Groton Hill Music Center is home to beautiful stages and inspiring faculty. Each year, we open our doors to motivated students from public school band and orchestra programs for a very special experience. This year, our Youth Orchestras and Groton Hill Wind Ensemble are offering exclusive Honors Invitational performance opportunities for young musicians both at the middle and high school level.
Event: Youth Orchestras Spring Concert
When: 1pm in the Concert Hall at Groton Hill
Event: Groton Hill Wind Ensemble Spring Concert
When: 1pm in the Concert Hall at Groton Hill
Event: Youth Orchestras Spring Concert
When: 1pm in the Concert Hall at Groton Hill
Groton Hill’s Sinfonia Concert Orchestra and director Ken Culver are offering talented and motivated high school students the opportunity to perform with them in the 2026 Orchestra Honors Senior Invitational on Saturday, May 16th, 2026 at 1:00pm.
This is a unique, rewarding way for young musicians to extend their orchestral experience outside of school and immerse themselves in a performance space like no other!
The piece to be performed with Sinfonia is “March to the Scaffold” from Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique. Parts can be found here (movement IV only).
Students will need to submit this registration form by Friday, April 3rd.
No audition is necessary, only a recommendation from your teacher. We will do our best to accept each nominated student, but in order to maintain a balanced instrumentation, we may not be able to accommodate everyone.
Violas, cellos, bass and percussion are especially welcome. There are limited openings for winds and brass (flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons, horns, trumpets, trombones, tuba) so please register early to secure your spot.
Students will agree to the following schedule and prepare their parts prior to the concert.
Rehearsals:
Saturday, May 2, 11:30am-12pm
Saturday, May 9, 11:30am-12pm
Concert:
Saturday, May 16th
Rehearsal 10:30am-12:00pm
Concert at 1:00pm in the Concert Hall
There is no fee for students to participate. Concert tickets for family and friends are $15.
Learn more about the Groton Hill Youth Orchestras here!
Have any questions? Contact us at ensembles@grotonhill.org
The Groton Hill Wind Ensemble and conductor Dr. Fred Harris invite you to participate in the Honors Junior Invitational in the world class Concert Hall at Groton Hill on Sunday, May 17th at 1:00pm.
This is a unique, rewarding way for young musicians to extend their band experience outside of school and immerse themselves in a performance space like no other.
Pieces to be performed include:
No audition is necessary, only a recommendation from your teacher. We will do our best to accept each nominated student, but in order to maintain a balanced instrumentation, we may not be able to accommodate everyone.
In order to participate, students will agree to the following schedule and prepare their parts prior to the concert.
SCHEDULE:
Participants are also welcome to attend the rehearsal on Saturday, April 18 from 12:30-1:00pm. This is an optional rehearsal but strongly recommended.
There is no fee for students to participate. Concert tickets for family and friends are $15.
Students will need to submit this registration form by Friday, April 3rd.
Learn more about the Groton Hill Wind Ensemble here.
Have any questions? Contact us at ensembles@grotonhill.org
Groton Hill’s Amici Strings and director Jennifer Perkins are offering talented and motivated students grades 5 to 8 the opportunity to perform with them in the 2026 Honors Junior Invitational on Saturday, May 16th, 2026 at 1:00pm. Students must have at least two years of playing experience and one year of ensemble experience.
This is a unique, rewarding way for young musicians to extend their orchestral experience outside of school and immerse themselves in a performance space like no other.
The piece to be performed with Amici Strings is Viking Song by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Parts can be found here.
Students will need to submit this registration form by Friday, April 3rd. Space is limited, so please be sure to register early.
No audition is necessary, only your teacher’s recommendation. We will do our best to accept each nominated student, but in order to maintain a balanced instrumentation, we may not be able to accommodate everyone. All strings are encouraged to participate, violas and bass are especially welcome.
Students will agree to the following schedule and prepare their parts prior to the concert.
Rehearsals:
Saturday, May 2, 11:50am-12:30pm
Saturday, May 9, 11:50am-12:30pm
Concert:
Saturday, May 16th
Rehearsal 11:15-11:45am
Concert at 1:00pm in the Concert Hall
There is no fee for students to participate. Concert tickets for family and friends are $15.
Learn more about the Groton Hill Youth Orchestras here!
Have any questions? Contact us at ensembles@grotonhill.org
The Groton Hill Wind Ensemble teaches a high-level, holistic approach to musicianship, with the understanding that each student embodies their instrument and uses it to communicate with the world. Discipline, good technique, challenging repertoire, and emotional connection are all vehicles to help us discover our musical personalities and to grow together.
Every Saturday, Amici Strings, Camerata Strings, and the Sinfonia Concert Orchestra meet to travel beyond the boundaries of convention. Our directors have dedicated their lives to helping young people emerge and express themselves, and our guest artist experiences help students grow their voices as collaborative ensemble members. Each ensemble is designed by age group and skill level.
Director, Sinfonia Concert Orchestra
Conductor, Groton Hill Wind Ensemble
Frederick Harris Jr. has been highly active with public school students and music educators throughout his career, leading seminars, guest conducting, and coordinating enrichment events. He currently serves as Music Director of the MIT Wind Ensemble and MIT Festival Jazz Ensemble, and as MIT’s Jazz Performance Studies Coordinator. He and the MIT Wind Ensemble have been featured on NPR, PBS, and in two New England Emmy-winning documentaries.
“Every time we gather to make music we have the opportunity to connect and grow. We expand our humanity by expressing our feelings through sound, silence, and space.”
Director, Amici Strings and Camerata Strings
Jennifer Perkins has been an educator and musician for more than twenty years, directing musicals and teaching chorus, violin, viola, cello, ukulele, and piano. She is a member of the cello section with the New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra and the Firebird Pops Orchestra.
“We should never be afraid to make mistakes while learning or trying something new, and never be so hard on yourself that you can’t enjoy what you’re doing.”