<p>I was recently accepted to Rice University, and it currently stands as one of my top choices. However, one of my main concerns has to do with the musical opportunities, specifically for non-majors. Obviously, Rice's School of Music is incredible, but I'm worried about what opportunities that leaves for non-majors. Although I am looking to major in psychology, I put a considerable amount of time and energy into piano and oboe, particularly the latter. I have loved playing in my local youth symphony and allstate orchestras and greatly look forward to participating in a college orchestra. However, my oboe teacher called Rice's orchestra the best orchestra in the country, so I'm assuming that would not be open to me. I have heard only a little about the Campanile Orchestra for non-majors, but I'm curious how good/serious it is. Can anyone offer some insights or personal experience, especially since the main orchestra is so exceptional?</p>
<p>If you don’t hear back from anyone here on this, I would recommend you contact someone at the music school (Shepherd) directly. Before my daughter started at Rice two years ago, she wanted to know if she’d be able to use the piano practice rooms at Shepherd, so we emailed someone there and asked. The answer was yes. I hope the same is true for your question!</p>
<p>Don’t know - but DD was not a music major and got to sing with the choral, and they were great. She also was in a student run (res college) musical with a great orchestra composed of nonmajors and music majors alike, conducted by student.</p>
<p>The Campanile Orchestra is not bad as such things go. There are quite a few people at Rice in your position. The conductor of the Campanile is quite good.
Of course, at schools without a performance degree program, the most serious performers would be in orchestra with you, which would be advantageous. But exposure to Shepherd’s offerings is worth a lot.</p>
<p>our son would have played strings in the second tier orchestra at Rice…which I believe is led by Shepherd staff and also students learning to lead musical groups…was pleased to see this as an opportunity since our son was not good enough to play alongside of conservatory students. Since you made it to state symphony…perhaps your personal standards are higher and you should at least audition for Shepherd to get honest feedback. Our sons idea of appropriate amount of time was only a few hours a week for Orchestra which is not a match for a conservatory symphony…
congrats on getting into Rice</p>
<p>I actually know quite a few people in the orchestra. The quality is really high. Some of the players are actually undergrads in Shepherd, since Grad students usually dominate the ‘major’s orchestra’. A lot of the players actually considered and were talented enough for conservatory level playing in high school. Their rep is pretty serious too. For their last concert they played Sibelius 2 and Tchaik. Romeo and Juliet.</p>