ORHS Orchestra Archives - Oak Ridge Today

ORHS violist earns first chair in Tennessee All-State Orchestra

Posted at 1:22 pm April 12, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Selena Piercy (Photo by Oak Ridge High School Orchestra)

Note: This story was updated at 1 p.m. April 15.

An Oak Ridge High School violist has earned first chair in the Tennessee All-State Orchestra, ORHS Orchestra reported on Twitter.

That means Selena Piercy is the top high school violist in Tennessee, ORHS Orchestra said.

Piercy will be the first chair viola in the All-State Orchestra. This is a first for Oak Ridge High School, according to Oak Ridge Schools.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

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ORHS Orchestra wins top national orchestra award for second straight year

Posted at 1:53 pm March 13, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge High School Orchestra pictured at Universal Studios on Day 3 of Festival Disney on Saturday, March 11, 2017. (Photo courtesy ORHS Orchestra)

The Oak Ridge High School Orchestra is pictured at Universal Studios on Day 3 of Festival Disney on Saturday, March 11, 2017. (Photo courtesy ORHS Orchestra)

Oak Ridge High School Orchestra has won a top national orchestra award for the second year in a row, officials said.

The ORHS won Best 10-12th Grade Orchestra, Gold Orchestra Award, Outstanding Soloist, Best 9th Grade Orchestra, with Superior and Excellent Awards at the Festival Disney competition in Orlando, Florida, this past weekend, Director Doug Phillips said.

The ORHS Orchestra also won Best High School Orchestra one year ago, in a competition in New York City last March. The orchestra earned 11 total awards during that trip.

“It’s official: ORHS 10-12 orchestra back-to-back national champs!” ORHS Orchestra posted on Twitter after this year’s awards were announced in Orlando on Saturday, March 11.

Festival Disney is endorsed by the National Association for Music Education and also the Grammys, Phillips said. [Read more…]

ORHS Fusion Orchestra will perform on ‘Blue Plate Special’ on WDVX on Friday

Posted at 6:42 pm January 31, 2017
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The Oak Ridge High School Fusion Orchestra will perform on the “Blue Plate Special” on WDVX FM 89.9 on Friday.

The show is scheduled from 12-1 p.m. Friday, February 3, at the Grove Theater at 123 Randolph Road in Oak Ridge. It’s free.

The groundbreaking fusion orchestra is now in its second year at ORHS, and it is the brainchild of ORHS Orchestra Director Doug Phillips, a press release said. According to Phillips, the class is a result of his doctoral studies during the past seven years at one of the top music universities in the world: Boston University. [Read more…]

ORHS Orchestra presents tribute to Trans-Siberian Orchestra on Dec. 15

Posted at 2:20 pm December 5, 2016
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Oak Ridge High School Orchestra will present its third annual tribute to Trans-Siberian Orchestra on Thursday, December 15. The concert is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. December 15 at Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center.

The public is invited to attend this high-energy concert, which will also include several traditional holiday favorites, organizers said.

Tickets are $3 at the door.

For more information, visit www.orhsorchestra.org.

ORHS Orchestra shines in New York City

Posted at 8:30 pm March 20, 2016
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Oak-Ridge-High-School-Orchestra-NYC-March-2016

The Oak Ridge High School Orchestra is pictured above at Ellis Island in New York City on March 14, 2016. (Photo by ORHS Orchestra via Twitter)

Submitted

Oak Ridge High School Orchestra is in the mist of a record-setting year. During the past month, 28 ORHS Orchestra students earned All-East Tennessee Orchestra honors, and 13 earned All-State Tennessee Orchestra recognition. Both of the previously mentioned accomplishments were the most of any orchestra program in East Tennessee.

Also, the orchestra performed in the East Tennessee Band and Orchestra Concert Festival this month and earned all superior ratings in every category and sub-category for all four judges at the event. This was the first time in ORHS Orchestra’s history to achieve this feat.

This past weekend, the orchestra traveled to Washington, D.C., and New York City to compete in a national orchestra competition with schools from Tennessee, Georgia, Missouri, California, Texas, and Arizona. ORHS Orchestra stole the show with 11 total awards including: [Read more…]

ORHS Orchestra performs in Winter Concert on Thursday

Posted at 8:31 pm December 5, 2015
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Oak Ridge High School Orchestra will present its 2015 Winter Concert on Thursday, December 10. The concert starts at 7 p.m. Thursday at ORHS Auditorium.

The concert will feature something for everyone, including Christmas concertos by Corelli and Torelli, as well as rocking contemporary music by Trans Siberian Orchestra, a press release said.

Tickets are on sale at the door for $3 each. All proceeds benefit the ORHS Orchestra program and help purchase and repair string instruments.