County Orchestra Festival Information 2025-26 Festival
Auditions will be in person for Intermediate (4th - 6th) and Middle School (7th - 9th).
November 18th, 6:30PM at Central Dauphin Middle School.
Directors please contact Sam Kibler ([email protected]) with questions.
Festival Host: Central Dauphin Middle School
· Anita Smith and CD Music Teachers
Orchestra Festival Guest Conductors
Senior High String Orchestra
Middle School String Orchestra
Intermediate String Orchestra
Please make sure students are available for ALL festival dates, including snow date, before auditioning . . . Dates and times are listed below.
ORCHESTRA REHEARSAL & CONCERT INFORMATION l
Orchestra Dates
All rehearsals and concert at Central Dauphin Middle School
· Tuesday, Jan 20, 2026 (All Groups) 6:30-8:30 PM
· Tuesday, Jan 27, 2026 (snow make - all groups) 6:30-8:30 PM
· Thursday, Jan 29, 2026 (Intermediate only) 6:30-8:30 PM
· Friday, Jan 30, 2026 (MS/HS only) 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
· Festival - Central Dauphin Middle School
· Saturday, Jan 31, 2026
· Rehearsal at 9:00 AM
· Concert at 1:30 PM
Snow Date: Saturday, Feb 7
November 18th, 6:30PM at Central Dauphin Middle School.
Directors please contact Sam Kibler ([email protected]) with questions.
Festival Host: Central Dauphin Middle School
· Anita Smith and CD Music Teachers
Orchestra Festival Guest Conductors
Senior High String Orchestra
Middle School String Orchestra
Intermediate String Orchestra
Please make sure students are available for ALL festival dates, including snow date, before auditioning . . . Dates and times are listed below.
ORCHESTRA REHEARSAL & CONCERT INFORMATION l
Orchestra Dates
All rehearsals and concert at Central Dauphin Middle School
· Tuesday, Jan 20, 2026 (All Groups) 6:30-8:30 PM
· Tuesday, Jan 27, 2026 (snow make - all groups) 6:30-8:30 PM
· Thursday, Jan 29, 2026 (Intermediate only) 6:30-8:30 PM
· Friday, Jan 30, 2026 (MS/HS only) 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
· Festival - Central Dauphin Middle School
· Saturday, Jan 31, 2026
· Rehearsal at 9:00 AM
· Concert at 1:30 PM
Snow Date: Saturday, Feb 7
| county_orchestra_2025_student_info.pdf |
Audition Requirements
Auditions will be in person for the 2025-26 festival.
Solo for Intermediate (4th - 6th Grade Students ) String Auditions for County 2025-2026 Festival
(Year 2 of revised rotation)
Violin: Russian Folk Melody, from “Solo and Etudes”, Bk 2 (Frost, Kjos), page 29
Viola: Russian Folk Melody, from “Solo and Etudes”, Bk 2 (Frost, Kjos), page 29
Cello: Russian Folk Melody, from “Solo and Etudes”, Bk 2 (Frost, Kjos), page 29
String Bass: Russian Folk Melody, from “Solo and Etudes”, Bk 2 (Frost, Kjos), page 29
Solo for Middle School (7th - 9th Grade Students) Orchestra Auditions for County 2025-2026 Festival
(Year 2 of revised rotation)
Violin: Concertino in D, Op 15, Larghetto and Allegro Assai (2nd and 3rd movements), by Kuchler, from Solos for the Young Violinist”, Book #1, pages 30, 31
Viola: Concertino in D (G), Op 15, Larghetto and Allegro Assai (2nd and 3rd movements), by Kuchler, published by Bosworth
Cello: Gavotte, by J.B. Lully, Song # 2 from “Suzuki Cello Book 3”
Strings Bass: Heroic March, Handel, Page 16 from “Etling Solo Time”, Book #3”
Scales for Middle School Orchestra Auditions
All Strings: Scales up to and including 3 sharps and 3 flats, i.e. C G D A F Bb Eb Major Scales, played at a quarter note = 120 (march tempo) with separate bows, a minimum of 1 octave performed, memorized; please note additional octaves will be given extra credit (when scored by the judges).
High School (grades 10-12)
Student participants are nominated by their school orchestra directors. Each director may have different means of selecting participating students.
High School Policy: If a 9th grader auditions for district orchestra, they are eligible for placement in the Senior High DCMEA Orchestra for the 2026 festival.
Auditions will be in person for the 2025-26 festival.
Solo for Intermediate (4th - 6th Grade Students ) String Auditions for County 2025-2026 Festival
(Year 2 of revised rotation)
Violin: Russian Folk Melody, from “Solo and Etudes”, Bk 2 (Frost, Kjos), page 29
Viola: Russian Folk Melody, from “Solo and Etudes”, Bk 2 (Frost, Kjos), page 29
Cello: Russian Folk Melody, from “Solo and Etudes”, Bk 2 (Frost, Kjos), page 29
String Bass: Russian Folk Melody, from “Solo and Etudes”, Bk 2 (Frost, Kjos), page 29
Solo for Middle School (7th - 9th Grade Students) Orchestra Auditions for County 2025-2026 Festival
(Year 2 of revised rotation)
Violin: Concertino in D, Op 15, Larghetto and Allegro Assai (2nd and 3rd movements), by Kuchler, from Solos for the Young Violinist”, Book #1, pages 30, 31
Viola: Concertino in D (G), Op 15, Larghetto and Allegro Assai (2nd and 3rd movements), by Kuchler, published by Bosworth
Cello: Gavotte, by J.B. Lully, Song # 2 from “Suzuki Cello Book 3”
Strings Bass: Heroic March, Handel, Page 16 from “Etling Solo Time”, Book #3”
Scales for Middle School Orchestra Auditions
All Strings: Scales up to and including 3 sharps and 3 flats, i.e. C G D A F Bb Eb Major Scales, played at a quarter note = 120 (march tempo) with separate bows, a minimum of 1 octave performed, memorized; please note additional octaves will be given extra credit (when scored by the judges).
High School (grades 10-12)
Student participants are nominated by their school orchestra directors. Each director may have different means of selecting participating students.
High School Policy: If a 9th grader auditions for district orchestra, they are eligible for placement in the Senior High DCMEA Orchestra for the 2026 festival.
