals. Instructional videos and resources will be available via Google Drive and email.

Behavior

Cooperation among students is a must in any performing group. Students who do not cooperate (fighting, name calling, etc.) will be dismissed from the orchestra.