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The Howard County Elementary Orchestras

Announcement: Guidelines for auditions 2016-2017

In order for your child to be granted an audition, the school orchestra teacher must send a nomination form to the GT/Sinfonia committee. No auditions will be granted unless the student has been selected by the school orchestra teacher. Students must be a bona fide memeber of their school orchestra program to be eligible for and audition.

Howard County Elementary GT Orchestra

  • Sarah Castrillon, co-director
  • Sari O'Bryan, co-director

Howard County Elementary GT Sinfonia

  • Valerie Lawrence, co-director
  • Elizabeth Reindardt, co-director

Announcement: Requirement for Checks

There is a $275 yearly fee for participation in the orchestras. Please make your check payable to HCPSS and include your child's name and school on the memo line of your check. In addition, you now must include your child's school ID.

Note: All students are assigned a student ID when they enter the school system. It is on report cards, schedules, and emergency procedure cards. If you still don't know where to get it, you can call your child's school and the staff can tell you the number.

Howard County Gifted and Talented Orchestra Program

The Howard County Gifted and Talented Orchestra Program was created to enhance the orchestral experience of our students. Each orchestra is designed to meet the needs of the student who exceeds the orchestra curriculum at their grade level. In order to be aligned with the purpose of the Gifted and Talented Program the orchestras have been named GT Sinfonia and GT Orchestra.

The Sinfonia performs music one to two grade levels above the curricular standard and the GT Orchestra performs music three or more levels above the curricular standard.

Elementary and Middle GT Sinfonia

The Sinfonia student will demonstrate:

  • A high level of technique on their instrument
  • A high level of musical understanding
  • A high level of music reading skill
  • A maturity level that will allow for successful learning in a fast paced environment
  • Readiness for a rigorous orchestral experience

The Orchestra student will demonstrate:

  • The highest level of technique on their instrument
  • The highest level of musical understanding
  • The highest level of music reading skill
  • Orchestral experience
  • Potential for success in a mature and challenging orchestral setting