Mission Statement

Our Mission

The UDHS Sophisticated Strings actively promotes the appreciation of a variety of styles of music via string orchestra literature and performance within the Upper Dublin School District and community.

The group is comprised of musical enthusiasts from the UDHS String Orchestra. The repertoire spans a multitude of genres and styles, and evolves accordingly with the venues and interests of the group.

Network

The Sophisticated Strings has a governing body of officers consisting of co-presidents, a vice president, corresponding secretary, recording secretary, treasurer, and an executive committee as determined by an annual election process.

Meetings

Meetings/rehearsals occur regularly after school on Mondays and Thursdays approximately three to four times each month—and with greater frequency prior to special performances. Rehearsals commence during the first week of school, and continue all school year until the week prior to final examinations. Periodically, the group meets during the summertime—as we did this year for a special performance for a Sunday morning service at Mrs. Herrmann’s church, the Huntingdon Valley United Methodist Church. In addition to performances, the Sophisticated Strings assist with the Upper Dublin Honors Orchestra auditions for grades 4 to 8, as well as assist with hosting the Montgomery County Honors String Orchestra, PMEA District 11 String Festival, and the annual String Orchestra Festival Adjudication in March.

Performances

The Sophisticated Strings perform at approximately 25 different venues throughout the year. The following list represents the venues at which the group has performed on the most part annually during the past several years.

• UD Community Day

• UDHS Back to School Night

• Dedication Ceremony of the UDHS PAC and Gala Concert

• UD Crafts Festival

• Benefit Dinner for the Kulp Family

• Benefit “Wine in Winter” for Kidney Disease Research

• UDSD celebration of American Education Week

• Environmental Ecology Club Spaghetti Dinner at UDHS

• UDHS Hall of Fame Induction Celebration Dinner

• UDHS at Barnes & Noble Night

• UDSD Dinner for Middle States Evaluators and Administration

• Holiday Performances at Hope Lodge

• Holiday Performances at FW Estates & Gwynedd Estates

• Holiday Performances at The Sunrise Community and Dresher Estates

• Performances at the WEL UM community

• Meadowbrook Farm for PHS Holiday Open House

• Hosting the Annual PMEA D11 Instrumental Auditions

• Assisting with the UDSD Honors Orchestra Auditions

• Retirement Dinners for special staff and administration

• Performances at the Clifton House Victorian Tea for the Historical Society of FW

• Selected UDHS Ensembles Concerts

• Annual Music in Our Schools Concerts at UDHS

• Hosting the Annual String Orchestra Festival Adjudication @ UDHS PAC

• Performance at Jarrettown United Methodist Church

• Performance at Huntingdon Valley United Methodist Church

• PTO Pasta Dinners at Thomas Fitzwater and Jarrettown Elementary Schools

• Select performances at the PMEA Annual Conference in Hershey, PA

• Select performances at the PMEA & NAfME All Eastern Conference in Pittsburgh, PA

• UDSD Allied Arts Festival

• Eastern Vocational School Appreciation Dinner

• International Family Fair at UDHS

• Evening of Music & Poetry at UD Twp. Library

• Senior Academic Awards Evening

• UDHS Staff Retirement Dinner

• Private events in the UD Area

• Valentine’s Day Tea Performance at Dresher Estates

• Performances at the Fort Washington Businessmen Association Gatherings