Orchestra

IMS is proud to offer our students the opportunity to play violin, viola, cello, or bass in our string orchestra program. The Indianola Community School District’s first orchestra was established in 1915. Today, orchestra students are participating in a proud tradition with unlimited possibilities, a great example of our district’s vision statement.

Students may elect to enroll in orchestra at each grade level.   Students have small group lessons for 20 minutes every week and meet as full ensembles every other day for rehearsals. There are three orchestras at IMS, including 6th grade, 7th grade, and 8th grade orchestras.

Orchestra students perform in three concerts each school year. Additionally, they can choose to participate in several activities outside of school, including the small performances at the IMS Music Boosters Craft Show, the Indianola Music Festival, the Iowa Junior Honors Orchestra, and the Des Moines Youth Symphony.

Students in orchestra should have an instrument plus the following supplies: rosin, shoulder rest or sponge (violin/viola only), rock stop (cello/bass only), and music and lesson book material assigned by the teachers. We recommend that families rent instruments from Becker’s Fine Stringed Instruments or Rieman Music to have the best options for equipment and repair, but we do have a limited amount of school instruments available for students who cannot afford a rental. Musical Instrument Check Out Form

Mrs. Bendon and Mrs. Terrell are the orchestra teachers. Please email them today if you have any questions about orchestra!

Mrs. Bendon (6th and 7th grade orchestras) katherine.bendon@indianola.k12.ia.us

Mrs. Terrell (8th grade orchestra) heidi.terrell@indianola.k12.ia.us