CONCERT ORCHESTRA
Prerequisite: 8th Grade Orchestra or equivalent ensemble instruction
1 credit
FA/HUM H1
The Concert Orchestra is open to all string students in grades 9-12 and can be taken multiple times. The orchestra plays intermediate to advanced orchestral literature. Special attention will be given to developing and strengthening string techniques, and ensemble performance skills. Students can either re-enroll annually or audition upon completion for the more advanced Symphonic Orchestra. The Concert Orchestra performs at the winter and spring concerts, and occasionally throughout the community. The Concert Orchestra is required to attend all rehearsals held outside of school time.
Concert Orchestra is a full year course. It meets every day like every other class (not every other day like it does in middle school). You would have orchestra as often as you have your “cores”
Fulfills your Fine Arts requirement
We do fun trips, such as the upcoming New Orleans trip in Spring 2025!
Best part is the kids and the sense of community. We have a student lounge in our rehearsal room where music kids come and hang during their free periods. We seriously are like a big family, and we take a tremendous amount of pride in being together and taking care of one another.
Since all Freshmen orchestra students go into this course, we have designed an FAQ section below. Below the FAQ you can see some videos of the orchestra performing. The videos are of string pieces, as in its first year it was only a string orchestra.
FAQ for incoming freshmen
Can I audition for Symphonic Orchestra?
What if i am going to play sports?
Concert Orchestra IS a symphonic orchestra. It plays with winds just like middle school Symphonic did. We do have a class called Symphonic Orchestra (our most advanced ensemble), but it is only available to upperclassmen after a one year pre-requisite of Concert Orchestra and passing an audition. It’s a class, not an extracurricular club like in middle school. All freshmen play in Concert Orchestra. If you are a more advanced student, we encourage you to audition for Chamber Orchestra (which is a club, just like middle school). You can audition to be in Symphonic Orchestra as a sophomore as long as you have enrolled in Concert Orchestra.
Occasionally we come across 8th grade students who are under the perception that you can’t do music AND sports. Nothing could be further from the truth. Well over half of students in band and orchestra are also varsity athletes. Music is contained nearly entirely within the school day as classes.
How Difficult is the Music in Concert Orchestra?
If you are an incoming freshman, you can imagine Concert Orchestra to be a step up in difficulty from the middle school Chamber Orchestra. If you weren't in Chamber as a middle schooler, that's ok. Chamber was about grouping the best players together, not about doing super advanced repertoire that was beyond your playing abilities. All of the repertoire middle school Chamber Orchestra played is appropriate for a strong 8th grade and an average 9th grade. The music for Concert Orchestra is geared more for a strong 9th grade and an average 10th grade. If you want to see an example of the music we perform, check out the video at the top of the page.
ARE THERE BEFORE OR AFTER SCHOOL COMMITMENTS?
What If I am an advanced player and want to play more advanced music?
There are 2-3 evening rehearsals a semester in which we combine sections with winds to play as a whole orchestra. Other than that, the entirety of the program is contained within the school day. We have an understanding with the athletic department surrounding these rehearsals, so you need not worry about them interfering with your ability to play sports.
If you are a strong player, you might want to stretch your skills and challenge yourself, which is understandable. Symphonic Orchestra is a class at RHS and is only open to upperclassmen after a one year pre-requisite in Concert Orchestra and an audition. But, because Chamber Orchestra at RHS is still a club, and you can join that group. It is less selective than at middle school, and not because it's a lesser quality group. It's because at RHS, Symphonic is more challenging than Chamber Orchestra (different from middle school), and a lot of the players in Symphonic are upper classmen who find that they are challenged enough and are really busy after school and are happy there without needing something extra. The group is a healthy mix of upper and underclassmen. About 2/3 advanced freshmen and sophomores, 1/3 upperclassmen.
We also have a fun club called Rockestra, where the students play string arrangements of rock music. You should check that out. No audition necessary.
There’s also Pit Orchestra, which provides live music for our Grammy caliber high school musical performances. This is an auditioned experience.
There are also plenty of opportunities to play more advanced music and make the most out of your experience in Concert Orchestra even if you are a very advanced player, the biggest of which is leadership. Cultivating leadership skills like student led sectionals and taking a hand in the administration aspect of the orchestra are just a couple of ways for you to become more invested.
ON A FINAL NOTE…
Thank you for taking the time to visit our site and learn about our program. The video posted above should give you a good sense of who we are and what we do. We also have a full length student documentary on our program if you’d care to check it out. It was made entirely by students.
If you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me for even a second!
-Mr. Mac
Concert Orchestra
Video Performance Archives
2022-23
2023 Spring Concert:
Habanera & Marche des Contrebandiers, George Bizet
Carmen - Les Toreadors
Michael McNamara, Conductor
Recorded May 10, 2023 at the Anne S. Richardson Auditorium Ridgefield High School, Ridgefield, CT
Sponsored by Ridgefield Music Parents
Filmed and produced by Manheimer Video Productions
Winter Concert 2022:
To Jonnie - by Justin Tokke
Great Fugue in g minor - J.S. Bach arr. Gerald Doan
Merry Go Round of Life - Joe Hisaishi
Recorded at Anne Richardson Auditorium, Ridgefield High School, Ridgefield, CT
Michael McNamara, Conductor
Produced by Noah Manheimer of Manheimer Video Productions and Ridgefield Music Parents
2021-2022
2020-2021
Ridgefield High School Concert Orchestra, May 25
Hungarian Dance No. 6 by Johannes Brahms
Millennium by Richard Meyer Michael McNamara, Conductor
Recorded, edited, and mastered by Noah Manheimer at Manheimer Video Productions
Ridgefield High School Concert Orchestra performs Overture Russe by Merle J. Isaac. November 19, 2020. Michael McNamara, Conductor. Produced by Manheimer Video Productions. Drone footage by Aerial 360 Solutions.
Ridgefield High School Concert Orchestra performs Orange Jam by Jeff Bishop. Michael McNamara, Conductor. Filmed by Manheimer Video Productions. Drone footage by Aerial 360 Solutions.
2019-2020
Performed by the Ridgefield High School Symphonic Orchestra. December 11, 2019 in the Anne Richardson Auditorium at Ridgefield High School. Michael McNamara, Conductor. Filmed, produced, and recorded by Noah Manheimer at Manheiner Music & Video Productions, Ridgefield, CT. https://www.manheimerproduction.com Sponsored by Ridgefield Music Parents, Inc.
Performed by the Ridgefield High School Symphonic Orchestra. December 11, 2019 in the Anne Richardson Auditorium at Ridgefield High School. Michael McNamara, Conductor. Filmed, produced, and recorded by Noah Manheimer at Manheiner Music & Video Productions, Ridgefield, CT. https://www.manheimerproduction.com Sponsored by Ridgefield Music Parents, Inc.