Spring Hill Orchestra Program

Ruth Donahue, Director

Spring Hill operates one of the largest elementary school orchestras in Virginia with well over 200 members in the fourth, fifth, and sixth grade. Instruction is free (it's part of the school's curriculum!), and is during the school day.

Who's Eligible?

Any 4th, 5th or 6th grade child attending Spring Hill is eligible to join.

Our musicians are divided into groups appropriate for their abilities:

- Students in Fourth Grade with no prior experience join the Fourth Grade Orchestra in September, and give at least four concerts during the year.

- In Fifth Grade, students who completed that first year are automatically placed in the Advanced Orchestra, which is comprised of Fifth and Sixth Graders with at least one year of experience.

- Since most Sixth Graders have TWO years of experience, they're able to also audition for select groups: the Silver Strings, the Strolling Strings, the Chamber Orchestra, and the Liya Ensemble.

Students who start at Spring Hill School in the Fifth or Sixth Grade are welcome to join our Beginner Strings, which is an accelerated Beginner class which (with commitment!) enables those students to join the Advanced Orchestra in December for the first concert, and thereafter till graduation.

What Students Learn

All students learn to read music, play with correct position and beautiful tone, and enjoy knowing that THEY produce an integral part of the WHOLE. Without each orchestra musician, we wouldn't have our symphonic sound and brilliant reputation.

Advanced Groups

- Advanced Orchestra musicians perform at least five evening concerts.
- Silver Strings musicians perform a special piece at the evening concerts (at least three during the year).
- Strolling Strings musicians perform more concerts than ANY group, because they "stroll" to each grade and perform "after lunch concerts" for all Kindergartners, First Graders, etc.
- The Chamber Orchestra performs during evening concerts and is also invited to perform at public functions (dedications, weddings, school board meetings).
- The Liya Ensemble is the most elite group of all. It does all of the above and THEN some! Each organization is notated on concert programs.
- Students in the select groups are chosen to go on orchestra field trips and are given many opportunities to shine, including performing in COMPETITIONS!

Summer Strings

Summer Strings is an Orchestra Camp which meets for seven days during the summer. Mrs. Donahue sends the exact dates home in the autumn so you may plan ahead! Students learn a lot of new music, make new friends, and have dress-up days ("Messy Mondays," "Wacky Wednesdays," and "Freaky Fridays").

Newspaper reporters cover our string camp on one or more of those days, and we always get at least one article in the local papers. Summer Strings provides a boost in learning which helps our Orchestra musicians for the next school year.