CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

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Chamber Orchestra is a co-curricular club.  Students must be enrolled in a music performance ensemble course to be eligible for membership, and pass an audition. Its purpose is to give advanced players of string instruments the opportunity to function as professionals.  The group is occasionally given class time to break off from the class and rehearse.

Chamber Orchestra plays repertoire that are both standards in collegiate/professional literature as well as alternative styles that students would not experience in the regular orchestra curriculum.  We occasionally have opportunities for solos/concertos, we have students arrange/compose and/or conduct some pieces, and we also like to feature current composers and new music.  We’ve even performed a world premiere.  

Chamber Orchestra performs at the annual winter Small Ensemble concert in January and the Orchestra Spring Concert in May.  The group is also sometimes requested to perform within the community and we sometimes seek other opportunities.  

Meeting Time: Wednesday from 2:30-4:00 pm.  Rehearsals are posted on the department calendar.  

• Students must audition for membership. Auditions are typically in late spring for the following school year.

• Students are expected to individually learn the music entirely on their own and not at rehearsal. Players are held to professional standards and are expected to come to rehearsals already knowing the repertoire. Rehearsals are used to shape the artistry of the piece.

• Chamber Orchestra is an official club/activity that you can list on your resumé when applying to college.

• Rehearsals are weekly on Wednesday afternoons with some gaps between concert seasons. Understanding that students are likely involved in other activities, we have developed a flexible attendance policy. You can read about it in the Chamber Orchestra Handbook

FOR FRESHMEN:  DIFFERENCES FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL

Chamber Orchestra takes on a different meaning at the high school than at the middle school for a number of reasons.  At the high school, a one year pre-requisite of Concert Orchestra is required before being eligible to audition for Symphonic Orchestra, which is a curricular course at RHS (and a club at middle school).  Therefore, all freshmen go into Concert Orchestra for their first year.  Chamber Orchestra is a wonderful way to branch out and play more challenging repertoire in a professional environment for the student that wants to play more advanced repertoire.   You can also get to know some of the upperclassmen this way.

This class is led by Mr. Mac.

Chamber Orchestra Archives

2024-25

2023-24

2023 Chamber Orchestra Winter Concert:

Symphony no. 1 in C Major by Felix Mendelssohn, Appalachia Waltz by Mark O’Connor

Michael McNamara, conductor

Performed December 13, 2023 Anne Richardson Auditorium Ridgefield High School Ridgefield, CT

Filmed, edited, and mastered by Manheimer Video Productions manheimerproductions.com

Produced by Ridgefield Music Parents ridgefieldmusicparents.org

2022-23

2023 Spring Concert:

Quartet No. 4 in C minor Ludwig van Beethoven, Mvt. 1

Adagio for Strings - Samuel Barber

String Quartet No. 12 in F, Mvt. 4, Antonin Dvorak

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

2022 Winter Concert

2021-22

Concerto Grosso No. 1 in G Major by G.F. Handel

Michael McNamara, conductor. Performed February 26, 2021

Dvorak Quintet No. 2 in G Major

Recorded February 26, 2021. Alexandra McGowan, Conductor.