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Welcome to the official website of the Wauwatosa East Orchestra Program and the Orchestra Parents of Tosa East (OPTE). 

Decatur Cheese Fundraiser – December 8th through January 8th, Pickup January 30th

The selection of cheeses is below and a pdf version HERE. The order form is HERE. If you are a community member who would like to purchase cheese to help the orchestra. Please email your order to Jennifer Cortright at cortrightjennifer@gmail.com.

Winter Orchestra Concert

Our winter orchestra concert will take place next week, December 17th at 7:00pm in the Dale K. Hidde Theatre at Wauwatosa East. The concert features all three East orchestras, plus our fiddle ensemble AND Longfellow 8th grade. Following the concert we look forward to hosting a fantastic treat reception. Can’t attend in person, you can stream live via YouTube.

Norway, Here We Come!

The Tosa East Orchestra will be performing on a travel tour to Norway Oct 15th-22nd, 2027. Please see the orchestra newsletter for more information or click HERE. Last date for registration is December 12th. Chaperones also needed.

Orchestra Spirit Wear Sale is complete

The items will be available to be picked up around December 15th. You will be notified when they are ready.

Become a Friend of Wauwatosa East Orchestra

The Orchestra Parents of Wauwatosa East High School was formed to help underwrite workshops, clinics and scholarships for the orchestra and its members. With the support of the Friends, we can continue to improve the students’ musical knowledge, skills and experiences. Family and business memberships are acknowledged in concert programs during the year, and additional benefits are granted for upper levels of support.

For donations, please use the square link here: https://square.link/u/autsmrtn

Friends’ Giving Levels

$50 – $99 — Friend of the Wauwatosa East Orchestra
$100 or more —Platinum Sponsor of the Orchestra. 

WPR Classical Music Day

The Tosa East Orchestra sounded amazing along with the other groups who played at WPR’s Classical Music Day. Watch out for the future broadcast of the recording later in the year.

Welcome Back East Orchestra

Please see Mr. Hayden’s first newsletter with the performance dates and other important information. Link Here

2025/2026 Orchestra Fees

This year’s orchestra fee of $50 will be added directly to Infinite Campus and can be paid online, similar to other school/registration related fees. This should be available in Infinite Campus the last week of August. For those families new to East orchestra, we strive to offer the most comprehensive music education possible. The orchestra fee goes directly towards solo and ensemble registrations, guest performers, composer talks, commissioned pieces of music, transportation to/from special events, and in recent years, a consistent stream of instrument coaches to help our student musicians (including several members of the Milwaukee Symphony). While the orchestra fee does help finance these student
opportunities, it is not the intent to create any barriers or financial hardships to participate in orchestra at Wauwatosa East High School. If you have questions, concerns, or need assistance with the orchestra fee, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Hayden. Finally, students can choose to participate in our annual late fall fundraiser to offset the orchestra fee. Details regarding the fundraiser will be sent home in October.

Private Lessons

For a list of private lesson instructors that are recommended by Mr Hayden, please click on link: Link

Join Us – Call for New Board Members

Get involved

Orchestra parents of Tosa East is a volunteer organization designed to support and highlight the happenings of the Wauwatosa East Orchestra. OPTE supports our guest artists and clinicians, trip fundraising, solo & ensemble organization (and fees), organizes volunteers for our concerts, and too many other items to list. OPTE is currently seeking orchestra families to serve in various roles on their board. Orchestra Parents of Tosa East typically meets 4 times per year in addition to helping with various orchestra events.

Interested? Please contact Patti Foley, pattifoley70@gmail.com