<p>how can we get a handle on the quality of college orchestras (those open to non-music majors and non-conservatory students)? are these rated anywhere?</p>
<p>I think they vary from year to year depending on who is admitted. I would research the conductors and, often, schools post audio clips from past performances. Princeton and Stanford have great conductors, for example. I heard the Yale Symphony last year...it was excellent. You can also derive some idea by the repertoire they attempt, which is often posted on the net.</p>
<p>The quality of the orchestras varies considerably between institutions, and there may be various levels within an institution. Programs within schools known for the strength of their music programs may well be closed to non-majors (although they may be open to all through an audition process) or they may have a lower tier.</p>
<p>In smaller, "non music" programs, there can often be a great disparity from year to year, and often under represented instruments.</p>
<p>In general, you can most often find a performing organization within your institution to suit your level of ability.</p>
<p>An earlier thread on the topic <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/375252-how-do-college-orchestras-work.html?highlight=college+orchestras%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/375252-how-do-college-orchestras-work.html?highlight=college+orchestras</a></p>
<p>DD went to an orchestra concert at EACH school to which she applied. She also took lessons with the instructor on her instrument. She is NOT a music major. I have to say, her university orchestra is not as polished sometimes as she would like it to be. BUT her performer brother reminds here...if she had been THAT interested in the music programs, she would have gone to a huge school with multiple ensembles for undergrads. She didn't. </p>
<p>The schools DD applied to had orchestras with seats open to anyone who WANTED to play. The only "audition" was for the seating. In addition, if there is a shortage of instrumentation, they will sometimes bring in community players to round out the ensembles. </p>
<p>At one school to which she applied, DD was actually invited to play in program for a prestigious award being given to the guest conductor of that university symphony. It was wonderful for DD to get to play with that conductor, but she found the ensemble to be less than adequate. In addition, they didn't actually have a teacher for her instrument as an adjunct. She didn't enroll at that school.</p>
<p>Most schools also have CDs of their concerts. DD asked for those as well. </p>
<p>Some of the more prestigious schools actually have outstanding music ensembles for non-majors (think Yale, Princeton, Harvard, etc). Many of the students enrolled at those schools are fine musicians as well as fine students.</p>
<p>It's at the smaller LACs that you may find that varying quality of orchestra from year to year.</p>
<p>My daughter actually doesn't care at this point. She does her music because she LIKES doing it. She says that in the end, their concerts are always fine and they are very well attended. AND she likes the conductor a lot.</p>
<p>to be more specific - my son plays viola (lessons for 6 years), and his HS orchestra is top-notch. he wants to go to a LAC or university where he can major in math, science or perhaps computer science . but he'd like to play in a good quality, challenging orchestra - auditions would be fine, but he isn't at the level of the top conservatories. any specific schools come to mind?</p>
<p>In California, UC Berkeley and UC Davis have strong orchestras; the conductor at Cal is first-rate (was asst conductor to the San Francisco Symphony for many years); Stanford is a notch below in quality. One thing that makes the UC symphonies relatively strong is the large student population, with a large percentage of those students who studied violin, etc. in high school and were in good youth orchestras in LA and SF.<br>
Harvard, Yale, and Princeton also appear to have good orchestras. Columbia's is so-so. And of course of the LAC's, Oberlin by a mile.</p>
<p>but oberlin probably isn't open to non-conservatory students?</p>
<p>Rice has a non-majors orchestra that is apparently pretty good. You can listen to them on the web. Shepherd</a> School of Music - CAMPANILE ORCHESTRA
You can also take classes for non-mojors.</p>
<p>While the orchestra and chamber orchestra at Oberlin are mostly filled by conservatory students, there is also a BA music major offered in the college. Students in that program who have a performance emphasis rather than a musicology emphasis often wind up in the main conservatory ensembles. On rare occasion, a non-music major may be able to audition into one of the conservatory groups, but most wind up playing in the College Community Winds or College Community Strings.</p>
<p>St. Olaf has an 2 orchestras, one of which is excellent, on par with many conservatory orchestras. Most of the orchestra members are NOT music majors and they have a very strong math department. Science is also a strength. I thought it would be perfect for my viola playing son but he was not interested.</p>
<p>Violists are in high demand, and this is frequently the sparsest section of strings, ikemarrus. A good state university with a strong music program may still need more violists in its top orchestra. See if you can download the roster of the orchestras, and you can tell by the numbers if there is a need. Good luck.</p>
<p>The Yale Symphony is ridiculously amazing (and I say ridiculous because I could never get in if my life depended on it). They tour Europe every summer and play at Carnegie Hall every other year. Luckily, there are 5 other undergraduate orchestras for those slightly less prodigious.</p>
<p>thanks for the responses -- and keep them coming -- the ideas are helpful.</p>
<p>James Madison University in Virginia - my daughter is a voice student there so I have heard the opera orchestra - has an excellent science/computer science department and several orchestras open to all students. CISAT - The College of Integrated Science and Technology - is on the newest part of campus with state of the art facilities. I have been told that the job placement and salary numbers out of that department are quite impressive. </p>
<p>College</a> of Integrated Science and Technology - CISAT - JMU</p>
<p>JMU</a> School of Music</p>
<p>University of Rochester.</p>
<p>Strong engineering departments and...</p>
<p>UR students can take (free) lessons at Eastman School of Music and may participate in any music ensembles at Eastman. (UR also has separate ensembles/orchestra at the River campus. Non-majors are welcomed there too.)</p>
<p>D's roommate (econ/pre-med major) takes violin lessons at Eastman and plays with a string ensemble at Eastman. </p>
<p>The dean of Freshmen told me that approx 1/3 of all UR engineering students are involved in music either at Eastman or River campus.</p>
<p>Cal Tech in Pasadena has lots of opportunities to play with like minded faculty members and students. see <a href="http://www.bands.caltech.edu%5B/url%5D">www.bands.caltech.edu</a> and for chamber music Caltech</a> Music, Theater, Art I home And needless to say, you cant beat their math or computer science departments</p>
<p>i don't know anything about James Mason - thanks for the tip - I'll look into it.</p>
<p>Rochester is a real possiblity.</p>
<p>Yale is a wonderful school, but does anyone actually get in?</p>
<p>I like Cal Tech, but S is totally against it - maybe too intense? not well-rounded enough? not enough balance?</p>
<p>oops - James Madison!</p>
<p>ikemarrus, my S had Yale as his top choice but never dreamed he would get accepted. But, he did--so I would always recommend giving it a try. Every undergraduate ensemble at Yale is open to non-majors; and they are all excellent. S is actually a computer science major, but very heavily involved in music performance.</p>
<p>Marmenyu: what source of knowledge or experience do you have to rate Columbia's orchestra as so so ? Just wondering.</p>