Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20
Orchestra is available for students from 5th through 12th grades.
Beginning Strings
5th graders meet the last 35 minutes of the school day on Tuesday and Thursday. 6th graders meet the last 30 minutes of the school day on Monday and Wednesday. These students perform on the Christmas Concert in December and the Spring Concert in April. Class meets from 2:30-3:05.
Middle School Orchestra
Students in 7th and 8th grade combine for Upper Middle School Orchestra. These students meet every day during 7th period for 40 minutes. These students prepare small ensembles for the 2nd Grade Fancy Fruit Break and 4th Grade Hoedown, and have the option to participate in the ISSMA Solo & Ensemble Contest in January. Students perform on the Christmas Concert in December and the Spring Concert in April. They also compete in a music festival at Kings Island in May.
High School Advanced String Ensemble & Symphony Orchestra
Orchestra is a performance-oriented class that meets daily for string students with a heart for serving others in the name of Jesus Christ. Advanced string students audition for Advanced String Ensemble during the first semester, and all high school string students are combined for second semester. Scheduled concerts include The Flavor of Jazz (November), Christmas Concert (December), Pops Concert & Art Festival (March), Spring Concert and Senior Recognition (April), and Graduation (May).
Advanced String Ensemble exists primarily to create a Pit Orchestra with advanced band students for Fine Arts Department Broadway productions. Previous musicals include Beauty and the Beast (2011), Singin' in the Rain (2009), Bye, Bye Birdie (2007), Music Man (2005) & Cinderella (2003). Students interested in Advanced String Ensemble should be comfortable playing an ISSMA "Group" 1 or 2 level solo. The Advanced Ensemble acts as a musical ambassador for the school and performs for school and community events. Students in Advanced Strings also create and rehearse their own chamber ensembles.
Students in Orchestra work alongside students in Concert Band for concerts and mission outreach. The Symphony Orchestra has performed with 3 Fellowship Finalists for the American Pianists Association School Residency Program. Music from the Nutcracker is performed for the HCS 3rd & 4th graders every other December. HCS high school students have participated in praise and worship opportunities at the Pacific Garden Mission (Chicago, IL), Baptist Church (Nashville, TN) and Church at the Crossing (Indianapolis, IN). Students have also traveled to Cedarville University, Taylor University and Indiana Wesleyan University for workshops with college band and orchestra directors. String students attend the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis prelims and have hosted performances by IVCI violinists.