The Huxford Orchestra

aeromom
Wed, 18 Nov 2015 23:16:26 +0000

I can’t really answer your question @me29034, because the answer will depend on your student’s ability and the rigor of your high school’s music program. Our school district has 3 high schools; at least 1 of these is regularly a Grammy Signature School Finalist, and the other 2 are regularly Grammy SS semi-finalists. (they rotate around the accolades) About 1/3 of our entire student body takes music curricular-ly in our schools. Our high school has 6 orchestras. The music played in our top 2 Chamber Orchestras is already at the level which will be found at a large university. We have a very strong music program.

Strings in the South takes a back seat to band music and ensembles, so I can say that UA is always looking for more talented strings players.

The Huxford Orchestra holds auditions right before school starts, often the weekend of regular move-in ~Aug 15-17. The audition music is posted online, and students can view the excerpts and see if they are at that level in their playing. I believe the auditions are blind (they have been in the past), and students are expected to prepare their own short solo selection as well. Sight reading can also be part of the audition.

If you contact either the Huxford Director, Dr. Blake Richardson, or the instrument professor, either will be very helpful to you. Here is the Huxford website for reference: http://music.ua.edu/ensembles/huxford-symphony-orchestra/.