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Symphony Orchestra |
The Orange County High School of the Arts Symphony Orchestra is OCHSA's
most advanced orchestra and has been recognized nationally for both its
talent and innovative programming. From 1999-2004, the ensemble was
awarded the nationally coveted ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming,
including the first place award for four consecutive years. Students in
the orchestra have had the opportunity to meet with such noted musicians
as conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen, composer John Adams, violinists Sarah
Chang and Hilary Hahn and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. The Symphony Orchestra
regularly works with some of the most renowned composers of our time
including Augusta Read Thomas, Steven Stucky, William Bolcom, Chen Yi
and Oscar-winning composer Tan Dun ("Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon").
The orchestra has also participated in musical projects with the Los
Angeles Philharmonic, Orange County's Pacific Symphony and the
Philharmonic Society of Orange County. In February 2006, the French
composer Eric Tanguy traveled from France to spend a week in residency
at the school coaching students on his music and giving lectures (the
trip was provided by a grant from the French American Fund for
Contemporary Music). In May 2006, the orchestra made its successful
debut at Carnegie Hall. Based on that performance, the orchestra was
invited to be the resident orchestra of the Voices-in-the-House Festival
in Sydney, Australia in the summer of 2008. The orchestra's debut CD for
MMC records is scheduled for release in mid-2008.
The Symphony Orchestra provides students with the opportunity to perform
a wide variety of works that they may not encounter elsewhere. This
combined with a productive rehearsal environment allows students to grow
as musicians and better prepares them for college and professional
orchestral experiences.
The Symphony Orchestra performs many works throughout the school year.
Below is a selection of major repertoire performed in the last few years
by the OCHSA Symphony:
Bach/Elgar: Fantasia and Fugue in C minor
Beethoven: Symphonies 4 and 9
Bernstein: Divertimento for Orchestra
Elgar: Enigma Variations
Ives: Symphony No. 2
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 5 "Reformation"
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 1
Plus many works by contemporary composers including Magnus Lindberg,
Brett Dean and Hans-Joachim Hespos. |
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Christopher
Russell, Symphony Orchestra Conductor |
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Christopher Russell, director of OCHSA's Instrumental Music
Conservatory, holds a master of music degree in orchestral conducting
from Indiana University and a bachelor of music degree in composition
from California State University, Fullerton. Russell has held conducting
positions at the Lake Avenue Chamber Orchestra in Pasadena, the Pasadena
Young Musicians Orchestra, the Indiana University String Orchestra, and
the Biola University Symphony. He is also a member of the California
State University, Fullerton faculty. For the 2007-08 school year, he was
the interim conductor of the Azusa Pacific University Symphony
Orchestra. A respected conductor of contemporary music, Russell has
conducted numerous national and international premieres including the
first United States performances of symphonies by John McCabe and Robert
Simpson and works by Jonathan Harvey, Tristan Keuris, Per Nørgård and
Kaija Saariaho. He also frequently gives pre-concert lectures for the
Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Philharmonic Society of Orange County. |
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Rehearsal schedule |
Rehearsal schedule:
Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:10 p.m. - 3:25 p.m. (full orchestra)
Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:35 p.m. - 4:50 p.m. (string sectionals) |
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OCHSA Concert Orchestra |
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The OCHSA Concert Orchestra was founded in 2006 as the newest orchestra
at the Orange County High School of the Arts. The orchestra concentrates
on repertoire from different time periods and encompassing different
styles. Students in the orchestra are given training in orchestral
playing in preparation for advancement on both their instrument and
their ensemble. For the 2007-08 school year, Leslie Ho (a trained
conductor, violinist and violist) takes over the ensemble.
Selection of recent repertoire: Copland: Hoedown from Rodeo Delius:
Summer Evening Haydn: Symphonies 100 “Military” and 104 “London”
Lloyd-Webber: Selections from Phantom of the Opera Mozart: Overture to
The Magic Flute Schubert: Symphony No. 8 “Unfinished” (first movement)
Vivaldi: Winter from The Four Seasons |
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Leslie Ho, Concert
Orchestra Conductor |
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Leslie Ho enjoys a diverse musical career in conducting, performing, and
teaching. He has conducted such orchestras as Whittier College String
Ensemble, the Eternal-Life Christ College String Orchestra, Taichung
Philharmonic Orchestra, MusiCali Strings, and Sound of Joy Youth
Orchestra. Mr. Ho has also given solo and chamber music recitals in the
US, Canada, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. He has served as violinist of the
Gestalt String Quartet, the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, the
Westchester Philharmonic, and the Chamber Orchestra of the South Bay.
Mr. Ho holds a master’s degree in violin performance from Yale
University and a bachelor’s degree in violin performance from the
Manhattan School of Music. In addition to his new appointment as
conductor of the Orange County High School of the Arts Concert
Orchestra, he serves as conductor of the Christian Zion Church Youth
Orchestra and violin/viola faculty at Whittier College. |
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Rehearsal schedule |
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Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:10 p.m. - 3:25 p.m. (full orchestra)
Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:35 p.m. - 4:50 p.m. (string sectionals) |
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String Orchestra |
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The OCHSA String Orchestra consists of students in the 7th and 8th
grades. The fundamentals of string playing including technical skills,
ensemble playing and proper intonation are covered in this ensemble.
Rhythm and ear training are also included. Students learn all of these
through a variety of repertoire that is advanced for most string
orchestras of this grade level. Advanced 7th and 8th graders also have
the opportunity to perform in the Symphony and Concert Orchestras
Selection of recent repertoire: Bach: Air from Suite No. 3 Dvorak:
Miniatures Grieg: Holberg Suite (1st movement) Holst: Brook Green Suite
Mozart: Excerpts from several Divertimentos Shostakovich: Scherzo from
String Quartet No. 11 (arranged for string orchestra) Sibelius: Andante
Festivo |
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Daniel Oguri, String
Orchestra Conductor |
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Daniel Oguri began his musical studies at the age of ten on
the violin. While attending the Orange County High School of the Arts,
he soon switched his focus to the viola. After graduating from OCHSA,
he headed off to Houston, Texas to attend the prestigious Shepherd
School of Music at Rice University. Upon receiving a bachelor’s degree
in music performance, Mr. Oguri subsequently moved to Boston,
Massachusetts, where he would continue his studies at Boston
University. Studying with several members of the Boston Symphony, he
completed a master’s degree in music performance before returning to
Southern California. Daniel Oguri is a tenured violist in the Redlands
Symphony, and a regular substitute with several other orchestras,
including the Pacific Symphony and Opera Pacific. In addition, Mr.
Oguri conducts the String Orchestra, is the Viola Sectional coach at the
Orange County High School of the Arts, and teaches private lessons. |
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Rehearsal schedule |
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Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays 2:10 p.m. - 3:25 p.m. |
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