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The McNeil High School Orchestra program in Austin, TX, stands as a beacon of musical excellence, artistic dedication, and student achievement. Home to over 150 talented and passionate musicians, this powerhouse program has cultivated a culture of extraordinary consistency, routinely earning top-tier Sweepstakes ratings at the annual UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Evaluations. The exceptional caliber of its musicians shines through year after year with an impressive roster of TMEA All-State individual accolades, while the Symphony Orchestra’s distinction as a TMEA Honor Orchestra Finalist underscores its standing among the very highest tier of ensembles in Texas.
Reaching monumental heights on national and international stages, the Symphony String Orchestra earned a prestigious invitation to perform at the world-renowned Midwest Clinic in December 2024 and has been selected to perform at the Music for All National Festival in Indianapolis in April 2027.
Through unwavering discipline, passionate mentorship, and a shared commitment to artistry, the directors, students, and community of the McNeil High School Orchestra continue to set the gold standard for orchestral performance.
Reaching monumental heights on national and international stages, the Symphony String Orchestra earned a prestigious invitation to perform at the world-renowned Midwest Clinic in December 2024 and has been selected to perform at the Music for All National Festival in Indianapolis in April 2027.
Through unwavering discipline, passionate mentorship, and a shared commitment to artistry, the directors, students, and community of the McNeil High School Orchestra continue to set the gold standard for orchestral performance.
The Symphony Orchestra at McNeil High School stands as the pinnacle ensemble of musical excellence. The orchestra boasts a majority of its members as All-Region Orchestra students, showcasing their outstanding musical prowess.
The orchestra is comprised of mainly upperclassmen with a few highly talented underclassmen. All students should be enrolled in private lessons. Technical skills necessary to handle the rigors of this group are the ability to play beyond 7th position in all instruments; violas must be able to sight-read in treble clef, and cellos must be able to sight-read in tenor clef; cellos and basses must be comfortable playing in thumb position. This orchestra performs high level repertoire. There is a mandatory rehearsal every Wednesday from 4:30-6:00PM for the Symphony Orchestra from August until May
The orchestra is comprised of mainly upperclassmen with a few highly talented underclassmen. All students should be enrolled in private lessons. Technical skills necessary to handle the rigors of this group are the ability to play beyond 7th position in all instruments; violas must be able to sight-read in treble clef, and cellos must be able to sight-read in tenor clef; cellos and basses must be comfortable playing in thumb position. This orchestra performs high level repertoire. There is a mandatory rehearsal every Wednesday from 4:30-6:00PM for the Symphony Orchestra from August until May
Musicians in these orchestras are predominantly upperclassmen whose experience and achievement allow them to focus on refining their instrumental techniques, and musicianship skills while experiencing increasingly sophisticated repertoire. Students are highly encouraged to be enrolled in private lessons. Technical skills necessary to handle the technical demands of this group's repertoire include: all students must be comfortable up to 5th position; violas must be able to read treble clef and cellos must be able to read tenor clef; cellos and basses must be able to play in thumb position.
The Philharmonic Orchestras perform traditional concerts, provides music for campus events and participates in both the UIL Full Orchestra and UIL String Orchestra Concert and Sight-reading Contests.
Additionally, members of the Philharmonics are encouraged to participate in the UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest.
There is a mandatory rehearsal every Thursday from 4:30-6:00PM for the Philharmonic Orchestra from January until May.
The Philharmonic Orchestras perform traditional concerts, provides music for campus events and participates in both the UIL Full Orchestra and UIL String Orchestra Concert and Sight-reading Contests.
Additionally, members of the Philharmonics are encouraged to participate in the UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest.
There is a mandatory rehearsal every Thursday from 4:30-6:00PM for the Philharmonic Orchestra from January until May.
Members of this orchestra are mostly freshmen and sophomores, and are experienced instrumental musicians who focus on building solid fundamentals, developing music reading skills, strengthening listening skills and gaining leadership experience.
The Concert Orchestra performs traditional concerts each year and participates in the UIL String Orchestra Concert and Sight-reading Contest. Members of the Concert Orchestra are highly encouraged to participate in the UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest. All students must have a minimum of 2 years of string playing experience. This group is comprised of a mixture of students from all grades.
The Concert Orchestra has no extra rehearsal component.
The Concert Orchestra performs traditional concerts each year and participates in the UIL String Orchestra Concert and Sight-reading Contest. Members of the Concert Orchestra are highly encouraged to participate in the UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest. All students must have a minimum of 2 years of string playing experience. This group is comprised of a mixture of students from all grades.
The Concert Orchestra has no extra rehearsal component.
All students are welcome to join this course; no experience required. This group is comprised of first year musicians or students learning a 2nd instrument. The instruments taught in this course are violin, viola, cello, and double bass.
The Beginner Strings class has no extra rehearsal component.
The Beginner Strings class has no extra rehearsal component.
2024-2025
McNeil High School Symphony
McNeil High School Symphony
