Orchestra Programs
Ensemble opportunities for developing and advanced musicians designed to build musical skill, collaboration, and performance experience.
Explore Orchestra Programs
MVYSO offers orchestra programs for a wide range of playing levels and musical interests.
After they audition, students are placed in ensembles based on: playing experience, musical readiness, instrumentation needs, and student interests.
Programs are designed to help students continue developing ensemble skills, confidence, musicianship, and performance experience in a collaborative setting. Private lessons are strongly encouraged for students participating in orchestra programs.
BEGINNER
Debut Orchestra
A beginning orchestra experience for novice string players developing foundational ensemble skills.
BEGINNER
Philharmonia Orchestra
A beginner full orchestra experience for students building confidence with more complex rhythms, key signatures, and ensemble playing.
INTERMEDIATE
Concert Orchestra
An intermediate full orchestra for students performing increasingly challenging symphonic repertoire.
ADVANCED
Symphony Orchestra
MVYSO’s most advanced full orchestra for highly skilled student musicians seeking advanced ensemble performance opportunities.
SPECIALTY PROGRAM
Jazz Orchestra
A jazz ensemble experience focused on improvisation, collaboration, and exploring jazz repertoire.
SPECIALTY PROGRAM
Ambassador Ensemble
Select student ensembles representing MVYSO through community performances and special events.
Debut Orchestra
Best Fit For
Debut Orchestra is designed for novice string players who are beginning to develop independent ensemble playing skills.
What Students Learn
Students focus on:
ensemble playing fundamentals
rhythm accuracy
note reading
listening skills
beginning shifting techniques
independent part playing
Skill Expectations
Equivalent to:
ASTA Level 1 through beginning Level 3
RCM Levels 1–3
Suzuki Books 1–3
Students should have knowledge of the keys of A, D, and G.
Instrument-Specific Expectations
Violin & Viola: Students should be able to play Suzuki Book 1 Minuet 1 or a similar piece and understand low second finger placement.
Cello: Students should be beginning to shift to first position.
Bass: Students should be beginning to shift to third position.
Instruments Accepted
Violin
Viola
Cello
Bass
Audition Information
Audition materials are required for placement, view them here.
Schedule & Season
Oct. - May: Mondays from 5:45–6:45 p.m.
Orientation takes place in early October for students and parents.
Philharmonia Orchestra
Best Fit For
Philharmonia Orchestra is designed for string, brass, and woodwind students who are developing confidence with more advanced rhythms, key signatures, and full orchestra playing.
Most Philharmonia students are in 7th grade and above.
What Students Learn
Students continue developing:
ensemble performance skills
rhythmic accuracy
intonation
shifting techniques
full orchestra collaboration
performance confidence
Philharmonia introduces students to performing in a symphony orchestra setting.
Skill Expectations
Strings
Students should be comfortable with:
shifting to third position
dotted rhythms
sixteenth notes
playing in two sharps/flats
Preference is given to students who can also play in three sharps/flats.
Equivalent to:
ASTA Levels 3–4
RCM Levels 3–4
Suzuki Books 4–6
Winds, Brass & Percussion
Students should demonstrate:
developing intonation
rhythmic accuracy
ability to play in three sharps/flats
proper playing technique
Instruments Accepted
Strings
Brass
Woodwinds
Percussion
Schedule & Season
Oct. – May: Mondays from 5:30–7:00 p.m.
Orientation takes place in early October for students and parents.
Audition Information
Audition materials are required for placement, view them here.
Concert Orchestra
Best Fit For
Concert Orchestra is designed for advancing string, brass, woodwind, and percussion students performing increasingly complex symphonic repertoire.
Most Concert Orchestra students are in 9th grade and above.
What Students Learn
Students continue developing:
advanced ensemble skills
rhythmic accuracy in complex music
intonation and tone quality
shifting and technical fluency
collaborative performance skills
Skill Expectations
Strings
Students should demonstrate:
comfort with vibrato
fluid shifting to fifth position
strong intonation
ability to perform fast rhythms
ability to play in four sharps/flats
Equivalent to:
ASTA late Level 4 through early Level 6
RCM Levels 5–6
Suzuki Book 6
Cellists should begin exploring tenor clef.
Winds, Brass & Percussion
Students should demonstrate:
strong intonation
rhythmic accuracy in complex time signatures
ability to play in four sharps/flats
proper technique across the full range of the instrument
knowledge of alternate fingerings
Instruments Accepted
Strings
Brass
Woodwinds
Percussion
Schedule & Season
Sept. – July: Mondays, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Orientation takes place in mid-September for students and parents.
Audition Information
Audition materials are required for placement, view them here.
Symphony Orchestra
Best Fit For
Symphony Orchestra is MVYSO’s most advanced orchestra and is designed for highly skilled string, brass, woodwind, and percussion students seeking advanced ensemble performance opportunities.
Most Symphony Orchestra students are in 11th grade and above.
What Students Learn
Students continue developing:
advanced ensemble performance skills
musical interpretation
rhythmic and technical fluency
advanced orchestral collaboration
high-level performance preparation
Students perform challenging college and professional-level repertoire.
Skill Expectations
Strings
Students should demonstrate:
excellent intonation
rhythmic accuracy in all time signatures
fluency in all key signatures
shifting fluency in all positions
consistent vibrato usage
Equivalent to:
ASTA Level 6 and above
RCM late Level 6 through early Level 7 and above
Suzuki Book 6 and above
Cellists should be comfortable reading tenor clef. Violas should be comfortable reading treble clef.
Winds, Brass & Percussion
Students should demonstrate:
excellent intonation
rhythmic accuracy in all time signatures
fluency across all key signatures
advanced technique across the full range of the instrument
familiarity with alternate fingerings
Additional expectations:
Clarinets may double on A clarinet and/or transpose from A or C clarinet
Trumpets should expect to transpose to C
Horn players should expect to transpose in multiple keys
Instruments Accepted
Strings
Brass
Woodwinds
Percussion
Schedule & Season
Sept. – July: Mondays, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Orientation takes place in mid-September for students and parents.
Audition Information
Audition materials are required for placement, view them here.
Jazz Orchestra
Best Fit For
Jazz Orchestra is open to students in Concert Orchestra or Symphony Orchestra, as well as students in 8th grade and above with at least two years of playing experience who are interested in exploring jazz music.
What Students Learn
Students develop:
jazz ensemble skills
improvisation fundamentals
listening and collaboration skills
stylistic performance techniques
All instruments are welcome, including saxophone doublers.
Eligibility
Students must:
participate in Concert Orchestra or Symphony Orchestra OR
be in 8th grade or above with at least two years of playing experience
Schedule & Season
The season is dependent on instructor availability.
Ambassador Ensemble
Overview
Ambassador Ensembles are designed for MVYSO's most advanced Symphony Orchestra students who are interested in additional performance opportunities and community engagement.
Participation is by invitation only.
Performance Experience
Ambassador Ensembles perform throughout the community at events where it is not practical to have a full orchestra.
Students gain experience performing in smaller ensembles while representing MVYSO as musicians and community ambassadors
Ensemble Options
Elite Strings: A chamber ensemble for advanced string players.
Elite Winds: A chamber ensemble for advanced woodwind players, including French horn.
Schedule & Season
September – July: Mondays, 6:00–7:00 p.m.
Participation
Participation is by invitation only and is limited to select students from MVYSO's Symphony Orchestra.