About the Maverick Orchestra
The Orchestra Program at McNeil High School is one of the most successful and dynamic high school orchestra programs in Texas. Performances of the McNeil Orchestras consistently attract rave reviews and accolades from musicians and adjudicators throughout Texas and the nation. At UIL Concert and Sight-Reading competition, our orchestras are consistently awarded first division ratings. The McNeil Symphony has earned Sweepstakes (highest possible scores) in both Full Orchestra and String Orchestra contests consistently throughout it's history. Each year numerous McNeil orchestra students successfully audition for the TMEA Region Orchestra and regularly have TMEA All-State Orchestra members.
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
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 7:45AM-8:50AM for the Symphony Orchestra from August until May.
PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Musicians in this orchestra 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 Orchestra performs 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 Philharmonic are encouraged to participate in the UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest.
There is a mandatory rehearsal every Thursday from 7:45AM-8:50AM for the Philharmonic Orchestra from August until May.
CONCERT ORCHESTRA
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.
*Entrance auditions are required for all orchestras. These auditions will take place during the spring.
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 7:45AM-8:50AM for the Symphony Orchestra from August until May.
PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Musicians in this orchestra 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 Orchestra performs 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 Philharmonic are encouraged to participate in the UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest.
There is a mandatory rehearsal every Thursday from 7:45AM-8:50AM for the Philharmonic Orchestra from August until May.
CONCERT ORCHESTRA
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.
*Entrance auditions are required for all orchestras. These auditions will take place during the spring.