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

Congratulations to Mr. Hayden

Congratulations to Mr. Hayden and Mr. Etter for being awarded a 2026 Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Teacher Fellow. You can read the news release here.

Norway 2027

The Spring Fundraiser for students traveling to Norway in 2027 has started. Information has been sent via the Gateway Messenger. Coffee descriptions can be found here, order forms here and sell sheets can be found here. Last day is April 17th.

Upcoming Concerts

The All City Strings Festival will be at Brookfield East High School on April 12th. The performance starts at 1:45pm and lasts about 45 minutes. Students should arrive at 1:15pm. The WSMA State Solo & Ensemble Festival is on April 25th at UW-Milwaukee from 8am-4pm. More info at WMSA is here. The Spring Orchestra Concert is on May 20th at Wauwatosa East at 7pm. Students should arrive at 6:30pm.

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. 

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