Ensembles

6th Grade

Director: Pete Martin

Assistant Director: David Getz

6th grade is an awesome year for Morton students because it is the first year they can sign up for instrumental music ensembles. The 6th Grade Orchestra requires no pre-requisite music knowledge; students are taught how to take their instruments of the case and play from square one.

6th Grade Orchestra rehearses Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings at the Morton Jr. High School from 7:35-8:05am. Students are then bussed to their respective elementary buildings with a different school staying at the Jr. High each day for smaller group lessons.

6th Grade Orchestra is all about the fundamentals. Students learn the basics of playing a string instrument and how to play in an ensemble. Students perform music from Grade 0.5-1.5.

The 6th Graders perform for the first time at the Holiday Concert in December. They also perform at the Arts in the Park festival in May as well as the final Jr. High Orchestra concert. 6th Graders also enjoy a field trip every spring to see a professional symphony orchestra.

Jr. High

Director: Pete Martin

Assistant Director: David Getz

The Jr. High Orchestra features the 7th Grade & 8th Grade Orchestras, though the two grades will frequently combine on a piece or two depending on the concert.

The Jr. High Orchestra gives four performances a year: one fall concert, one holiday concert, one performance at the Morton Orchestra Festival, and a final awards concert in the spring. Jr. High Orchestra students also do a unit of chamber music, performing in small groups to increase musical aptitude and independence. Repertoire selection for 7th Grade Orchestra ranges from 1.5-2.5 and 8th Grade Orchestra ranges from 2-3.5.

The Jr. High Orchestra takes a field trip every spring to see a professional symphony orchestra.

High School

Director: David Getz

Assistant Director: Pete Martin

The High School Orchestra features two ensembles

Concert Strings

Concert Strings is the pedagogical next-step-up from Jr. High Orchestra. The Concert Strings contains students from grades 9-12 and performs five times a year at the Fall Themed Concert, Holiday Concert, Morton Orchestra Festival, Midwinter Concert, and Awards Concert. Music is programmed from Grade 3-4.5.

Symphonic Strings

The Symphonic Strings is an auditioned ensemble that is focused on student independence, advanced repertoire, and high-level musicianship. Symphonic Strings performs five times a year at the Fall Themed Concert, Holiday Concert, Krannert Orchestra Symposium at the University of Illinois, Midwinter Concert, and Awards Concert. Music is selected from standard and current original works in the professional string orchestra canon.