<p>Obviously an institution specific question (and I'll ask ours) but can we get an idea what is expected for orchestra musicians playing in conservatory and music school orchestras? I assume it's a tux for guys but that assumption might be wrong.</p>
<p>Maybe we can compile an institution specific list.</p>
<p>Typically, it’s a tux, but I’ve seen the standard black suit, as well as tails. Check on if the cummerbund is required, and if it’s to be black or white, and note the preference for wing collar or standard collar for the shirt. </p>
<p>A couple of points, it would behoove him to have a couple of bow ties, in the standard black or white. These have a habit of disappearing. Preference to pre-tied or having to tie the bow is personal, I know son used both. Do yourself a favor, if he needs tux shirts, there a few great on-line options, and I’d invest in an extra set or two of shirt studs. Again, these get lost, misplaced, borrowed.</p>
<p>Also, note a preference for standard button cuffs, or french cuffs. Son cannot stand playing with cuff links on, so I’d double check with yours if there is a personal preference. </p>
<p>It will pay to have a few of each of the white shirts, including the “required” as well as the alternate version. You never know when a gig will materialize, and the dress required may vary. Having a shirt or two in the hole, clean and ready to wear is always a great option.</p>
<p>Don’t forget the shoe polish and the shoe shine kit.</p>
<p>And black on black is pretty standard small ensemble performance wear. Doesn’t hurt to have at least one black on black outfit from the get go.</p>
<p>YMMV.</p>
<p>Don’t forget a few pairs of black dress socks. Anything else looks silly with a tux and it will be noticed.</p>
<p>As a singer, I tend to buy my tux shirts and any other shirt I would use in performances a full inch larger in collar size than normal. I have on occasion had to insist on this quite forcefully after having measurements taken at the clothing store, but I know from experience that I will not be comfortable singing in the size shirt that they think should fit.</p>
<p>Not just for orchestra, but for every musician: </p>
<p>All guys should have both a tux and a black suit, as well as white shirts and black shirts to wear with the black pants as necessary in small ensemble situations. And a black bow tie, and a black regular tie.</p>
<p>All women should have a black dress, two black skirts: one knee length and one to the floor, and a pair of black dress slacks. They should also have the white and black blouses as mentioned above. You’ll probably need an 18 in. string of pearls at some point, especially if you are a choral singer.</p>
<p>Black shoes for both obviously. Women, consider getting flats and character shoes.</p>
<p>Unless she’s a cellist, in which case forego the knee-length skirt entirely. The so-called car-wash pants are lovely for cellists.</p>
<p>My daughter the bassist also wears black pants with a blouse of the appropriate color rather than a skirt or dress when she is playing orchestral gigs. Curiously enough, she sometimes plays in a more colorful skirt or dress when doing more casual gigs.</p>
<p>I would recommend that the guys first find out if they will really need that black suit. Some ensembles may require one, but I have been performing for 40 years and have not needed one yet, although I have gone through my share of tuxes in that time. Black dress pants (in addition to the fancier tux pants) will be needed regardless, but maybe not the black suit jacket.</p>
<p>Yes - institution specific! S needed a regular black tux and tails. For pit (opera) work, he needed all black. We were expecting most of that. The thing that caught us by surprise was the requirement for patent leather dress shoes.</p>
<p>D’s requirement is all black, long sleeves. She has a variety of tops, and the same black pants she’s worn since middle school orchestra! (I keep offering to buy her more, but she isn’t interested.)</p>
<p>Also guys and gals…</p>
<p>Guys remember undershirts, sometimes it can get hot as blazes under those lights and use suspenders, they look better and you never have to hike your pants up during a performance.</p>
<p>Gals, black tights or stockings (always have extras) and make sure bras have straps that hide away based on your blouse/dress.</p>
<p>Sagiter (dressing young performers since 1996)</p>
<p>If you don’t have one, get a hand-held steamer. It may not be AS good as ironing, but it’s quick and when you are running late and you find the tux pants on the floor in a heap, it sure helps!</p>
<p>Here’s our policy–we send it via email in late May or early June: </p>
<p>Orchestra Concert:</p>
<p>Women: Long black formal dress (long-sleeve, ankle-length) or black formal pantsuit, black hosiery, closed-toe black shoes. No perfume, denim, leather.</p>
<p>Specifics for Ladies Dress:</p>
<p>Top - Must cover from the neck to the top of the skirt, with a very modest neckline. No low-cut fronts or backs or v-neck tops. Sleeves must be full or 7/8 length (No shorter than three inches above wrist when playing).</p>
<p>Skirt - Full length or 7/8 length, no higher than two inches above ankle (when sitting should reach ankle). If it is a slit skirt, the length of slit should be modest.</p>
<p>Shoes - Black, closed-toe (tasteful style-not casual). No sandals or large-soled shoes.</p>
<p>Men: Black tuxedo jacket, white tuxedo shirt, black bow tie, black tuxedo pants, black socks, polished black shoes.</p>
<p>For Opera Orchestra:</p>
<p>Men: Black button-down shirt with dark or no t-shirt underneath, black dress pants, black socks, polished black shoes, NO DENIM</p>
<p>Women: Long black formal dress (long-sleeve, ankle-length) or black formal pantsuit, black hosiery, closed-toe black shoes. No perfume, denim, leather.</p>
<p>Specifics for Ladies Dress:</p>
<p>Top - Must cover from the neck to the top of the skirt, with a very modest neckline. No low-cut fronts or backs or v-neck tops. Sleeves must be full or 7/8 length (No shorter than three inches above wrist when playing).</p>
<p>Skirt - Full length or 7/8 length, no higher than two inches above ankle (when sitting should reach ankle). If it is a slit skirt, the length of slit should be modest.</p>
<p>Shoes - Black, closed-toe (tasteful style-not casual). No sandals or large-soled shoes.</p>
<p>It’s funny - this thread got my D and I talking and wondering what kind of choir gown she was going to need for WCC. She was laughing about her range of black (insert fabric style here) high waisted top, black(insert fabric style here) bottom gowns. At SOME point, I would hope she’d run into a choir that uses the same one, but I doubt it!</p>
<p>DS owns a tux, tails, white dinner jacket (required for one summer music festival), black suit, and black pants/shirts…and black dress shoes that are COMFORTABLE. </p>
<p>He has a LOT of tux ties and keeps at least two IN his instrument case. They don’t cost much and it’s well worth having them. He keeps another “spare” in the inside pocket of his tux jacket.</p>
<p>Brilliant idea on the tux ties, Thumper. I’ve had to overnight a veritable rainbow of tux ties to my son in Philadelphia, because obviously, there are no tux shops in Philadelphia. Either that or it’s easier and cheaper for him to have me do the legwork.</p>
<p>I spent yesterday afternoon in a tux outlet with my S1, with him moaning that they all looked alike. By the end of the session, he had decided he had to have notch collar, one button, 100’s fabric, grosgrain trim. But otherwise, they all look the same. And no, we didn’t go home with one.</p>
<p>The tux will live 60% of it’s life on the dorm closet floor. We buy $69 tuxes, about $100 with alterations. If we need two a year, so be it. I’m done with the $300 tux.</p>
<p>Back in my student days, one of my jobs was being the manager for a couple of the larger performing ensembles. We used to have a tux shop come in at the beginning of every year. They would show up and measure all the new guys, then be back well before the first concert with custom-altered tuxes that had been previously rented but were still in very good shape. Since we bought twenty or thirty of them at at time, we got a pretty good deal on them. They also sold new shirts and accessory packages with suspenders, studs, cuff links and tie.</p>
<p>Before buying a tux on your own, you may wish to call your new school to see if they have any similar arrangement.</p>