Orchestra - Newman Smith High

NEWMAN SMITH ORCHESTRA

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FIND YOUR

excellence

The Newman Smith Orchestra was founded in 1978 and has earned consecutive Sweepstakes awards at UIL Concert and Sight Reading Contest since 1987 with its varsity string orchestra -- one of the longest streaks in Texas. Newman Smith regularly sends large numbers of students to All-Region Orchestra, as well as Area and Texas All-State Orchestras each year, and continues to rank high in the Texas State Honor Orchestra competition; we are proud to be one of the most competitive programs in the state.

FIND YOUR

fun

The Newman Smith Orchestra has enjoyed many trips to compete in places such as New Orleans, San Antonio, Chicago, New York and Disney World. Socials are a big part of the NSO experience -- a chance to meet new people and make lifelong Orchestra friends. The NSO students and directors are a tight-knit family, a home away from home.

FIND YOUR

passion

Create meaningful connections to music written by the world’s greatest composers while playing alongside your friends and expressing yourself through music. Being a part of the NSO enriches your experience not only in high school, but also nurtures a lifelong love and appreciation of music, whether you pursue a music degree or not.

Pathways

Concert Orchestra 1,2,3,4

Concert Orchestra is a non-competitive ensemble at Newman Smith, and is made up of advancing students who are working to improve both fundamental and higher-level skills. While an audition is not required, in order to be a member of the NSHS Concert Orchestra, students must already have a foundation of playing a string instrument (violin, viola, cello or bass), usually 2-3 years of experience. Concert Orchestra performs at all of the concerts, but does not compete at UIL.

Camerata Orchestra 1,2,3,4

Camerata Orchestra, a competitive ensemble classified as the sub-non-varsity orchestra at NSHS, is made up of advancing string players, most who have been playing their instruments for at least 3 years in an ensemble previously. Membership in the Camerata Orchestra is by audition only and this ensemble performs at all of the concerts, and competes at the UIL Concert and Sight Reading Contest in the spring semester.

Philharmonic Orchestra 1,2,3,4

Philharmonic Orchestra is a mature, competitive ensemble classified as the NSHS non-varsity orchestra, and is made up of advanced string players. Membership in this ensemble is by audition only. Students in Philharmonic Orchestra perform at all of the concerts, as well as compete at the UIL contest as a string ensemble. Members of Philharmonic also have the opportunity to audition for the Symphony (Full) Orchestra UIL ensemble in the spring.

Symphonic 1,2,3,4

Symphonic is made up of the most advanced string players in the orchestra program, and is considered the varsity (top) orchestra at NSHS. Membership is by audition only, and this ensemble has the opportunity to perform for school and community events. In the spring, Symphonic plays at UIL as the Varsity Symphony (Full) Orchestra as well as the Varsity String Orchestra. Also, members of the Symphonic Orchestra may join the Chamber Orchestra, an ensemble focused on more in-depth and individualized practice, as well as performances in the community.

Student Organizations

AWARDS

Since 1987, the Symphonic Orchestra has received consecutive Sweepstakes awards at UIL Concert and Sight Reading and the Symphony Orchestra has achieved the same honor since 1999. Notably, all 4 orchestras have received Sweepstakes every year since 2012!

In 2011, the Newman Smith Symphony Full Orchestra was the Fourth Runner Up for the TMEA State of Texas Honor Orchestra Competition.

In 2019, the Newman Smith Symphonic Orchestra was named a Commended Winner for the National Orchestra Honors High School String Orchestra competition by The Foundation for Music Education.

In its long history, the Newman Smith Orchestra has frequently won many top awards from various competitive music festivals across the country, including Chicago, New York, Disney World, New Orleans, St. Louis and San Antonio.

Teacher information

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