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School of Music

High School String Honor Orchestras

November 20 – 22, 2025

Register for the High School String Honor Orchestras

The West Virginia University High School String Honor Orchestra is a three-day event for high school students (grades 9-12). The deadline to register will be Friday, October 31, 2025.

The selected students rehearse throughout the festival and present a final performance on Saturday. Students will be working with outstanding nationally-known faculty, in both full group and sectional settings. In addition, students will attend a performance by the WVU Symphony Orchestra and a chamber music presentation.

Repertoire

TBA

How to Participate

  • Students are nominated by their orchestra director or private teacher. Band director, choir director, or other music teacher nomination is also possible.
  • Each high school/teacher may nominate up to ten students to participate. If you would like to nominate more than ten students, please reach out to the WVU Director of Orchestral Activities. 
  • All nominated students will be accepted to participate in the Teacher Nominated Orchestra.
  • Students who wish to audition for the Chamber Orchestra will need to submit a recording to be evaluated by the WVU strings faculty. The audition recording can be any musical selection that represents the student’s current level (e.g. all-county audition, all-state audition, solo piece, etude, etc.). Video recordings are preferred, but audio recordings will be accepted. Students who will not be placed in the Chamber Orchestra based on their audition recording will be automatically placed in the Teacher Nominated Orchestra.
  • Please check the reference parts below to determine the level of difficulty:
  • Cost: A $40 participation fee per student is required by the time of check-in at the event. An online payment portal will be available soon.

Activities

  • Intensive rehearsals culminating in a Grand Finale Concert performed by the WVU High School Honor Orchestras on Saturday in the Clay Concert Theatre.
  • Attending the WVU Symphony Orchestra Concert, conducted by Dr. Rotem Weinberg, Thursday in the Clay Concert Theatre.
  • Brief WVU chamber music performance
  • Sectionals and Workshops with WVU Faculty members

Seating

On Thursday, all participants will audition with selected excerpts from the concert music to determine their seating within the orchestras.

Housing

Tentative Schedule

  1. Thursday, November 20
    • 3 – 4:30 p.m. Check-in, Registration in the CCAC Lobby
    • 4 p.m. Seating Auditions begin in various classrooms
    • 7:30 p.m. WVU Symphony Orchestra Concert in the Lyell B Clay Concert Theatre
  2. Friday, November 21
    • 9 – 10:30 a.m. Orchestra Rehearsal in the Clay Theatre and Falbo Theatre
    • 10:45 – 12 p.m.  Sectionals/Workshop with WVU faculty in various classrooms
    • 12 – 1:30 p.m. Lunch on your own
    • 1:30 – 3 p.m. Orchestra Rehearsal in the Clay Theatre and Falbo Theatre
    • 3 – 4 p.m. Sectionals/Workshop with WVU faculty in various classrooms
    • 4 – 6 p.m. Dinner on your own
    • 6 – 7 p.m. Performance and presentation
    • 7:15 – 8:30 p.m. Orchestra Rehearsal in the Clay Theatre and Falbo Theatre
  3. Saturday, November 22
    • 9 – 11 a.m. Orchestra Rehearsal in the Clay Theatre and Falbo Theatre
    • 11 – 12:45 p.m. Free time for students, lunch and concert preparation
    • 11 a.m. WVU Faculty, HS Directors coffee meeting
    • 12:50 p.m. Concert Call – Please be seated and warming up
    • 1 p.m. Honor Orchestras Grand Finale Concert in the Lyell B Clay Concert Theatre

Conductors

Rotem Weinberg headshot

Dr. Rotem Weinberg

Director of Orchestral Activities
West Virginia University

Jean Lee

PRof. Jean Lee

Strings Music Education
Michigan State University

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