SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
The Symphony Orchestra is the premier orchestra at Westwood High School. The Westwood Symphony Orchestra has been named the TMEA Honor Orchestra five times and has twice performed at the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois. Most of the members of the Symphony Orchestra are All-Region Orchestra students as well. The orchestra is comprised of mainly upperclassmen with a few highly talented underclassmen. All students should be enrolled in private lessons. Technical skills necessary to handle the rigors of this group are the ability to play beyond 7th position in all instruments; violas must be able to sight-read in treble clef, and cellos must be able to sight-read in tenor clef; cellos and basses must be comfortable playing in thumb position. This orchestra performs high level repertoire. There is a mandatory after-school rehearsal every Tuesday (4:30-6:00) for the Symphony Orchestra from August until May.
PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRAS
The Philharmonic Orchestras are two advanced ensembles that perform high level repertoire. These orchestras are consistent "Sweepstakes" award winners at UIL Contest, and many students in these ensembles are members of the All-Region Orchestra. Students are highly encouraged to be enrolled in private lessons. Technical skills necessary to handle the technical demands of this group's repertoire include: all students must be comfortable up to 5th position; violas must be able to read treble clef and cellos must be able to read tenor clef; cellos and basses must be able to play in thumb position. There are mandatory after school rehearsals for both Philharmonic Orchestras: every Wednesday for 4th Block Philharmonic and every Thursday for 2nd Block Philharmonic. Rehearsals are from 4:30-5:30, except during Full Orchestra season which are 4:30-6:00.
CONCERT ORCHESTRA
This orchestra, which meets 6th block, is consistently a "Sweepstakes" award winner at UIL Contest. All students must have a minimum of 2 years of string playing experience. This group is comprised of a mixture of students from all grades. The Concert Orchestra has no after school rehearsal component.
CAMERATA ORCHESTRA
The Camerata Orchestra meets 5th block. All students must have a minimum of 2 years of string playing experience. This group is comprised of a mixture of students from all grades, but is mostly underclassmen. The Camerata Orchestra has no after school rehearsal component.
BEGINNING STRINGS
The Beginning Strings class meets 7th block. All students are welcome to join this course, no experience required. This group is comprised of first year musicians or students learning a 2nd instrument. The instruments taught in this course are violin, viola, cello, and double bass. The Beginner Strings class has no after school rehearsal components.
Entrance auditions are required for all orchestras except Beginning Strings. These auditions will take place during the spring.
The Symphony Orchestra is the premier orchestra at Westwood High School. The Westwood Symphony Orchestra has been named the TMEA Honor Orchestra five times and has twice performed at the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois. Most of the members of the Symphony Orchestra are All-Region Orchestra students as well. The orchestra is comprised of mainly upperclassmen with a few highly talented underclassmen. All students should be enrolled in private lessons. Technical skills necessary to handle the rigors of this group are the ability to play beyond 7th position in all instruments; violas must be able to sight-read in treble clef, and cellos must be able to sight-read in tenor clef; cellos and basses must be comfortable playing in thumb position. This orchestra performs high level repertoire. There is a mandatory after-school rehearsal every Tuesday (4:30-6:00) for the Symphony Orchestra from August until May.
PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRAS
The Philharmonic Orchestras are two advanced ensembles that perform high level repertoire. These orchestras are consistent "Sweepstakes" award winners at UIL Contest, and many students in these ensembles are members of the All-Region Orchestra. Students are highly encouraged to be enrolled in private lessons. Technical skills necessary to handle the technical demands of this group's repertoire include: all students must be comfortable up to 5th position; violas must be able to read treble clef and cellos must be able to read tenor clef; cellos and basses must be able to play in thumb position. There are mandatory after school rehearsals for both Philharmonic Orchestras: every Wednesday for 4th Block Philharmonic and every Thursday for 2nd Block Philharmonic. Rehearsals are from 4:30-5:30, except during Full Orchestra season which are 4:30-6:00.
CONCERT ORCHESTRA
This orchestra, which meets 6th block, is consistently a "Sweepstakes" award winner at UIL Contest. All students must have a minimum of 2 years of string playing experience. This group is comprised of a mixture of students from all grades. The Concert Orchestra has no after school rehearsal component.
CAMERATA ORCHESTRA
The Camerata Orchestra meets 5th block. All students must have a minimum of 2 years of string playing experience. This group is comprised of a mixture of students from all grades, but is mostly underclassmen. The Camerata Orchestra has no after school rehearsal component.
BEGINNING STRINGS
The Beginning Strings class meets 7th block. All students are welcome to join this course, no experience required. This group is comprised of first year musicians or students learning a 2nd instrument. The instruments taught in this course are violin, viola, cello, and double bass. The Beginner Strings class has no after school rehearsal components.
Entrance auditions are required for all orchestras except Beginning Strings. These auditions will take place during the spring.
