About

History of The IRHS String Program:

The Ironwood Ridge String Program was founded in 2001 with the creation of the string orchestra. Over the past 2 decades, hundreds of string students have passed through the program, earning positions in AMEA all-region ensembles, AMEA all-state ensembles, the Tucson Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (TPYO), Tucson Junior Strings (TJS), and the Tucson Jazz Institute (TJI). In addition to personal successes in high school, members of the IRHS string program have garnered consistent high ratings at festivals throughout Arizona and the surrounding states during the life of the program. Alumni of the program can be found in many teaching positions in K-12 schools, post-secondary programs, and private studios throughout the southwest.

In the fall of 2016, the Ironwood Ridge Guitar program was founded as an extension of the rapidly-growing string program. The guitar program is quickly becoming one of the most popular music courses offered at IRHS, reaching over 35+ students in its 5th year as a class. The guitar program presents a unique approach to music, as students learn to read classical notation, tab, and roman numeral chord symbols. The guitar program boasts a growing set of Yamaha C-40 classical guitars, allowing for students to also study classical guitar styles on authentic instruments. The Ironwood Ridge Guitar Program also gives all students tools for basic song composition using the basic elements of pitch, rhythm, harmony, song form, and style variations.