A collection of four distinct performing ensembles, the Hamilton Southeastern orchestra department provides students with a vibrant music education and the opportunity to prepare and perform a wide variety of music for our community.
The Hamilton Southeastern Symphony Orchestra is the premiere orchestra of Hamilton Southeastern High School. Its members are primarily outstanding upperclassman string musicians and a select number of outstanding underclassman. This advanced ensemble is driven by a professional rehearsal and performance philosophy, geared at inspiring young musicians to perform meaningful and exciting orchestra literature spanning several musical time periods at the highest level possible. The HSSO has developed a standard of excellence, earning top ratings at state festivals and contests. Its performance season during each school year experiences innovative programming and collaboration with other top ensembles at HSEHS. Student musicians in this orchestra have achieved gold ratings at ISSMA state solo and ensemble contests and performed in youth orchestras such as the New World Youth Orchestra.
This Hamilton Southeastern Philharmonic Orchestra is open to all instrumentalists performing on a string instrument. This ensemble performs a wide variety of music during the year, performing several concerts. Students taking this course are provided with a balanced comprehensive study of music through the orchestra, which develops skills in the psychomotor, cognitive, and affective domains. Instruction is designed so that students can to connect, examine, imagine, define, try, extend, refine, and integrate music study into other subject areas. Ensemble and solo activities are designed to develop elements of musicianship including, but not limited to: (1) tone production, (2) technical skills, (3) intonation, (4) music reading skills, (5) listening skills, (6) analyzing music, and (7) studying historically significant styles of literature. Experiences include, but are not limited to, improvising, conducting, playing by ear, and sight-reading. Students develop the ability to understand and convey the composer's intent in order to connect the performer with the audience. Students are provided with opportunities to experience live performances by professionals, during and outside of the school day. Students must perform, with expression and technical accuracy, a large and varied repertoire of orchestra literature. Evaluation of music and music performances is included. The Hamilton Southeastern Concert Orchestra provides young string musicians the opportunity to develop their abilities and musicianship and become musical leaders in the ensemble. Consisting of mostly underclassman, this ensemble performs as its own orchestra and alongside the HSPO and HSSO to provide a meaningful school orchestra experience for its student members.
The Hamilton Southeastern Camerata and Concert Orchestras comprised of Freshman violin, viola, cello and bass students. Much like the Philharmonic Orchestra, the Camerata and Concert Orchestras, instruction is designed so that students can to connect, examine, imagine, define, try, extend, refine, and integrate music study into other subject areas. Ensemble and solo activities are designed to develop elements of musicianship including, but not limited to: (1) tone production, (2) technical skills, (3) intonation, (4) music reading skills, (5) listening skills, (6) analyzing music, and (7) studying historically significant styles of literature. Experiences include, but are not limited to, improvising, conducting, playing by ear, and sight-reading. Additionally, a primary function of these two groups is to cultivate a culture of respect and understanding to prepare students for the Philharmonic and Symphony Orchestras in their later years. Students in these orchestras learn what it means to be a young musician and how to communicate as an ensemble through a variety of technical exercises and repertoire.
This Hamilton Southeastern Philharmonic Orchestra is open to all instrumentalists performing on a string instrument. This ensemble performs a wide variety of music during the year, performing several concerts. Students taking this course are provided with a balanced comprehensive study of music through the orchestra, which develops skills in the psychomotor, cognitive, and affective domains. Instruction is designed so that students can to connect, examine, imagine, define, try, extend, refine, and integrate music study into other subject areas. Ensemble and solo activities are designed to develop elements of musicianship including, but not limited to: (1) tone production, (2) technical skills, (3) intonation, (4) music reading skills, (5) listening skills, (6) analyzing music, and (7) studying historically significant styles of literature. Experiences include, but are not limited to, improvising, conducting, playing by ear, and sight-reading. Students develop the ability to understand and convey the composer's intent in order to connect the performer with the audience. Students are provided with opportunities to experience live performances by professionals, during and outside of the school day. Students must perform, with expression and technical accuracy, a large and varied repertoire of orchestra literature. Evaluation of music and music performances is included. The Hamilton Southeastern Concert Orchestra provides young string musicians the opportunity to develop their abilities and musicianship and become musical leaders in the ensemble. Consisting of mostly underclassman, this ensemble performs as its own orchestra and alongside the HSPO and HSSO to provide a meaningful school orchestra experience for its student members.
The Hamilton Southeastern Camerata and Concert Orchestras comprised of Freshman violin, viola, cello and bass students. Much like the Philharmonic Orchestra, the Camerata and Concert Orchestras, instruction is designed so that students can to connect, examine, imagine, define, try, extend, refine, and integrate music study into other subject areas. Ensemble and solo activities are designed to develop elements of musicianship including, but not limited to: (1) tone production, (2) technical skills, (3) intonation, (4) music reading skills, (5) listening skills, (6) analyzing music, and (7) studying historically significant styles of literature. Experiences include, but are not limited to, improvising, conducting, playing by ear, and sight-reading. Additionally, a primary function of these two groups is to cultivate a culture of respect and understanding to prepare students for the Philharmonic and Symphony Orchestras in their later years. Students in these orchestras learn what it means to be a young musician and how to communicate as an ensemble through a variety of technical exercises and repertoire.