High School Orchestra

Key Dates for WHS Orchestra Students 2011-2012

Photos from the 12/8/10 WHS Orchestra Concert, courtesy of Amy Zhang

Orchestra Photos from Spring Instrumental Concert! (Photos courtesy of Maddie Ripley and Amy Zhang)

WHS Orchestra performs in Symphony Hall on Saturday, April 17th for the MICCA "Stars at Symphony". The Chamber Orchestra, and Wind Ensemble also performed on that date. The Concert Choir will perform in Mechanics Hall on May 9th. (Photo courtesy of Amy Zhang)

Key Dates for WHS Orchestra Students 2011-2012

Dates noted in italics are required events. All required concerts and festivals involve both Symphonia and Honors Chamber Orchestra members.

Note:  Students interested in competing in Senior or Junior Districts should obtain required musical selections as soon a possible.  Please see Ms. McCann or www.mmeaeasterndistrict.org for more information on audition requirements.

Orchestra Elective

Wellesley High School Orchestra

Orchestra is an intermediate- to advanced-level orchestra for grade 9-12 students who play violin, viola, cello, or bass, as well as brass or woodwind instruments or percussion.  Orchestra currently meets during Block 1, 5 days out of the 7-day cycle.  Membership in Orchestra is open to all students who have developed proficiency on their instrument that enables them to play the repertoire of the ensemble.  While an audition is required, its purpose is to allow the director to get to know the level of each student and to help determine seating.  Orchestra performs music for string orchestra, small orchestra (which features a small core group of brass and wind players scored one on a part, such as a Haydn symphony or a Telemann overture), and, in one concert each year, music for large orchestra (such as a Beethoven symphony.)   Orchestra often performs at the MICCA Festival each spring.  In alternate years, Orchestra may participate in a large departmental collaboration called the Masterwork Concert, featuring full symphonic chorus and orchestra.  Orchestra shares many concert venues with Chamber Orchestra, and occasionally combines with them.  Infrequent after-school or pre-concert rehearsals are required to this end.  In general, repertoire is drawn from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Contemporary eras, and occasionally includes other genres such as bluegrass, movie music, and jazz.  Small-group instruction and sectional rehearsals are sometimes offered as adjunct activities.  Orchestra grades reflect how a student uses his or her abilities in daily class participation, individual improvement and concert attendance.  Concert attendance is mandatory, and on-time class attendance is critical.   Participation in private lessons is strongly recommended.  Please see “Participation Parameters” for more information on attendance requirements.

Wellesley High School Chamber Orchestra

Chamber Orchestra is an advanced-level string ensemble comprising the most skilled and committed string players of Wellesley High School.  Students in grades 9-12 are eligible.  Chamber Orchestra currently meets during Block 3, 5 days out of the 7-day cycle.  Participation requires an audition and permission of the instructor.  Chamber Orchestra performs a wide variety of string orchestra literature, and occasionally performs with soloists from within the group as well as special guest soloists.  Chamber Orchestra often performs at the MICCA Festival each spring.  In alternate years, Chamber Orchestra may participate in a large departmental collaboration called the Masterwork Concert, featuring full symphonic chorus and orchestra.  Chamber Orchestra shares many concert venues with Orchestra, and occasionally combines with them.  Infrequent after-school or pre-concert rehearsals are required to this end.  In general, repertoire is drawn from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Contemporary eras, and very occasionally includes other genres such as bluegrass and jazz.  Small-group instruction and sectional rehearsals are sometimes offered as adjunct activities.  Chamber Orchestra grades reflect how a student uses his or her abilities in daily class participation, individual improvement and concert attendance.  Concert attendance is mandatory, and on-time class attendance is critical.   Participation in private lessons is strongly recommended.  Please see “Participation Parameters” for more information on attendance requirements.

Participation Parameters

Wellesley High School Orchestra

String Players

It is recommended that string players participate in Orchestra all 5 days of the cycle.  However, permission may be granted by the instructor for a student to participate 4 days per cycle if this is necessary to accommodate another for-credit class that also meets during Block 1.  Also, students who wish to participate in both orchestra and a choir or jazz band that meets during Block 1 are permitted to take Orchestra 3 days per cycle in order to accommodate the other music ensemble.  It is the student’s responsibility to get permission from both teachers involved before scheduling these exceptions.  Other than these exceptions listed above, all string students are expected to participate in Orchestra all 5 days per cycle that this class meets.

Brass/Wind/Percussion Players

There are now two ways that brass/wind/percussion players may participate in Orchestra:  regular participation for credit, or in the once-per-year large orchestra work, performed in the winter, without credit.

For Credit

Orchestra will accept a small, core group of brass/wind/percussion players interested in performing small works for orchestra. Repertoire is chosen with these specific brass/wind/ percussion players in mind.  Students develop an “orchestral sound” based on the solo nature (one on a part) that is typical of this repertoire, making participation in small orchestra a different type of experience from band or wind ensemble.   

Interested players will participate in Orchestra on 2 or 3 days only of the 5 days the group meets, and credit will be given according to the number of days of participation.  (The other days, Orchestra will work on strings-only repertoire.)  Acceptance is contingent upon an informal audition (same as for string students) and is also based on scheduling, as all students must be available to participate in Orchestra on the same 2 or 3 days per cycle.

Non-credit

In the late fall, the year’s large orchestra work will be announced.  Rehearsals and the performance occur in the winter.  A sign-up sheet is posted, and interested band and wind ensemble students may sign up just for the once-yearly large orchestra work.  Students rehearse for a number of weeks prior to the concert during Block 1, and come to Block 1 orchestra rehearsals on the days that they are able to attend.  Permission may be granted from the student’s jazz band or chorus director to miss an occasional rehearsal in order to participate in Block 1 rehearsals of the large orchestra work. 

Wellesley High School Chamber Orchestra

Chamber Orchestra is an advanced-level string ensemble open only to string players, by audition, and requires permission from the instructor.  It currently meets Block 3, 5 days per cycle, and all students participate all days.

Audition Information 

In late May and early June, all grade 8-11 Orchestra members and interested new students will be asked to play an informal audition during class time for participation in the Wellesley High School Orchestra and the Wellesley High School Chamber Orchestra.  New students who move to Wellesley over the summer will be given the opportunity to audition before school during the first few days of school.

Audition repertoire is the same for both Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra and is available from the director, Ms. McCann.  Copies of the string audition music will also be made available on the Performing Arts bulletin boards in the hallway behind the stage area at the high school, and in front of the Performing Arts office at the middle school.  Brass/wind/percussion students should see or email Ms. McCann for audition music.

Each audition will be short.  You may not be asked to play everything you have practiced.  The pieces chosen for the audition will likely be performed during the next school year, so your practice will benefit you beyond the audition.  You will not be graded on this audition.  Rather, it will provide a baseline for your current playing level.  It is understandable that you may be nervous.  If you would like to come to the audition with a “playing buddy” you may do so, but you will play individually.  If some parts of the excerpts are not within your reach right now, please play the measures you can play.  Please play at least some part of each excerpt.  It is expected that you will need to practice for this audition in order to play well.  The goal is not to be perfect, but rather to learn the orchestra parts to the best of your ability.  Effort will be recognized and rewarded.  Strings:  you are welcome to change bowings or fingerings indicated if your teacher feels that it is best to do so for the purpose of the audition.

All students with playing skill appropriate to the repertoire are accepted into Orchestra.  Because Chamber Orchestra is smaller and is an advanced-level ensemble, acceptance is by permission of the director.  All students who are currently in Chamber Orchestra are automatically invited to be in Chamber Orchestra the next year, but an audition is still necessary and required of all students for seating considerations.

Audition Repertoire

Scale  Please prepare one scale of your choice -- 2 or 3 octaves.  Please use a slurred bowing that involves using your whole bow if you are a string player.

Excerpts  Excerpts for each instrument are listed below.  Please practice with a metronome.  Please play as close to what you think is reasonable performance tempo as possible.  If you play under-tempo, that is okay, but you should be aware of your current tempo as it relates to the performance tempo.  Listen to the recordings suggested to inform your tempos.

Solo  A short solo or étude excerpt of your choice is required only of string players who are interested in sitting in first stand. Brass and wind players may also prepare a short solo excerpt.   It is likely that there will be time only for about one minute or less of your solo, so do not feel it necessary to prepare more than one page of your solo for the audition. 

Copies of excerpts are available from Ms. McCann at the high school and at the middle school.  Please email her at maryalice_mccann@wellesley.k12.ma.us if you have any questions.

Recordings Available Online

Suggested recording of this arrangement of “Russlan and Ludmilla”:

http://www.alfred-music.com/player/AlfredOrchestra2007/26581/player.html?osCsid=0177f1d1c082f4dcaf1ca81f57a4af64

Suggested Recording of “The Overture to Magic Flute” on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h018rMnA0pM

Suggested Recording (from the original) “Swan Lake” on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls4C_CxDLvI&feature=related

Required Excerpts

Russlan and Ludmilla Overture

All violins:  ms 1- downbeat of ms 45

Viola:  ms 1- downbeat of ms 45, and ms 79-97

Cello:  ms 1 - downbeat of ms 19, and ms 61 - downbeat of ms 89

Bass:  ms 1 - downbeat of ms 19, ms 69 - downbeat of ms 81, ms 104-109, and ms 124-131

(No brass/winds/percussion)

Overture to the Magic Flute

All violins:  (Allegro) ms 103-126

Viola:  (Allegro) ms 103-126

Cello:  (Allegro) ms 103-126

Bass:  (Allegro) ms 109-126

Bass/Winds/Timp:  All Allegro sections of the piece - (this piece is the only one to prepare)

Swan Lake Scenes

All violins:  ms 2-20

Viola:  pick-up to ms 27 - downbeat of ms 40

Cello:  pick-up to ms 19 - downbeat of ms 26

Bass:  pick-up to ms 19 - downbeat of ms 26

(No brass/winds/percussion)

2009-2010 WHS Orchestra

2009-2010 WHS Chamber Orchestra

2009-2010 WHS Orchestra Seniors

Last modified 8/31/11