Concert String Orchestra News

Hello, CSO Leadership Applicants! Here is your chance to stand out as a young musician by sitting at the front of the ensemble and helping lead the orchestra. Performers will be judged by their musicality, steady tempo, solid intonation, ability to cue, rhythm, posture and technique. The following are excerpts for the upcoming leadership auditions for violins, violas, cellos, and bass students for the CSO.  Throughout the semester, leaders need to abide by the attendance policy … read more about CSO Leadership Excerpts 2023 »

Hey CSO!  I am very excited about the music I have chosen for the November 6th concert! We will be performing "Of Glorious Plumage" by Richard Meyer and Mendelssohn's String Symphony No. 10 in its entirety! Below, you will find links to the music for the November 6th concert.  Download Of Glorious Plumage Bass (pdf - 25.03 MB) Download Of Glorious Plumage cello (pdf - 25.03 MB… read more about November 6th Concert Cycle »

Hello, CSO Leadership Applicants! Here is your chance to stand out as a young musician by sitting at the front of the ensemble and helping lead the orchestra. Performers will be judged by their musicality, steady tempo, solid intonation, ability to cue, rhythm, posture and technique. The following are excerpts for the upcoming leadership auditions for violins, violas, cellos, and bass students for the CSO.  Throughout the semester, leaders need to abide by the attendance policy … read more about CSO Leadership Excerpts 2022 »

Hi there CSO! Below you will find the links to all the music you will be playing on the April concert. The repertoire is challenging, so have a look at it as soon as possible! We will be handing out printed copies to you in the rehearsal on 2/26/22, so if you are able to practice it from a screen until then, do so to save a tree! Bass', please also click on the cello link and print the Vivaldi and Mozart, as your part is the same as their's. Download(s): Sibelius 1st Violin.pdf Vivaldi concerto… read more about Links to April '22 Music »

Hi beautiful CSO folks! I am excited to be doing Prokofiev and Ives with you on the next concert! Look below to find links to the music for your section. The pop/Joplin tune will be coming as soon as we come to a consensus on what piece we want to do. While Ms. Shirts did say at the dress rehearsal for our last concert that it was the best she has ever heard CSO play, please do know that this music is more difficult and will require a lot of focus and metronome work. Let's continue our upward trajectory!! Best, Rob… read more about February 2022 concert music »

Hi there CSO! Wow! It's basically fall! I am looking forward to a semester of great music with all of you! In person!! We will have to be careful and be mindful of others, but I think this semester has great potential! Below, you will find links to the music we will be playing this semester. Please take a look at it before the first rehearsal, which is this Saturday, September 11th, at 12:45. We will be providing printed music on Saturday, but extra credit for those who read it from a screen (don't print, waste ink and… read more about Welcome to CSO Fall 2021! (Link to music) »

Hello, CSO Leadership Applicants! Here is your chance to stand out as a young musician by sitting at the front of the ensemble and helping lead the orchestra. Auditioners will be judged by their musicality, steady tempo, solid intonation, ability to cue, rhythm, posture and technique. The following are excerpts for the upcoming leadership auditions for violins, violas, cellos, and bass students for the CSO.  Throughout the semester, leaders need to abide by the attendance policy… read more about 2021 CSO Leadership Audition Music »

Hi there CSO! I am really looking forward to working with you all again this semester! We have two rather difficult, but really nice pieces. They will require careful practice and good rhythm! Please begin your work as soon as possible on these! CSO will meet 11:20-12:20on the following dates: 3/6, 3/20, 4/10, 4/24, and 5/8. As you can see, that only gives us 5 rehearsals to put these pieces together. I will be requiring each of you to submit a video each B week of particular… read more about CSO music, Spring 2021 »

Hello CSO!   Here are a few notes from last week’s rehearsal.  Mr. Rempher implored us to remember to play with dynamics. Not just to play with dynamics during rehearsal, but during your practice sessions.  (If you don’t read or remember anything else from this note, just remember that.)   Stars and Stripes Suddenly softer at measure 13! At 109, he’ll start counting in 4    Celli, with the half notes, give a little space between the notes and a… read more about Weekly email for CSO (Oct. 19th) »

Hello CSO, I hope that your week has been going well!  On Saturday, Oct. 5th, we’ll have sectionals instead of our normal rehearsal. Be ready to play at 12:30  (in the correct room, preferably). Here is where you should be:  Violin 1 (104) Jasmine Campbell Violin 2  (041) Ian Livingston Viola (069) Sara Moore Cellos and Bass (Bone Hall) Kirsten Jierme Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2nd violin leadership auditions last week! Here are the results:  1st chair, Isaac… read more about Weekly email for CSO (Oct. 5) »

Hello CSO,  Here are some notes from last rehearsal. Stars and Stripes   Don’t hesitate on the first note! In measure 13, there it says “sub p”. Remember, that means suddenly piano, or, suddenly, play quieter! So- get really fortissimo at the end of measure 12 to make your sudden quietness stand out. (Because if you are quiet to begin with, no one will really notice if you suddenly get… read more about Weekly email for CSO (wk of Sept 21) »

Hello everyone,  Welcome to Concert Strings Orchestra! This is your weekly email, brought to you by Elizabeth Shamblin, Mr. Rempher’s assistant. We had a great first rehearsal last week! Here are some of the highlights.  Arrive at least 5 minutes before rehearsal so you are ready to tune right at 12:30. Next week, you should have a nametag on the stand in front of your assigned seat. The seating chart for the first concert is linked here. Bring a pencil and have it out on your stand, ready to mark up your music… read more about Weekly email for CSO (Sept. 14th edition) »

Dear Concert String Orchestra Students, The following are excerpts for the upcoming leadership auditions for violins, violas, cellos, and bass students for the CSO.  Applicants will be judged by their musicality, steady tempo, solid intonation, ability to cue, rhythm, posture, and technique. Throughout the year, leaders need to abide by the attendance policy and set a good example to the other orchestra members with their preparation, posture, and behavior. Please look for an email in your inbox… read more about 2019 CSO Leadership Audition Pieces »