Joining the Pack
April 2024 Edition
Welcome Future Orchestra Bear Families!
Keeping Orchestra in Your Schedule for 4 Years
Many of our orchestra students maintain rigorous schedules with advanced academic classes as well as multiple extracurricular activities. We have had our students graduate and go on to study Texas A&M, Rice, UT, UC Berkeley, Duke, Princeton, Wellesley, just to name a few...and the school has only had four graduating classes so far!
BHS Orchestra students graduate at the top of their classes and still love playing their instruments!
Mark Henry Building Dedication
Santa Monica Pier
Bridgeland Symphony at the Midwest Clinic
Spring Travel in High School
We need EVERY orchestra family to complete our survey for next year's travel plans.
Destination & tentative itinerary announced: May 1, 2024
Trip Contract & Deposit Due: Fall 2024
Chicago in December
Earn Your Letter Jacket!!!!
Chamber Music
Winner of the contest will receive a free hoodie!
Frequently Asked Questions
Currently the BHS Orchestras are divided into five classes during the school day. With approximately 175 students enrolled we are very proud of all of our performing groups. Next year we will again have five string orchestras and one full orchestra: Sinfonietta, Lyrica, Cambiata, Camerata, Chamber, and Bridgeland Symphony. All of our groups compete at UIL Contests and are engaged in numerous concerts and performances.
The majority of freshmen will audition or be placed into Lyrica and Sinfonietta orchestras. Occasionally, freshmen earn placement in cambiata or even camerata, but no freshmen are admitted into the chamber orchestra.
With so many periods of orchestra to accommodate your rigorous schedule, there is a home for every player in the Bridgeland Orchestras!
What can I expect as a member of the high school orchestra program?
You are coming from outstanding middle school orchestra programs with terrific directors and an outstanding musical background. Just expect much of the same commitment to excellence and pursuit of knowledge!
At the high school level, there is a strong emphasis on performance, with units of study over string orchestra literature, full orchestra literature, and chamber music. Refinement of rudimentary skills is stressed.
Do I bring my cello or bass back and forth to school?
Like your middle school program, students may use a CFISD cello or bass with a completed instrument-use contract. Violinists and violists will transport their instruments back and forth to school but have orchestra lockers in which to store them. Bridgeland does not provide violas or violins for school use.
What other time commitments must I make in order to be a member?
After-school sectionals are required of students enrolled in the upper 3 orchestras. Additionally Monday night rehearsals 5:30-7:30 each week are mandatory to prepare for certain concerts during the school year. Not all students will attend Monday night rehearsals during the entire school year. Additionally to prepare for upcoming performances, students may need to attend an additional dress rehearsal or clinic.
What expenses are incurred with membership in the Orchestras?
At the beginning of the year students pay a single activity fee that includes uniform maintenance, UIL ensemble fee, clinicians, sectional coaches, and other course enhancements. Optional expenses throughout the year may include UIL solo entry and accompanist fee, spring trip, and occasional celebratory food.
Do I have to buy a tuxedo or formal gown for the concerts?
No, CFISD issues a formal uniform to every enrolled student. Students do provide their own dress shoes, socks/hosiery, and white tuxedo shirt.
What contests and competitions are available to me?
All chamber orchestra students are required to audition for region orchestra in the fall. The spring semester is highlighted by the annual UIL Solo & Ensemble Contest. Each orchestra competes in the CFISD Pre-UIL Contest as well as the Region 27 UIL Concert & Sight-Reading Contest.
Do students have to audition to be part of the Bridgeland Orchestras?
Students are assigned to orchestras according to ability, attitude, instrumentation, and director's recommendation. In order to be placed correctly, auditions are necessary. Auditions each year consist of a performance of an etude or solo, scales, and a conference with the directors. This audition takes place in May for the following year. Audition information will be distributed to all interested students around spring break.
Does the No Pass/No Play rule affect my participation in orchestra?
Orchestra students must pass ALL classes in order to participate in extracurricular activities of the orchestra: contests, paid performances, and auditions for region, area, and all-state. Class time instruction and all after-school rehearsals are considered "curricular" and students participate in these regardless of academic eligibility. UIL rules have changed, and all students may participate in UIL Concert and Sight-Reading.
What is full orchestra?
Our full orchestra, the Bridgeland Symphony, was established in 2021 and consists of members of the camerata and chamber orchestra as well as elite, auditioned members of the varsity band program. There is no additional class to register for because this part of the curriculum for camerata and chamber orchestra meets 5-8PM on Monday nights.
Can a student participate in Athletics and Orchestra?
ABSOLUTELY! It is a misconception that students who are enrolled in Fine Arts have to choose between the two. The Athletics and Fine Arts Departments work side-by-side to allow our students to participate and compete for both departments. Conflicts sometimes happen, but we work them out with your help by keeping us informed well in advance!
What benefits are enjoyed by being a member of the Orchestra?
WOW! The best question of all! Members of the orchestras reap many benefits. We already know that practice and hard work lead to successful music-making, but there are so many more wonderful things about high school orchestra!
Curriculum-wise, we explore various time periods, musical styles, and musical genres. Additionally orchestra has real-world applications in character traits such as: teamwork, discipline, dedication, commitment, pride, and integrity.
Colleges and universities are seeking out students that have been enrolled in long-term fine arts programs such as Band, Choir, and Orchestra. Imagine being dedicated to an organization for not 4, but 7 years! On top of that, they understand and believe in the dedication, commitment, and habits required for students to learn an instrument (well). They are seeking out students that have excelled in fine arts. We not only place students in the top 10 of the graduating class, but almost all of our seniors graduate in the top 15%.
Socially, the orchestra family is a tight-knit group of friends who support each other, laugh while learning, and love making music together. We are an established organization with lots of tenacity and talent. Hard work and passion for our art are the backbone of our organization. It is evident that all our orchestra students love to learn, to perform, and that orchestra is a priority in our lives. In essence, we love to play!
Finally, working hard and performing well can earn points toward your letter jacket, a very prestigious honor! It's cool to be seen around school in your letter jacket!
What about social events?
Our student officers select, plan, and coordinate all social aspects of the orchestra. Next year we will hold our annual Welcome Bach picnic, a movie night, Pie Day, the orchestra banquet, and Ork-Lympics! Periodically we also host social events in conjunction with rehearsals or performances. Our biggest event is our spring trip, which combines the fun of a vacation with a performance at an out-of-town venue.
How can my parents be involved in the Orchestra program?
The Bridgeland Orchestra Booster Association (BOBA) is always looking for energetic parents who are excited about helping out the director and the student membership of the BHS Orchestras. We have meetings about once a month and ask for parents to contribute time in various ways such as chaperoning events, contributing baked goods or snacks for receptions, hosting contests, and help fundraising for various items. Most importantly, we hope that your parents will attend all of your concerts and performances, and will lend a helping hand.
Welcome from the BHS Orchestra Co-Presidents
Hey, future Bears!
We are the Bridgeland Orchestra Co-Presidents. With new programs, socials, and communities, the upcoming years are shaping up to be amazing. We hope you’re looking forward to joining the pack just as much as we are!
In recent years, we have added a full orchestra program, where orchestra and band collaborate to play both fun and challenging pieces! It may seem intimidating, but over each rehearsal, we have only continued to grow stronger, closer, and better together. With all of our efforts, we’re able to create some really cool music together, which we hope you’ll be able to experience, too.
In and out of school, social events tie our community together. Through pie and present exchanging, our end of the year banquet, the Orklympic competition, and small, stress-relieving get-togethers, everybody in this lively program is able to hang out and have fun. That also includes serving breakfast before finals, playing games, watching movies, and sharing food. Watching our directors get pied in the face, sharing thanks together, and getting competitive over game shows are just a few of the awesome memories we’ve made here. Before the school year even begins, we host a Welcome Bach picnic, where we are excited to meet you all!
Furthermore, our annual spring trip is truly an amazing, memorable experience when traveling with such a wonderful community. In the years prior, we have gone to places such as Branson and Orlando Disney World and Anaheim Disney Land! We had a lot of fun with snowball fights, aquarium visits, roller coaster rides, and performing fun, pop music with amazing clinicians. We look forward to seeing you all create enjoyable memories with each other!
Of course, transitioning into high school can seem scary, as we know it all too well, but the Bridgeland Orchestra has truly been like a second family to us and has supported each other throughout the years. Not only are they a fun, dedicated, and compassionate family, but an ensemble of musicians, as well. Coming to class every day and playing with others has helped us grow as musicians—technically, stylistically, and personally. We are all so glad we stuck with orchestra, and we hope you do, too.
See you next year, the incoming freshmen class of 2028! Welcome to Bridgeland Orchestra!
Sincerely,
The Bridgeland Orchestra Co-Presidents
Audition Information
You may join the course using the join code: X328-PFFS-6VH7V.
From there, scroll to the bottom of the home page, and click on "Spring Exam / Audition 2024."
You will find both varsity and non-varsity music embedded in the Google form that will be used for submission.
Submit this form no later than Monday, April 29. Late/incomplete submissions will be judged at the discretion of the directors.