Preparatory Orchestra

The Preparatory Orchestra, conducted by Donna Jelen, is the perfect place for intermediate string players looking to develop mature orchestral skills.

The repertoire of Preparatory Orchestra presents exciting technical and musical challenges for the advancing string player. Students in Preparatory Orchestra continue to develop essential orchestral skills while incorporating a wide variety of bowing, fingering and rhythmic patterns and exploring a full palette of musical expression.

Students should be comfortable sight reading and performing music in Major and minor keys up to four sharps or flats and should be adept with beat subdivisions and combinations. Students enrolled in Preparatory Orchestra are expected to participate in their school music programs. The orchestra performs at the end of each semester with the other Preparatory division orchestras.

Orchestra Schedules

You can download this year's orchestra calendars below:

• Fall
• Spring

Auditions

Auditions are required. Auditions for Preparatory Orchestra will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2013 from 2:00 pm-5:00m pm and Saturday, May 11, 2013 from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm. THERE WILL BE NO FALL AUDITIONS. Audition requirements are as follows:

• Scales: The student must be prepared to play one 3 octave scale, as well as the conductor's choice of any two octave major scale from 3 sharps to 3 flats and their parallel minor.
  
  
• Solo Piece: Select and prepare a piece that demonstrates a range of techniques (i.e. shifting, spiccato, martele, vibrato). The piece should be performance-ready and agreed upon with the private teacher.
  
  
• Sight Reading: A short selection of sight reading (with shifting) will be provided to each student during the audition.
  
  

You can download the Audition Requirements PDF for a full list of orchestra requirements, or the Preparatory Orchestra Audition Application PDF for more detailed information.

Absence & Tardiness Policies

Students enrolled in Beginning Orchestra are expected to participate in their school music programs. The orchestra performs at the end of each semester with the Preparatory division orchestras.

Absence Policies >

Tardiness: Latecomers are a disruption to the rehearsal. If a student arrives to a rehearsal after it has begun, they will be tuned outside of the rehearsal area and seated in the back of the section for the duration of the rehearsal.

Excessive tardiness and/or absences may result in a permanent change of seating.