The Orchestras of Libertyville High School
CONCERT ORCHESTA
Concert Orchestra is designed to further the students’ musical development through rehearsal and performance of outstanding string orchestra literature. Throughout the year we also work on scales, counting, musical vocabulary and music theory. In addition, all students will be involved with a chamber ensemble, will work in sectionals, will work with professional musicians and may perform as a combined group with the Symphony Orchestra.
Concert Orchestra is open to all interested freshmen string players. There is a wide range of abilities from very experienced players to students who have only been playing for one or two years. The orchestra performs approximately 4-5 times each school year with other performance opportunities also available.
Concert Orchestra is a great way to interact on a daily basis with other students who share the same enjoyment of music. This often helps smooth the transition from junior high to high school.
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Symphony Orchestra provides advancing string players with the opportunity to learn how to perform as a full orchestra and as a string orchestra. We rehearse and perform music from all periods of music history, Bach to newly commissioned pieces. Technical and interpretive considerations of performance are stressed. The orchestra performs approximately 4-5 concerts throughout the year. In addition, all students participate in small chamber ensembles and are encouraged to perform solos during our annual Solo and Ensemble segment of the school year.
Symphony Orchestra is one of the top orchestras in the State of Illinois. The orchestra has performed throughout the midwest and has traveled on numerous overseas tours including trips to China, Italy, Austria, Czech Republic, Budapest, Rio de Janiero, Greece, Peru, Cuba, France, Belgium, Germany, Spain and Vietnam. They have performed at the Illinois Music Educators Conference in January 2004, the MENC Mid-West Regional Conference in Minneapolis, and have performed at the prestigious Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic three times, in 1991, 1996 and 2004.
CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Chamber Orchestra provides advanced string players with the opportunity to learn how to perform as a full orchestra and as a string orchestra. This group is comprised of the top string players from the orchestra program. This group focuses on advanced literature for smaller string orchestra music and pieces for strings and small wind sections.
Chamber Orchestra members continue to perform as members of the Symphony Orchestra for concerts although they do not meet during the same class period. They learn more music and perform more often than Symphony or Concert Orchestras, including concerts with the Libertyville High School Choirs, concerts within the Libertyville community, and concerts throughout the Midwest.
Chamber Orchestra performed at the inaugural session of the Music for All – Orchestra America Festival in March of 2006, and have performed at the Illinois Music Educators Conference in January 2013. They have performed with special guest marimba soloist, Michael Burritt and have worked in clinics with Dr. Larry Livingston from the University of Southern California, Donald Schleicher from the University of Illinois, Stefan Kartman from the University of Wisconsin -Milwaukee, Victor Yampolsky from Northwestern University, and Kevin Noe from Michigan State.