r/orchestra 2d ago

Question Is it worth it for me to go back to an orchestra after high school?

7 Upvotes

For context, I started playing violin at my middle school in sixth grade, where I played in an orchestra for three years. I was second chair and on top of the regular orchestra class, I was part of a more advanced orchestra with the school that you had to audition for. I would compete in city competitions for duets and such, etc.

During Covid, I picked up piano. I stopped playing violin and went to piano lessons for a year. During this time, I started high school with their orchestra, which was much more advanced than I was used to. We had several students in All State, the orchestra regularly traveled to other city concert halls to perform, such as Carnegie Hall.

I, for some reason, joined this orchestra for piano instead of violin. I don’t really remember why I chose to, but it doesn’t matter. I was horrible at it because I had no motivation to practice, the elite competition mindset ruined all the love I had for it. I also couldn’t afford the traveling fees and attendance was mandatory for a grade. I quit orchestra after freshman year as well as playing any instrument aside from piano irregularly.

Now, I’m a freshman in college, and I’ve been missing the feeling of being in an orchestra like crazy. No idea where it even came from. I know there are city or state orchestras for people of any age, but I’ve lost almost all of my skills in both instruments and I doubt I’d be able to get into any.

Is it worth a try? Any other way to go about it? Options and such?


r/orchestra 2d ago

What is your preferred selection of clothes for concert black?

3 Upvotes

My youth symphony program requires concert black for our concerts. What brand of clothes do you prefer to wear? I'm looking for as dark black as possible, long sleeve dress shirts, dress pants, etc (I'm a guy). Hopefully affordable, comfortable for playing violin/viola and that will last me for as long as possible.


r/orchestra 3d ago

What’s your favorite (or least favorite) part about playing in an orchestra?

12 Upvotes

I’ve been curious about how different people experience orchestra life. Some of us love the energy of being surrounded by music and feeling like one part of a huge machine. Others get stressed about endless rehearsals, hard-to-follow conductors, or sitting through long rests.

For me, the best part is the first time the full brass + strings hit together, it gave me chills. The hardest part is probably trying to count rests in modern pieces without getting lost

So I’d love to hear:

  • What’s YOUR favorite part of orchestra life?
  • What do you secretly dread?
  • Do you think orchestra teaches you more about music… or more about patience?

r/orchestra 4d ago

Jazz Hamilton Youth Community Symphony Coming soon.......

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2 Upvotes

Jazz Hamilton Youth Community Symphony Coming soon.......


r/orchestra 4d ago

Can someone help me find this composition

3 Upvotes

r/orchestra 5d ago

A brilliant performance of Miguel del Aguila's VIOLIN CONCERTO "The Journey of a Lifetime"

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0 Upvotes

r/orchestra 5d ago

🎻 Just uploaded! A brilliant performance of Miguel del Aguila's Violin Concerto The Journey of a Lifetime

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1 Upvotes

r/orchestra 5d ago

Discussion Am I overrreacting

2 Upvotes

Hey guys, I need some advice:

Last year I was 6th chair, and the girl in 4th chair was a student athlete. I don’t have any personal issues with her, but because she travels so much, she missed a lot of rehearsals. Last semester she was gone often, and every time she missed I had to move up, which I didn’t mind. But then whenever she came back, everyone had to shift back down.

Our rehearsals are Mondays and Wednesdays for about 2.5 hours each, and sometimes she would miss an entire week. This year I was placed in 8th chair, and she’s in 6th. Today was our very first rehearsal — and she didn’t show up again.

I’m normally pretty chill about things like this, but would it be out of line for me to email my conductor asking for some kind of change? It doesn’t feel fair to me.

Please let me know what you guys think! If i'm in the right, what should I even ask from my conductor? I just want what's fair for me and the rest of my peers


r/orchestra 6d ago

Question What are y’all’s practice routines?

2 Upvotes

I


r/orchestra 6d ago

Conferences

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0 Upvotes

Conferences give us so much more than business, they bring new connections, friendships, and future collaborations. ✨

During these days we talk a lot, share ideas, exchange experiences, and tell our stories.

Orchestra Now is already the 4th international event where I am presenting Notation AI, and I’m truly excited about this opportunity.

Hey friends, let’s enjoy the next three days together in the wonderful city of Wrocław! 🎶🎉


r/orchestra 6d ago

Komitas: Etchmiadzin Dance

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1 Upvotes

r/orchestra 6d ago

About Shostakovich's opus 134

1 Upvotes

r/orchestra 8d ago

Question Looking for a name for my Viola.

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37 Upvotes

Need a name for my new viola. My old one was Alfredo. My top contenders for this one is Violation and Bratsche.


r/orchestra 8d ago

Question What are the prominent instruments in the 1st minute of Nosferatu

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3 Upvotes

I kinda like how in the first minute of the track they keep it a dark town. Is it a violin holding a long note and brass instruments?

From 4:19 to 4:24 there is an instrument that is playing fast rhythmically. Is it trumps and some string isntruments?


r/orchestra 9d ago

How do you even start vibrato?

4 Upvotes

I don’t know how to do vibrato at all yet, and honestly it feels kind of overwhelming. I see other violinists do it so naturally, but when I try, my hand just locks up and nothing happens.

For those of you who’ve learned vibrato — how did you actually start? Are there exercises or first steps that made it click for you? Any advice for a complete beginner would help a lot!


r/orchestra 8d ago

🎼 Miguel del Aguila – September 2025 Performances include Sep 11 – New Orleans, LA Salon Buenos Aires – Louisiana Philharmonic Matthew Kraemer @New Marigny Theatre and Sep 12 – Covington, LA @ Fuhrmann Auditorium

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1 Upvotes

📅  Calendar

Sep 2 – Greeley, CO
Pacific Serenade / Tango Trio – Dahlke Vinasco Lee Trio

Sep 3 – Manchester, UK
Submerged – Trilogy Ensemble @ Bridgewater Hall

Sep 4 – Seattle, WA
Submerged – Goldstein-Bastian-Kim @ Seattle Art Museum

Sep 11 – New Orleans, LA
Salon Buenos Aires – Louisiana Philharmonic Matthew Kraemer  @ New Marigny Theatre

Sep 12 – Covington, LA
Salon Buenos Aires – Louisiana Philharmonic @ Fuhrmann Auditorium

Sep 12 – Boulder, CO
Piano 4-hands: Blue Samba/Malambo/Pianola Rebelde/Head for the Exit – Duo Powers de la Torre @ Grusin Hall

Sep 12 – Boston, MA
Submerged – Brady, Leventhal, Keches @ Seully Hall, Boston Conservatory

Sep 14 – Armidale, Australia
Wind Quintet No.2 – Arcadia Winds @ Town Hall

Sep 20 – Dortmund, Germany
Islamorada – Rainer Maria Klaas @ Orchesterzentrum NRW

Sep 21 – Copenhagen, Denmark
Ave Maria – Melbourne Women’s Choir @ Church of Our Saviour

Sep 29 – New York, NY
Tango Trio – Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players @ Good Shepherd Church


r/orchestra 8d ago

🎼 Miguel del Aguila – September 2025 Performances across the U.S., Europe, and Australia—featuring chamber, choral and orchestral performances. I’m honored to share these programs with outstanding artists and ensembles. If you're nearby, I hope you'll

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0 Upvotes

r/orchestra 9d ago

Should I teach myself to improve on my Viola?

4 Upvotes

I already know all the basic things like a proper bow hold and how to hold your instrument. I am currently almost done with Suzuki book 4, I know 3 octave scales and I’m in high school orchestra.Do yall think I can really improve by myself without a teacher?


r/orchestra 10d ago

The art of filming symphony

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2 Upvotes

r/orchestra 10d ago

Help needed to choose a string instrument.

6 Upvotes

Recently I have been looking at starting one of the bowed instruments. I have been playing the guitar, electric bass and piano for a while now but i would absolutely love to start playing a string instrument as the sound of bowed notes and chords simply can't be achieved otherwise.

I would like some advice on which one to choose and also a bit of an argument of why I should learn your instrument.

Hope to get some replies soon.


r/orchestra 10d ago

Tremelos

2 Upvotes

We're playing Night in Mexico at my highschool and Im not very good at reading music 😂. Are dotted half notes with 2 line tremolos the same as quarter notes with 2 line tremolo in a 3/4 time piece?


r/orchestra 10d ago

Pleeease help me find this warm up

2 Upvotes

Its not anything crazy, its 5 notes up and down 4x and then changes slightly with it accidentals and slowly goes up. Does anyone know what im talking about? I wanna learn this warmup sooo bad


r/orchestra 10d ago

Question Got any pop songs that sound good on the violin? Trying to find some to keep me interested.

2 Upvotes

r/orchestra 10d ago

Orchestra playing with Dami Im in Melbourne!

0 Upvotes

This September 22nd, Western Region Concert Band based in Melbourne is playing with the Australian representative at Eurovision (who placed 2nd!) and X-factor winner, Dami Im!

If you’re nearby and want to listen to some nice music, come buy some tickets!! We’d love to see as many people there to support us as possible ❤️

Link to the ticket sales: https://clocktowercentre.com.au/wrcb-presents-dami-im/


r/orchestra 11d ago

Nightwish Yesterwynde Orchestral performed by Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, Tampere Opera Choir and a children's choir assembled from Pirkanpojat, Sympaatti and Tactus. Conducted by Eero Lehtimäki.

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1 Upvotes