ISSUED: 22 August 2013
MEDIA CONTACT: Valerie Owens
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — The Shepherd University Preparatory Orchestra will hold auditions for its 15th season on Wednesday, August 28, beginning at 6 p.m. in the Frank Center for junior and senior preparatory orchestra members. Positions are open in all string sections in both orchestras.
Students auditioning for the junior youth orchestra are asked to prepare a solo and scale of their choice to perform at the audition and should be able to sight-read music at a beginner to early intermediate level. Students auditioning for the senior youth orchestra are asked to prepare a solo of their choice and will be asked to play scales and sight-read.
Students wishing to audition on violin or viola will be heard from 6-8 p.m. Students wishing to audition on cello or bass will be heard from 8-9 p.m. All students will be auditioned on a first-come, first-served basis during the scheduled audition time for their instrument. Other audition times may be scheduled with the consent of the orchestra director.
The Shepherd Preparatory Orchestra is led by Dr. Scott Hippensteel, director of instrumental music at Shepherd University and conductor of the Shepherd Wind Ensemble and Ram Band. Hippensteel completed his undergraduate degree at Indiana University and earned his master’s and doctoral degrees in conducting and music education from Ball State University. Prior to his appointment at Shepherd University, Hippensteel served as professor of music at Huntington University for three years where he conducted the wind ensemble and chamber orchestra, and taught classes in conducting, instrumental methods, and instrumental literature.
The Shepherd Preparatory Orchestra meets Wednesday evenings for rehearsals throughout the school year. Each group also presents two concerts during the school year. The orchestras are made up of student members from Washington County, Maryland, and Berkeley and Jefferson counties as well as students from Shepherd University. The tuition fee for the Shepherd youth orchestra is $125 per semester and will include two complimentary family member admissions to each concert.
Contact Kari Edge at 304-876-5555 or kedge@shepherd.edu for additional information about the Preparatory Orchestra. Visit the orchestra’s website at www.shepherd.edu/musicweb/preparatory.html.
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