Who can participate?

• Any PALCS student local to the CPFA building in West Chester, PA participates in rehearsals on-site in once a week for the entire fall season from September 16 to the concert on December 2 and/or the entire spring season from January 13 to the concert on May 19, 2026. Membership is also open to PALCS students who are not local to West Chester, who will attend all live rehearsals virtually, then commute to West Chester for the dress rehearsal and concert.

Is there an audition?

• There is no audition to participate, but PALCS Orchestra is not for beginners. Middle School wind instrument players must be capable of playing a one-octave concert Bb and concert Eb major scale. Middle School string instrument players must be capable of playing a one-octave concert D and concert G major scale. Middle School percussionists must be able to play a buzz roll, paradiddle, and alternating flams. High School musicians must be able to play the middle school requirements in two octaves and additionally perform in concert C major and concert F major, as well as perform 5-stroke and 9-stroke roll patterns.

When and where are rehearsals?

• Rehearsals will be on-site at the CPFA building, 211 Carter Drive, Suite C, West Chester, PA 19382 on Tuesdays after school from 3:00 until 4:30 PM. Online students will attend all rehearsals live virtually on Zoom via the Logitech camera system installed in the rehearsal room , practicing along with the ensemble with their microphones on mute. There is also a Mini-Camp rehearsal, which is an extended rehearsal from 3:00 to 7:00 PM one week before the concert.

Where are the concerts?

• Concerts for both the fall season and spring season will occur at Calvary Lutheran Church, 730 S. New Street, West Chester, PA 19382.

Can middle school USP students participate, since rehearsals are on USP middle school days?

• Yes! PALCS Orchestra rehearsals will occur during the USP Middle School enrichment period at the end of the school day. Parents/caregivers will be able to pick up their student from USP during the enrichment period and commute the 5 miles to CPFA in order to participate in rehearsals. We understand that this may make you a few minutes late to the 3 PM start time.

Can on-site CPFA students participating in Mixed Chorale

• Yes! Mr. West and Mr. H. will work together to share your time so that the negative impact on all extra-curricular ensembles is minimized. In general, you will go to Chorale rehearsal first and then come to the second half of PALCS Orchestra.

Can any PALCS cyber student participate virtually?

• Yes! As long as you are in 6th-12th grade and play a traditional string instrument (violin, viola, cello, bass) or concert band instrument (woodwinds, brass, percussion, keyboard), you can be in the orchestra. You will attend all rehearsals virtually until the day of our concert. You must be able to attend the dress rehearsal and concert in West Chester, PA in person, which occur on the same afternoon/evening.

Can on-site CPFA, on-site USP, and local PALCS cyber students attend the on-site rehearsals virtually?

• In-person attendance at the on-site rehearsals is required, but extenuating circumstances, such as personal transportation issues or inclement weather in your local neighborhood, may make virtual attendance the best option for participating. CPFA middle school students are also permitted to attend rehearsals virtually if their commute to CPFA is too long to add a third trip per week.

Can I play on more than one instrument?

• We encourage all performers to play on their primary instrument, but there are circumstances in which we ask people to play on a secondary instrument to help us fill out the instrumentation for the group. For example, a clarinet player may have an opportunity to play bass clarinet.