The Orchestra Program at Atherton is designed to provide the training and musical experience with playing in a string orchestra that will enable students to continue music making after high school to whatever extent they wish. A large percentage of graduates from the program continue to play in collegiate or semi-professional orchestras, with a number of them majoring in music in college.
Atherton has two string orchestra classes totaling around 70 students as well as two after-school ensembles: a pops music string ensemble as well as a new full symphony orchestra including wind, brass, and percussion players from the Atherton Band Program.
The Atherton Orchestra frequently performs for special events including open houses, awards banquets, and honors ceremonies. Recently the orchestra performed as a demonstration ensemble with world-famous strings educator and composer Bob Phillips at the Kentucky Music Educators Association Conference. The program has a history of collaborations with other music programs including combining with Choral Programs from Atherton as well as Pleasure Ridge Park High School to perform major works for Chorus with Orchestra.
This orchestra studies a diverse orchestra repertoire with music representing multiple styles, genres, cultures, and eras.
This advanced class requires teacher permission, often by audition. The Advanced Chamber Orchestra studies and performs some of the most well known and challenging repertoire for string orchestra as well as a broad selection of music from multiple eras, genres, styles, and cultures.
This after-school ensemble, open to students from either Orchestra class, focuses on authentic, stylistic performance of pop, rock, blues, jazz, country, light classical, and contemporary music genres in addition to well-known music from movies and musicals.
Albinoni Adagio
Bach Sheep May Safely Graze
Bach Sinfonia from Cantata on the Second Week of Christmas
Corelli Concerto Grosso Op. 6, No.2
Elgar Serenade for Strings
Faure Requiem
Handel Overture to the Royal Fireworks Music
Haydn Symphony No. 3
Holst St. Paul's Suite
Mahler Adagietto
Mozart Requiem
Mozart Serenade for Strings and Timpani
Purcell In Nomine
Saint-George Symphonie XI No.2
Schubert Mass in G
Vaughn Williams Fantasia on Greensleves
Vivaldi Concerto for Two Cellos and Orchestra
Vivaldi Gloria
Vivaldi Winter from "The Four Seasons"
Warlock Capriol Suite
Brahms Symphony No. 3
Mendelssohn Symphony No. 4
Smetana Moldau from "Ma Vlast"
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6
Vaughn Williams Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
Pieces from the movies: Forrest Gump, Cinema Paradiso, Braveheart, The Incredibles, La La Land
Pieces from the musicals: The Sound of Music, Les Miserables, Fiddler on the Roof, Oklahoma, Phantom of the Opera
Pieces by the performers: Coldplay, Billy Joel, Beetles, Taylor Swift, Fats Waller, Scott Joplin, Kansas, John Legend
National Board Certified Orchestra Director, Nelson Dougherty has led orchestra programs for nearly 30 years. In addition to work as a guest clinician in five states Mr. Dougherty has served as Violin Coach for the National Honors Orchestra at the American String Teachers Association International Conference. Mr. Dougherty maintains an active schedule as professional violinist. Compositions and arrangements by him have been performed in four states and on tour in Ireland.