ISD - History of the Orchestra Program

Program Year	School Year	Highlights and Milestones	Students	Schools	Grades
(Pre)	1979–1983	Taught orchestra in 1 elementary school. Lobbied for district-wide orchestra program.	125	1	5–6
1	1983–1984	Started district program in 6 elementary schools with 2 part-time teachers.	36	6	5
2	1984–1985	Both teachers now full-time. Added 3 middle schools. 63 students/teacher.	126	9	5–6
3	1985–1986	94 students/teacher.	188	9	5–7
4	1986–1987	Added 2nd class in each of 3 middle schools. 131 students/teacher.	263	9	5–8
5	1987–1988	New class in each of 2 high schools. Now consistently starting about 250 5th graders each year. 157 students/teacher.	314	11	5–9
6	1988–1989	Added 3rd teacher part-time. Combined middle-school orchestras into one. Combined high-school orchestras into one. Establishment of Evergreen Philharmonic. First Baroque Festival. First parents' organization (ISDOPA). 160 students/teacher.	401	12	5–10
7	1989–1990	Added 2nd orchestra in each high school. First performance on Washington State Ferries. 2 players chosen for All-State Orchestra. 177 students/teacher.	442	12	5–11
8	1990–1991	First graduation of 8-year orchestra students. First performance of a major work in original form. String quartet went toSunndal, Norway (sister city to Issaquah). First trip to Canada (Victoria and Vancouver). 4 players chosen for All-Northwest Orchestra. 204 students/teacher.	510	12	5–12
9	1991–1992	Added 4th teacher part-time. Establishment of two levels of high-school orchestras. Conversion of Evergreen Philharmonic to audition-only. First trip to southern California (Disneyland and USC). 5 players chosen for All-State Orchestra. 191 students/teacher.	573	13	5–12
10	1992–1993	Added 5th teacher part-time, 3rd and 4th now full-time. Return trip to Canada (University of British Columbia). 3 players chosen for All-Northwest Orchestra. 138 students/teacher.	622	14	5–12
11	1993–1994	5th teacher now full-time. Return trips to both southern California and Canada. 5 players chosen for All-State Orchestra. 137 students/teacher.	685	15	5–12
12	1994–1995	First CD produced. Return trip to Canada. 3 players chosen for All-Northwest Orchestra. 167 students/teacher.	836	16	5–12
13	1995–1996	Tried lottery to limit 5th grade class sizes. Return trips to both southern California and Canada. 5 players chosen for All-State Orchestra. 174 students/teacher.	872	16	5–12
14	1996–1997	Abandoned 5th grade class lottery as ineffective and iniquitous. 184 students/teacher.	922	17	5–12
15	1997–1998	Added 6th teacher full-time. Return trip to southern California. 163 students/teacher.	975	18	5–12
16	1998–1999	First Swingin' in Vienna. 1 player chosen for All-Northwest Orchestra, 4 chosen for All-State Orchestra. 167 students/teacher.	1000	18	5–12
17	1999–2000	Added 7th teacher full-time. Return trip to southern California. 10 players chosen for All-State Orchestra. 164 students/teacher.	1146	18	5–12
18	2000–2001	Added 8th teacher part-time. First chamber music curriculum. First Evergreen Philharmonic Web site. 3 players chosen for All-Northwest Orchestra, 10 chosen for All-State Orchestra. 164 students/teacher.	1229	19	5–12
19	2001–2002	8th teacher now full-time. Return trip to southern California. 11 players chosen for All-State Orchestra. 164 students/teacher.	1310	19	5–12
20	2002–2003	First trip to London. 3 players chosen for All-Northwest Orchestra, 8 chosen for All-State Orchestra. 168 students/teacher.	1340	19	5–12
21	2003–2004	5th grade program moved to before school day. 3 orchestra teachers left district. Return trip to southern California. 10 players chosen for All-State Orchestra. 136 students/teacher.	682	7	6–12
22	2004–2005	5th grade program still before school day but taught in middle schools. 6 players chosen for All-Northwest Orchestra, 8 chosen for All-State Orchestra. 140 students/teacher.	702	20	5–12
23	2005–2006	First Strings for Kids. Return trip to southern California. 10 players chosen for All-State Orchestra. 136 students/teacher.	682	21	5–12
24	2006–2007	Return trip to London, First trip to Paris. First award of Niles Family Evergreen Scholarship. 2 players chosen for All-Northwest Orchestra, 4 chosen for All-State Orchestra. 145 students/teacher.	726	22	5–12
25	2007–2008	4 players chosen for All-State Orchestra. 162 students/teacher.	812	22	5–12
26	2008–2009	Build-out of Skyline HS and rebuild of Issaquah HS begun. 4 players chosen for All-Northwest Orchestra, 4 chosen for All-State Orchestra. 164 students/teacher.	819	22	5–12
27	2009–2010	2 players chosen for All-State Orchestra. 181 students/teacher.	905	22	5–12
28	2010–2011	Build-out of Skyline HS and rebuild of Issaquah HS completed. Pacific Cascade changes from freshman campus to middle school.		23	5–12

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ISD - History of the Orchestra Program

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