Third Street Music School Settlement is providing high-quality youth orchestra education in New York City. We have four orchestras which give students the opportunity to interact with each other and advance their music instruction as part of an ensemble. Orchestra playing is an essential part of a well-rounded music education and is recommended for all students, regardless of their skill level, experience or age.
Students interested in joining an orchestra will audition for placement. All-School Auditions take place in June and September. Click here to view the audition requirements and prerequisites. For more information on joining a Third Street youth orchestra, please email Ivan Antonov, Assistant Director, Music & Dance School.
Third Street’s Overture Orchestra is an introductory, note-reading orchestra for beginner string students. Offered as an entry point into orchestral playing, this ensemble ensures the school’s youngest students are offered the opportunity to participate in ensemble playing early in their music studies.
Repertoire Level:* Completion of Suzuki Book 1 with entry into Book 2
Rehearsals: Saturdays – 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
Conductor: Steven Rochen
Mid-intermediate students are eligible to perform as part of Third Street’s Con Spirito Orchestra. The orchestra practices for one hour each Saturday morning, focusing primarily on skill level-appropriate arrangements of such composers as David Bruce, George Frideric Handel and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Violin students who have completed both sections of Note-Reading may matriculate directly to Con Spirito.
Repertoire Level:* Beginning of Suzuki Book 3 (violin, viola, cello), Suzuki Book 2 (bass)
Rehearsals: Saturdays – 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Conductor: Steven Rochen
Intermediate-advanced students are eligible to perform as part of Third Street’s Sinfonia Orchestra. This more advanced orchestra practices for 90 minutes each Saturday, and features both arrangements and skill level-appropriate original works from such composers as Howard Shore, Johann Stamitz and Edvard Grieg. Some sight-reading will be required.
Repertoire Level:* Middle of Suzuki Book 4 (violin, viola, cello), Suzuki Book 3 (bass)
Rehearsals: Saturdays – 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Conductor: Steven Rochen
Third Street’s most advanced orchestra, Philharmonia, is a challenging and rewarding ensemble for the school’s highest-performing students of strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion. Philharmonia practices for 2.5 hours on Saturdays during the school year, and recent works have included Handel’s Messiah, Holst’s Brook Green Suite, as well as compositions by Wagner, Mendelssohn and more. Sight-reading is a must for both audition and performance with Philharmonia.
Repertoire Level:* Mid Suzuki Book 5 and above (violin, viola, cello), Suzuki Book 4 (bass)
Rehearsals: Saturdays – 10:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Conductor: Eric Mahl
* = Repertoire level listed is for general purpose only. There are several additional factors which affect proper placement.
