Sprague Orchestras

String Ensemble Orchestra is for 9th graders.  NO AUDITION IS REQUIRED.

String Ensemble is the perfect orchestra for students coming from various middle schools and at varying levels from Advanced to Proficient!  In this class, we get used to high school Orchestra norms, including playing all 12 major and minor scales in two octaves, playing in position, using vibrato, and being able to play all bowing styles including spiccato.  Students who want a challenge will be given solos with the Orchestra, and there is also opportunity for students who play piano to play with the class.  This is an all-string orchestra of 9th graders.  This orchestra will compete at the Salem Keizer Intermediate Orchestra festival.

Sinfonietta Orchestra is for 10th, 11th, and 12th graders.  NO AUDITION IS REQUIRED. (Sintonietta is called “Orchestra” in the course catalog.)

Symphony Strings is the perfect orchestra for students coming from String Ensemble who already have been through the norms of scales, bowings, position work, and have been through high school competition at the 9th grade level.  Students will not be required to audition for this orchestra because this orchestra is a non-competitive orchestra.  The focus of this orchestra is to play music from different genres and perform for community events and concerts - we play for enjoyment!  This orchestra is a prep orchestra for ASO and is just strings only.

Advanced Symphony Orchestra is AUDITION ONLY, for 9th,10th,11th and 12th graders who PASS AUDITION REQUIREMENTS.

Counselors will automatically put 9th graders in the String Ensemble.  If students pass the ASO audition, I will let your counselor know that you should be in ASO.  Even students who previously auditioned for ASO need to re-audition for ASO.  The only exception is that if a student is accepted into Camerata, they do not need to also audition for ASO.

ASO meets in the 1st semester, preparing the string parts for our full symphony work, as well as partnering with the percussion ensemble and playing all string pieces.  2nd semester, all Camerata students must also be in ASO and we work on our Full Symphony literature.  (we partner with the winds, brass, percussion).  THIS IS AN OSAA COMPETITIVE ORCHESTRA and extra rehearsals and competitions will be a part of being in this orchestra and are required.

CAMERATA ORCHESTRA IS AUDITION ONLY and is OSAA competitive, and is the top strings only orchestra at Sprague. (Camerata is called Advanced Orchestra in the course catalog)

Camerata orchestra is a small orchestra that competes at OSAA in Spring, and plays at many civic and community events.  It is preferred that Camerata students are concurrently enrolled in ASO all year.  2nd semester, all Camerata students must also be in ASO and we work on our Full Symphony literature.  (we partner with the winds, brass, percussion).   Extra rehearsals and competitions will be a part of being in this orchestra and are required.