Prospective Students

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What Is Orchestra?

Watch this video to learn more about our Orchestra Program!
Orchestra is a group with STRING PLAYERS. Strings play every kind of music imaginable. Strings are found in classical music, popular music, and everything in between.  Some of the greatest music ever written was written for string instruments, and not just in the Western world. Nearly every culture has a string instrument which they use to tell their story through music. And strings are the foundation instrument for one of the most expressive ensembles ever created, THE ORCHESTRA.  If you're not sold on that, just check out this video.
What's more, Orchestra is a FAMILY where students are given a safe space full of support to better understand themselves. Students have a collaborative experience that requires and celebrates teamwork. And Bay students learn not just the technical aspects of playing their instruments, but more importantly the musicality that brings music to life. 

Bay Middle School Orchestra Students are:
  • ​Vying for the Gold Medal in “Passing Songs”  ​
  • Giving Themed Concerts at the Bay High Auditorium
  • Performing in at the Trills and Thrills Festival at Cedar Point.
  • Playing for the standing-room-only Day For Strings Festival
  • Learning techniques for Orchestra, Jazz, Rock and Fiddle styles ​
  • Going on field trips to Severance Hall
  • Receiving accolades from clinicians and adjudicators

Bay High School Orchestra Students Are: 
  • ​​Performing masterworks such as “Jupiter” from The Planets and Handel’s majestic “Hallelujah Chorus”​
  • Giving performances with staging and special effects to scored such as the “Pirates of the Caribbean”
  • Playing real Broadway and off-Broadway show scores such as Oklahoma, The Addams Family, Shrek and Chicago. ​
  • Receiving accolades from clinicians and adjudicators across the state.
  • Mixing recordings to give a Virtual Spring Concert in 2020, featuring the music of Harry Potter
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​5th Graders, Choose Your Instrument!

View the videos below to hear each instrument individually. Click the button below to hear the instruments together in a recording released by our own Bay High School Orchestra.
Click the button below to hear the instruments together in a recording released by our own Bay High School Orchestra!

Next Steps

  1. Select "Fifth Grade String Orchestra" for your Bay Middle Music Class.

  2. ​​Attend the Fifth Grade String Information Meeting (Date TBA): We will give you and your student an overview of the program, share rental options and measure your child for the size of instrument they will be most successful starting on. 
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  3. Attend the Instrument Pick-up & First Lesson (Date TBA): Your child will receive instruction on assembly and care of instruments and make his or her first sound! Parents are encouraged to attend!

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Music students have significantly higher SAT scores than the average student population: string students have the highest among music students.
  • First and second year string students’ math and reading test scores are higher than the general student population in suburban, urban and rural schools
  • Students who participate in orchestra and band programs in the schools are less likely to a use substances, including alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs.
  • Performing string instruments helps students to gain comfort, control, and self-confidence.  This experience translates to greater security in front of any audience, be it for a classroom presentation or a job interview.
  • Colleges and universities often need string players for their orchestras and may offer scholarships to qualified students regardless of their academic major.
  • Lifelong opportunities to perform on a stringed instrument abound.  According to the American Symphony Orchestra League, there are opportunities for adult amateur musicians in over 1,500 community ensembles around the country.  Greats in all fields have played stringed instruments for lifelong fulfillment counting among their numbers Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and Albert Einstein.
For more information, contact: 
Mrs. Carrie Singler
Director of Orchestras
carrie.singler@bayschoolsohio.org
www.bayorchestra.com