First Year Orchestra (FYO)
This Orchestra is comprised of students in their first year of playing a bowed stringed instrument. During their first year of playing, students have the choice of learning the violin, viola, cello, double bass, or harp. The First Year Orchestra (FYO) classes meet for 50 minutes daily throughout the school year and are divided into class sections by instrument. There are separate classes for FYO Violin, FYO Violin, FYO Cello, and FYO Bass. These four classes combine to create one orchestra for performances and events.
Philharmonic Orchestra
The Philharmonic Orchestra is comprised of 7th and 8th grade students who have completed a minimum of at least 1 year of playing in the CVMS Orchestras. Students audition for this group in April of each school year. The CVMS Philharmonic Orchestra performs at the UIL Concert and Sight Reading Evaluation, and consistently receives Sweepstakes Awards. This year, members of the Philharmonic Orchestra will also have the option to attend the Spring Trip to Kalahari Waterpark.
Chamber Orchestra
The Chamber Orchestra is an advanced ensemble that performs challenging repertoire. It is comprised of 6th-8th grade students who qualify through competitive audition in April of each school year. This group participates in the UIL Concert and Sight Reading Evaluation, and consistently receives Sweepstakes Awards. Students in this orchestra are highly encouraged to be enrolled in private lessons. Technical skills necessary to meet the demands of this group's repertoire include: violins/violas comfortable playing up to 3rd position, cellos comfortable playing up to 4th position, and basses comfortable playing up to 5th position. This year, members of the Chamber Orchestra will have the option to attend the Spring Trip to Kalahari Waterpark.
Sinfonia Orchestra
The Sinfonia Orchestra is a new advanced ensemble this school year that performs high level repertoire. It is comprised of 6th-8th grade students who qualify through competitive audition in April of each school year. This group will participate in the UIL Concert and Sight Reading Evaluation. Students in this orchestra are highly encouraged to be enrolled in private lessons. Technical skills necessary to meet the demands of this group's repertoire include: violins/violas comfortable playing up to 5th position, cellos comfortable playing up to 6th position, and basses comfortable playing up to thumb position. This year, members of the Sinfonia Orchestra will have the option to attend the Spring Trip to Kalahari Waterpark.
Honors Orchestra
The Honors Orchestra is the premier performing Orchestra at Canyon Vista Middle School. The Honors Orchestra has been named the State Champion TMEA Honor Orchestra on 6 occasions. This Orchestra is comprised of 6th through 8th grade students who are selected through rigorously competitive audition in April of each school year. All students are expected to be enrolled in private lessons. More than 95% of Honors Orchestra students will qualify for the TMEA Region 26 Orchestra each year. Technical skills necessary to meet the rigors of this group are the ability to play beyond 6th position on all instruments; violas must be able to read treble clef; cellos/basses must be able to read tenor clef and be comfortable playing in thumb position. This Orchestra performs advanced high school level repertoire. In February of 2025, the Honors Orchestra performed with the Honors Band at the 2025 TMEA Convention as the Texas State Champion Honor Full Orchestra! This year, Honors Orchestra students will have the option to participate in the Spring Trip to Kalahari Waterpark.