Performance Opportunities for Orchestras

As far as school music programs go, the band tends to get a lot of attention. Between sporting events, concerts or even competitions, the band enjoys a certain amount of popularity. As a result, the orchestra and its talented musicians can occasionally be overlooked. School orchestras are comprised of students who are gifted in their own rights – and in more ways than one! It’s time to share the spotlight with amazing performance opportunities for orchestras!

Manhattan Concert Productions, NYC

Your ensemble can perform on stage in famous venues with exceptional guest faculty when you collaborate with Manhattan Concert Productions. They offer experiences you won’t find anywhere else, like the Symphonic Series. Orchestras participate in a private clinic with a guest faculty member and receive feedback from an acclaimed panel of nationally recognized experts. The residency culminates in a daytime concert at Carnegie Hall. It’s an extraordinary performance and learning opportunity in an iconic setting.

National Orchestra Festival®

The National Orchestra Festival® is held in conjunction with the American String Teachers Association (ASTA) annual conference each year. Middle and high school youth orchestras from all over the U.S can apply. Categories include competition, ratings and comments, or comments-only. This is an incredible opportunity for your orchestra to receive placement, ratings, comments and instruction from top adjudicators and clinicians. In 2025, the festival takes place March 19-22 in Atlanta, Georgia and promises to be a phenomenal experience for your string players.

Theme Park Performances

The marching band isn’t the only group that can perform in the parks! Orchestras are invited to wow the crowds in many of the most popular amusement parks.

Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA welcomes students as part of its SoundWaves program. Orchestras take center stage in a unique park performance venue before an international audience. Even better, a designated coordinator will organize your group’s performance so you can focus on the fun.

Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH is another fantastic option for your student group. The Festival of Music is an opportunity to perform on site before first-rate adjudicators. They’ll listen, evaluate and comment on elementary, middle and high school orchestras. Each school will then receive a participation award with a rating. The Festival of Music will take place May 9, 15 and 16 in 2025 for those interested in this exciting program.

Walt Disney World® in Orlando, FL hosts Festival Disney each spring. It’s open to middle and high school orchestras, concert bands and jazz ensembles and historically has been adjudicated by distinguished collegiate music educators. The festival allows for competitive and non-competitive status including ratings, but no rankings or comments only. It’s an amazing performance opportunity for orchestras looking to gain a competitive edge or simply fine tune their skills.

String players are just as talented and dedicated as the marching band but perhaps not always as visible as their percussive counterparts. There are outstanding performance opportunities for orchestras on some very prestigious stages that will allow them to shine brightly. Give them a platform for the praise and accolades they deserve!

Updated December 2024