Orchestral Music
The Program
Orchestral music thrives at Milton. There are two orchestras that perform several concerts each year both in and out of school. Over 100 musicians, string, brass, woodwind and percussion, play in the Milton Academy Orchestra. Over the past several years students in the Milton Academy Orchestra have performed music by a myriad of classical composers from every period in musical history. In addition, students in the orchestra have a chance to play music of other ensemble types, such as wind ensemble or string orchestra selections.
Click here to download a list (PDF) of orchestral music performed since 1980.
The school’s close proximity to Boston, allows students to participate in musical experiences at educational institutions in the city. Students regularly participate in orchestras and other ensembles at The New England Conservatory of Music, Boston University, and the Longy School of Music. Milton Academy also is a member of the Eastern District of the Massachusetts Music Educators Association and students yearly participate in these district and All-State festivals.
The Chamber Orchestra, founded in 1993, is Milton’s select orchestra. Open by audition to members of the Upper School, the orchestra performs at the highest level of musical achievement. This orchestra tours regularly and has performed throughout the world.
The Tours
Tours are a very important part of the orchestral experience at Milton Academy. The Milton Academy Orchestra has toured up and down the east coast of the United States and into Canada. Highlights of their tours have included performances at Olympic Stadium in Montreal as well as The Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City.
The Milton Academy Chamber Orchestra tours every other year. Some highlights have included a 1995 tour to Prague and Vienna, where the orchestra performed music of Dvorak at sites frequented by the composer. In 1998, the orchestra toured England and performed with internationally known cellist Alexander Baillie. In 2000, students toured Beijing and Hong Kong, highlighted by a capacity crowd concert at St. John’s Cathedral in Hong Kong.
The group toured in Ireland in 2002, performing concerts in Kilkenny, Kilahoe and a grand concert in the Shaw room at the National Gallery of Art in Dublin. In 2004, students traveled to Hawaii and gave a Prelude Concert at Honolulu Symphony Hall prior to a concert by the HSO and Sir James Galway. In 2006, the orchestra traveled to Italy where they performed in Sorrento, Rome and Florence. In 2008, students traveled to Prague and Budapest in 2008.
More recently, the orchestra toured Spain in 2010, Berlin and Warsaw in 2012, and Ireland in the spring of 2014.
