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Why Music? ISD - History of the Orchestra Program
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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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The Issaquah School District complies with all applicable federal and state rules and regulations and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities, or employment related matters, and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees are designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, District Title IX Coordinator, Section 504/ADA Coordinator or Compliance Coordinator for 28A.540 and 28A.642 RCW, in writing or by telephone. The Issaquah School District will also take steps to assure that national origin persons who lack English language skills can participate in all educational programs, services and activities. For information regarding interpretation and translation services or transitional bilingual education programs, contact Kathy Connally in writing or by telephone.
For general information or to be directed to a specific department, please contact the ISD Receptionist at 425-837-7000.
Amanda Dorey, Title IX Coordinator Melissa Evans, District HIB Coordinator Lisa Hechtman, Civil Rights Compliance Officer Pam Ridenour, Section 504 Coordinator
425-837-7000 5150 220th AVE SE, Issaquah, WA 98029
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