Fine Arts - Orchestra

Please visit our website for the most up-to-date information.

Concert Orchestra is by audition only.

All are welcome to join String Camerata, even beginners!

About our Orchestra:
The JRHS Orchestra consists of two outstanding ensembles: Concert Orchestra and the String Camerata. These ensembles perform frequently throughout the greater Richmond community, including appearances at nursing homes, bookstores, elementary schools, and museums. In 2001, the Orchestra performed at the Virginia Teacher of the Year Awards Ceremony; we have also performed at the Chesterfield County 2002 and 2004 Teacher of the Year ceremonies. As part of our community service mission, we provided music for the 2005 Chesterfield County GED ceremonies. We are pleased to provide music for a variety of important school events, including Convocation and Senior Awards.

Enrichment:
In November 2002, the Orchestra hosted and performed on the same concert as the internationally renowned fiddling sensation "Barrage." We have also taken trips to see performances of the Richmond Symphony, the Turtle Island String Quartet, bassist Edgar Meyer, acclaimed electric violinist Mark Wood, and Yo-Yo Ma.

In 2005 we hosted the first annual Richmond Festival of Music "Ear Project" concert series with renowned cellist James Wilson. Every year, we invite string players from the Richmond Symphony to our school for in-school performances and workshops. In 2005 we saw a performance of Itzhak Perlman, the greatest living violin player. In 2006, we saw the National Symphony perform at the Kennedy Center.

Repertoire:
The Orchestra performs a wide variety of music: Bach, Brahms and Vivaldi are certainly part of our repertoire, but our students also get the chance to play Gershwin, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Five for Fighting, Coldplay, and popular tunes from radio and film. We have performed and recorded grade 6 music, which is professional level music. Frequently we play music for full orchestra, including masterworks by Mozart and Beethoven.

Opportunities:
The Orchestra proudly includes students who participate in All-County, the Richmond Youth Symphony, Central Regional Orchestra, Senior Regional Orchestra, and the All-Virginia Orchestra. Students from these ensembles have gone on to major in music at the college level.

Requirements and Fees:
There is a $10 fee for this and all high school music performance classes. Students are also asked to join Boosters, and to help with fundraising.

Concert Dress: please see our website.

All rehearsal, concerts and auditions are required and included in the student's grade. Only real illness or "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunities will excuse students from these events.

This string program is also the home of the first high school student chapter of ASTA in the Commonwealth of Virginia. (ASTA = American String Teacher Association). ASTA is a service organization that allows students to share their love of music with others in the community.

Taught by Beth Almore