Members have the opportunity to perform in both Cantate and Color Theory at a special discounted rate! Just select both when registering, and we’ll do the rest.
A growing community of welcoming musicians that share your eagerness to learn and are up for the challenge.
Groton Hill Wind Ensemble
Youth Orchestras
Vocal Ensembles
New Horizons
Learning to play in a group is an essential element in a student’s music education, and Entrada Strings is the ideal first step beyond private lessons. Through the director’s expert but gentle guidance, young string players will learn how to listen to others, match their pitch and speed, and fit together the different musical parts that make up an ensemble composition.
Prospective members should have good basic reading and rhythm skills, have a good tone, and be confident in playing in first position on all strings. Membership is by audition.
Want to experience an inside look before joining? Schedule a visit! To do so, fill out and submit this preview form.
Singing together creates confidence, connection, and joy! Under the direction of our award-winning Director, Kathy McMinn, and Youth Chorus Assistant Director Julia Lorenzetti, young singers will learn healthy vocal technique and musicianship skills in an enjoyable class experience grouped by age. There is also a strong focus on teamwork and personal development. No experience necessary.
Attend an Open Rehearsal to experience a first-hand look into Youth Chorus and meet the conductors!
Members have the opportunity to perform in both Cantate and Color Theory at a special discounted rate! Just select both when registering, and we’ll do the rest.
Want to experience an inside look at this ensemble before joining? Schedule a visit! Fill out our preview form.
Students of all styles of music – classical, jazz, rock – are invited to audition for one (or more) of our many small ensembles. Students should have good basic technique on their instrument and strong music reading skills. Placement auditions are to make sure that a student is a good match with the other members of an ensemble.
Creating music with others is an essential element in developing your musical craft and ramping up the learning process in a very enjoyable way. Beginners will make faster progress, experienced musicians will be challenged to higher levels, and everyone can share one of the true joys of music through learning and playing together.
Prospective students interested in being considered for a chamber ensemble should click the New Member Auditions button below to submit an audition video.
Join our contemporary vocal ensemble for teens to strengthen your vocal technique, stage presence, and performance confidence through solo and group work. As a member of Color Theory, you’ll explore your favorite songs from a wide range of genres, including a cappella, pop, jazz, and soul! Director Amanda Taylor, a two-time GRAMMY® Award-winning artist, approaches ensemble coaching with a flexible mindset, encouraging singers to share their own musical and creative ideas with the group. Rehearsals may also include blocking, vertical harmonic development, and in-depth song analysis.
In addition to performance, the ensemble will engage in ear training, improvisation, and circle-singing exercises that sharpen listening and collaboration skills. Students will also gain hands-on experience with songwriting and arranging, exploring their creative voices while learning how to build and interpret original material!
Open to everyone, with no auditions or previous experience required.
Members have the opportunity to perform in both Color Theory and Cantate at a special discounted rate! Just select both when registering, and we’ll do the rest.
Generation Big Band is our newest ensemble for avid jazz musicians ages 16 and up. Directed by bandleader Jerry Sabatini, this ensemble welcomes intermediate/advanced-level players to explore the foundations of the standard big band repertoire. Ensemble members will not only learn the songs, but dive further into the evolution of big band music by some of the most important composers and band leaders in American Jazz – and Music – history.
Together, we’ll look at the creation and development of works by musical innovators like Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Benny Carter, and popular swing band leaders like Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller. Join us to become a part of our ever-expanding jazz community! Entry is by audition.
Open to intermediate/advanced instrumentalists with strong reading skills. Some ensemble experience is preferred.
Instruments include: trumpet, trombone, saxophone, guitar, piano, vibraphone, bass, and drums.
Want to experience an inside look at this ensemble before joining? Schedule a visit! Fill out our preview form.
Prospective students should click the New Member Auditions button to submit an audition video.
The prestigious Groton Hill Wind Ensemble offers woodwind, brass, and percussion players the opportunity to play, learn, and grow together as performers. Under the direction of award-winning conductor Dr. Frederick Harris, motivated students will find a fun, welcoming, challenging home for music exploration through a broad repertoire, from classical to jazz and non-Western music.
Now auditioning for the 2026/27 season! Learn more and submit your audition below.
Our Wind Ensemble meets every Saturday, and students who participate in both the Sinfonia Orchestra and Groton Hill Wind Ensemble are eligible for special discounts.
Want to experience an inside look at this ensemble before joining? Schedule a visit! Fill out our preview form.
Harmonia is a great starting point for young singers to develop their voices through healthy vocal technique, and to improve music-reading and musicianship skills. Additionally there is a strong focus on teamwork and personal development. The ensemble will learn and perform a variety of repertory from classical literature to contemporary pop hits. Harmonia members also get the incredible opportunity to perform with our resident Vista Philharmonic Orchestra!
Attend an Open Rehearsal to experience a first-hand look into Youth Chorus and meet the conductors!
The Intergenerational Flute Ensemble offers intermediate flutists ages 13 and up the opportunity to develop their ensemble skills in a low stress, community ensemble, with performances twice per year. Under the direction of flute faculty member Kevin Buff, motivated students will find a fun, welcoming home for music exploration through a broad repertoire, including favorites like Gluck’s Minuet and Dance of the Blessed Spirits and Debussy’s Clair de Lune.
Although not auditioned, students are requested to submit a very short assessment video demonstrating their playing ability level using the form linked in the “New Member Auditions” button below.
For the assessment video, students should prepare Faure’s Sicillienne (attached) and the following scales:
C Major (Two Octaves starting on your lowest C)
Bb Major (One Octave)
G Major (Two Octaves)
These two ensembles are for intermediate to advanced middle and high school players focusing on rock, jazz and funk. Open to guitar, bass, keyboard, percussion, trumpet, sax and vocals.
Membership by audition or permission of instructor only. Prospective members should use the Ensemble Audition Form to submit their audition video. Placement auditions will help our faculty determine which group is best for the student’s level of experience.
Your first rock band starts here! Join faculty coach Jeff O’Brien to learn the ins and outs of performing as a group while building stronger musical skills. Students must have a good technical foundation on their instrument, but don’t need any ensemble experience.
Play your favorite rock, jazz and funk songs in this popular ensemble for advanced players! Practice and perform in a collaborative, stimulating atmosphere meant to prepare students for live gigs on our acoustically fine-tuned stages and out in the world. Students should have a good technical foundation on their instrument. Music reading skills and previous ensemble experience are recommended but not required.
Get creative in hands-on rehearsals while building improvisation, collaboration, and performance skills! With faculty coordinator and bassist Doug Harrison, you’ll learn to listen and respond in time with your bandmates and perform on our acoustically fine-tuned Meadow Hall stage.
Prospective members are welcome to audition! Submit the form below.
Violin, viola, cello, and bass students at all levels have a home in the Groton Hill Youth Orchestras, as well as advanced winds, brass, and percussion students. Audition for a spot with Entrada Strings, Amici Strings, Camerata Strings, or the Sinfonia Concert Orchestra, where advanced students will experience the absolute thrill of playing in a full orchestra. Together, students will challenge themselves as players and collaborators, developing leadership, concentration, and teamwork skills alongside the most dedicated talent in our region to create something beautiful.
Now auditioning for the 2026/27 season! Learn more and submit your audition below.
Our three levels of ensemble meet every Saturday, and students who participate in both the Sinfonia Orchestra and Groton Hill Wind Ensemble are eligible for special discounts.
Want to experience an inside look at this ensemble before joining? Schedule a visit! Fill out our preview form.
Students of all styles of music – classical, jazz, rock – are invited to audition for one (or more) of our many small ensembles. Please see the audition form for the available chamber music times and coaches.
Creating music with others is an essential element in developing your musical craft and ramping up the learning process in a very enjoyable way. Beginners will make faster progress, experienced musicians will be challenged to higher levels, and everyone can share one of the true joys of music through learning and playing together.
Students should have good basic technique on their instrument and strong music reading skills. Placement auditions are to make sure that a student is a good match with the other members of an ensemble. Please click the link below if you are interested in being considered for our small ensemble program.
Prospective students should click the New Member Auditions button below to submit an audition video.
Improve your listening, rhythmic, and note-reading skills in a fun group setting! We will play arrangements of a variety of musical genres including folk, jazz, classical, rock, and more, culminating in two performances during the winter and spring.
Students need to have at least two years of private lessons. Though familiarity with tablature is a plus, you must be able to read music notation at least through whole notes, half notes, quarter notes, eighth notes, sixteenth notes, and triplets. Knowledge of chords and the ability to play basic open position chords is a plus, but not required.
Although not auditioned, new students are requested to submit a very short assessment video demonstrating their playing ability level using the form linked in the “New Member Auditions” button below.
Please perform the exercises listed here for your video assessment.
Open to adult students that play guitar (acoustic or electric, nylon or steel string), as well as electric bass, ukulele, and mandolin.
Students of all styles of music – classical, jazz, rock – are invited to audition for one (or more) of our many small ensembles. Students should have good basic technique on their instrument and strong music reading skills. Placement auditions are to make sure that a student is a good match with the other members of an ensemble.
Creating music with others is an essential element in developing your musical craft and ramping up the learning process in a very enjoyable way. Beginners will make faster progress, experienced musicians will be challenged to higher levels, and everyone can share one of the true joys of music through learning and playing together.
Prospective students interested in being considered for a chamber ensemble should click the New Member Auditions button to submit an audition video.
Experience the power of pure vocal harmony in Collective Resonance, our new auditioned ensemble of dedicated adult singers. Song selections will span a range of styles, including a cappella, pop, neo-soul, R&B, or jazz, as well as original music! Join us as we bring contemporary repertoire to life, delivering polished performances in Groton Hill’s world-class facility.
About Our Director:
Amanda Taylor specializes in creating and producing music for vocal ensembles. She is a founding member of GRAMMY®-winning vocal supergroup säje, alongside powerhouse vocalists Sara Gazarek, Johnaye Kendrick, and Erin Bentlage. Read Amanda’s full bio!
Auditions will include a range demonstration, a prepared solo excerpt in any style of the singer’s choice, and one section of the required ensemble piece (in the singer’s chosen voice part: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, or Bass).
Prospective students should click the New Member Auditions button to submit an audition video.
Want to experience an inside look at this ensemble before joining? Schedule a visit! Fill out our preview form.
Come play the music of the Baroque and Classical masters with Director Tim Terranella in our adult chamber orchestra. Works featured include Bach’s Brandenburg Concerti, and other favorites from the 17th and 18th centuries. Open to intermediate to advanced adults who play strings, woodwinds, and harpsichord.
Prospective students should click the New Member Auditions button below to submit an audition video.
Want to experience an inside look at this ensemble before joining? Schedule a visit! Fill out our preview form.
CURRENT OPENINGS: TROMBONE
Generation Big Band is our newest ensemble for avid jazz musicians ages 16 and up. Directed by bandleader Jerry Sabatini, this ensemble welcomes intermediate/advanced-level players to explore the foundations of the standard big band repertoire. Ensemble members will not only learn the songs, but dive further into the evolution of big band music by some of the most important composers and band leaders in American Jazz – and Music – history.
Together, we’ll look at the creation and development of works by musical innovators like Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Benny Carter, and popular swing band leaders like Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller. Join us to become a part of our ever-expanding jazz community! Entry is by audition.
Open to intermediate/advanced instrumentalists with strong reading skills. Some ensemble experience is preferred.
Instruments include: trumpet, trombone, saxophone, guitar, piano, vibraphone, bass, and drums.
Want to experience an inside look at this ensemble before joining? Schedule a visit! Fill out our preview form.
Prospective students should click the New Member Auditions button to submit an audition video.
Students auditioning for both the Generation Big Band and Groton Hill Big Band should use the requirements listed for the Groton Hill Big Band, and select both ensembles on the submission form.
Our popular, longstanding Groton Hill Big Band is dedicated to authentic performances of music from a seminal era in Jazz history and American culture. Under the direction of bandleader Jerry Sabatini, the ensemble instills the unique style of the period into contemporary compositions and notable, lesser-known works from the time. The Groton Hill Big Band performs throughout the year, featuring an annual holiday performance and spring concert in our 1,000-seat hall. Entry is by audition.
Advanced instrumentalists with strong reading skills are invited to audition for the ensemble and sub list.
Instruments include: trumpet, trombone, saxophone (with any doubles – soprano sax, clarinets, flutes), guitar, piano, vibraphone, bass, and drums.
Prospective students should click the New Member Auditions button to submit an audition video.
With over forty years of history, the Groton Hill Flute Orchestra features all members of the flute family, from piccolo to contrabass flute. Led by Director Nicole O’Toole, this adult ensemble of professional and semi-professional flutists presents concerts throughout the season at Groton Hill and in the community. Open to formally-trained flutists, flute teachers, and accomplished college age players by audition.
Prospective students should click the New Member Auditions button below to submit an audition video.
Want to experience an inside look at this ensemble before joining? Schedule a visit! Fill out our preview form.
Discover the joy of singing with others in a healthy and socially positive atmosphere!
The Groton Hill Rock Choir brings together singers of all ages and abilities in collaborative rehearsals and performances, celebrating popular rock, soul, and R&B classics, hits, and current favorites! Under the leadership of director Sara Durkin, members explore the intricacies of harmony, lyrics, and rhythm as they build their technical foundation. Winter and spring performances take place on the beautiful Concert Hall stage, accompanied by a live band!
Open to everyone, with no auditions or previous experience required.
Want to experience an inside look at this ensemble before joining? Schedule a visit! Fill out our preview form.
Broaden your hand drumming skill set in our Hand Drumming Ensemble, designed for dedicated drummers! We’ll learn and perform elaborate, multilayered rhythms from West Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Brazil, and beyond, which will introduce us to a wider range percussion instruments. Students should take the Intro to Hand Drums course and at least one session of the Community Drum Circle, or have other sufficient previous experience and can demonstrate the ability to learn more complex drumming material. The Hand Drumming Ensemble is a year-long ensemble, but new students are welcome to join throughout the year!
Students are encouraged to provide their own drums, but instruments will be supplied by the instructor as needed.
Join the harmonious camaraderie of our Harp Ensemble. These relaxed sessions are designed to encourage the learning and enjoyment of playing in a group setting. The repertoire will include fun suites and single pieces in multiple parts. Open to students of the pedal or lever harp with good basic playing and reading skills.
The Intergenerational Flute Ensemble offers intermediate flutists ages 13 and up the opportunity to develop their ensemble skills in a low stress, community ensemble, with performances twice per year. Under the direction of flute faculty member Kevin Buff, motivated students will find a fun, welcoming home for music exploration through a broad repertoire, including favorites like Gluck’s Minuet and Dance of the Blessed Spirits and Debussy’s Clair de Lune.
Although not auditioned, students are requested to submit a very short assessment video demonstrating their playing ability level using the form linked in the “New Member Auditions” button below.
For the assessment video, students should prepare Faure’s Sicillienne (attached) and the following scales:
C Major (Two Octaves starting on your lowest C)
Bb Major (One Octave)
G Major (Two Octaves)
Join a relaxed, non-auditioned chorus in our state-of-the-art facility! This welcoming afternoon ensemble offers singers the opportunity to build vocal confidence and healthy singing habits while enjoying beloved repertoire from across the decades. Participants will share their music with family, friends, and the community in our world-class recital hall.
Students enrolled in Finding Your Voice are especially encouraged to participate as a way to reinforce and apply the skills learned in class.
No experience required.
Want to experience an inside look at this ensemble before joining? Schedule a visit! Fill out our preview form.
Whether you’re just beginning to play, returning to an instrument from your youth, or playing as a hobby, you will find a place here among your peers. Rediscover your passion in a relaxed and social environment as part of our vibrant community! Open to players of all ability levels.
Open to flute/piccolo, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, horn, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba and percussion. No audition required. Join anytime!
Want to experience an inside look at this ensemble before joining? Schedule a visit! Fill out our preview form.
Whether you’re just beginning to play, returning to an instrument from your youth, or playing as a hobby, you will find a place here among your peers. Rediscover your passion in a relaxed and social environment as part of our vibrant community! Our New Horizons program now includes two ensembles for strings.
Directed by Tim Terranella, the New Horizons String Orchestra is an intermediate level string ensemble that rehearses on Monday evenings.
Open to violin, viola, cello, and double bass. No audition required. Join anytime!
Want to experience an inside look at this ensemble before joining? Schedule a visit! Fill out our preview form.
Our newest adult ensemble, the New Horizons Daytime Strings, rehearses on Tuesday mornings. Although geared towards string players new to playing in an ensemble, players of all ability levels are welcome. Whether you’re looking to improve your technique, learn new repertoire, or simply enjoy playing in a string ensemble, the New Horizons Daytime Strings offers an enriching and fulfilling experience.
The New Horizons Daytime Strings will immerse learners in vibrant classical and popular repertoire, while developing essential music interpretation, collaboration, and leadership skills. Winter and spring performances will offer participants a chance to share their artistry with family and friends in Groton Hill’s world-class performance spaces.
Learners enrolled in private lessons are especially encouraged to participate as a way to reinforce and apply their skills in a supportive environment that blends musical exploration, historical context, and ensemble collaboration.
Open to violin, viola, cello, and double bass. No audition required. Join anytime!
Want to experience an inside look at this ensemble before joining? Schedule a visit! Fill out our preview form.
An ensemble for advanced adult players. Learn and perform arrangements of jazz, pop and classical standards, and explore new and experimental music for duos, trios, and more. Open to all saxes – soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass.
Membership by audition or permission of instructor only. Prospective students should click the New Member Auditions button below to submit an audition video.
Love to play the recorder? Learn and play two- to four-part arrangements of folk, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, and Contemporary music. Open to intermediate to advanced players of soprano, alto, tenor, and bass recorders; plus, F recorders (alto, bass).
Prospective students should use the Ensemble Audition Form to submit their audition video.
Come jam with us! Bring your uke and have some fun. Ukulele Club will cover basic instrument technique including chords, strumming, and singing while playing. The Club will cover a wide variety of song material across styles and eras of American popular music.
Students must have their own ukulele for this class. We recommend brands like Cordoba, Kala, Fender, or Donner. A good quality beginner instrument will cost in the range of $60-75.
Discount will be automatically applied at checkout.
Click the button above to view current ensemble openings.
Rehearsals are open to prospective students! Experience a close-up look at the ensemble that speaks to you.
Submit this preview form to schedule a visit.