<p>A few questions the OP asked that are unanswered, and I’ll try to fill in some general and specific blanks. Don’t be fooled with thread titles, there are internal links and tangential discussions within: </p>
<p>If you haven’t seen it
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/952321-does-any-your-kids-double-major-computer-engineering-music.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/952321-does-any-your-kids-double-major-computer-engineering-music.html</a></p>
<p>Orchestras:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/634244-college-orchestras.html?highlight=orchestras[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/634244-college-orchestras.html?highlight=orchestras</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/446104-youth-orchestras-community-orchestras-include-college-players.html?highlight=orchestras[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/446104-youth-orchestras-community-orchestras-include-college-players.html?highlight=orchestras</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/444579-strong-orchestras-liberal-arts-schools.html?highlight=orchestras[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/444579-strong-orchestras-liberal-arts-schools.html?highlight=orchestras</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/375252-how-do-college-orchestras-work.html?highlight=orchestras[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/375252-how-do-college-orchestras-work.html?highlight=orchestras</a></p>
<p>Ivys
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/princeton-2014/919415-princeton-university-music-opportunities.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/princeton-2014/919415-princeton-university-music-opportunities.html</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/yale-university/835144-yale-symphony-orchestra.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/yale-university/835144-yale-symphony-orchestra.html</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/yale-university/915141-yale-vs-lawrence.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/yale-university/915141-yale-vs-lawrence.html</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/yale-university/908687-yso-audition.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/yale-university/908687-yso-audition.html</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/738525-how-strong-music-ec.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/738525-how-strong-music-ec.html</a> (food for thought reading)</p>
<p>Do not assume allstate/yo participation is an “in” for audition based orchastras/ensembles at Yale, Princeton, Harvard, Columbia, especially on violin, typically an instrument with an over representation and an abundance of conservatory / preprofessional talents and abilities. Yale has the most overall opportunities and depth of instrumentation. Chamber music (depending on genre and literature) may be be a harder how to row, as the smaller programs simply may not have the depth of instrumentation or peer talent with like mind and ability. </p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/842786-music-education-plus-academics.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/842786-music-education-plus-academics.html</a> Ignore the ed, but it addresses a number of programs already mentioned.</p>
<p>As for the recorded bites and clips, these are not always representative of true quality, and may not even be recent. A live performance, or even a rehearsal is far more indicative.</p>