The Shepherd Community Orchestra is a student-based community ensemble in residence at Shepherd University, under the direction of Camilo Pérez-Mejía. It provides opportunities for string players to play in an orchestra of outstanding caliber. Shepherd University Music faculty string coaches for the orchestra are Heather Austin-Stone for violin I, Renee Shaw Nutwell for violin II, Kathy Gleason for viola, Camilo Pérez-Mejía for cello.
The Shepherd Community Orchestra is under the direction of Camilo Perez-Mejia. The fall semester will begin on Wednesday, September 4, 2024 with a concert on December 11, 2024 at 7:30 pm. Auditions for new string players will be on Wednesday, August 28, 2024 from 6:00 pm-9:00 pm. Walk-in auditions will end at 8:30 pm. If you are an advanced string musician and would like to audition for the Shepherd Community Orchestra, please email communitymusic@shepherd.edu to register. Participants should prepare a solo piece of music, a 3-octave scale, and there will be sight-reading. The orchestra meets each week from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the Frank Arts Center.
In alliance with the Shepherd University School of Music, area string students work with collegiate level string students, as well as, area professional string musicians, affording them performance experience with string orchestral repertoire. The Shepherd Community Orchestra has continued to grow and has created a needed musical outlet for area students that did not exist for string players before the orchestra began in 1998. Heralded as one of the best orchestras for youth opportunities in the region, the Shepherd Community Orchestra looks to expand its strings section.
Younger or inexperienced string students may audition for the Sinfonia: A Learning String Ensemble, under the direction of Renee Shaw Nutwell. Members are comprised of elementary, middle and high school, and adult string students from Jefferson and Berkeley Counties in West Virginia, and Washington County, MD. The ensemble meets Wednesday evenings between 6:15 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. beginning Wednesday, September 4, 2024 with a concert on December 11, 2024 at 7:30 pm. Auditions for new string players will be on Wednesday, August 28, 2024 from 6:00 pm-9:00 pm. Walk-in auditions will end at 8:30 pm. If you are an intermediate string musician and would like to audition for the Shepherd Community Orchestra, please email communitymusic@shepherd.edu to register. Participants should prepare a solo piece of music, a 2-octave scale, and there will be sight-reading.
Fall semester rehearsals begin September 4 – December 4, 2024.
End of semester concert performance is on December 11 at 7:30 pm in the Frank Arts Center.
Tuition: $150 Registration Form
To register for an audition or for more information, contact: communitymusic@shepherd.edu