Every Saturday, we 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.
Students get to rehearse and perform with professional touring artists who workshop real-world artistic skills and often invite students on stage during their own concerts.
Saturdays from 9:30-12:00
Ken Culver, Director
This advanced ensemble includes winds, brass, and percussion in addition to strings for a full orchestra experience. Through renowned orchestral literature as well as exciting and familiar contemporary soundtracks from stage and screen, Sinfonia members will take their individual playing and ensemble skills to the next level. Recent performances have included Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony and Moussorgsky’s “Night on Bald Mountain”, in addition to collaborations with guest artists like Sutton Foster and The String Queens.
Beyond musical skills, students develop leadership, concentration, cooperation, teamwork, confidence and more essential values that positively affect all areas of their lives.
Membership is by audition. Students who participate in both Sinfonia Concert Orchestra and Groton Hill Wind Ensemble are eligible for special discounts.
Contact us at ensembles@grotonhill.org for further inquiries.
Saturdays from 9:30-11:00
Jennifer Perkins, Director
As the top string ensemble for the Groton Hill Youth Orchestras, the Camerata Strings is designed for violin, viola, cello, and bass players who are looking to develop their musicianship and ensemble skills through the vast repertoire of string orchestra literature. Past performances have included Grieg’s “Holberg Suite”, the “Capriol Suite” by Warlock, and Mozart’s “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik.” Students will also have solo and concerto opportunities, in addition to collaborations with guest artists such as The String Queens, and Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas.
Prospective students should have technical facility on their instrument through fifth position, have confidence playing in a variety of keys and rhythms, and be able to demonstrate musical expression through the use of vibrato, phrasing, and dynamics. Membership is by audition.
Contact us at ensembles@grotonhill.org for further inquiries.
Saturdays from 11:15-12:30
Jennifer Perkins, Director
The Amici Strings builds on the student’s technical and musicianship skills and gets them to think beyond their own instrument. Learning to play in a group is an essential element in a student’s music education, and Amici Strings is the ideal for students looking to excel on their instrument as well as develop their ensemble skills.
Prospective members should be able to tune their own instrument, have good basic reading and rhythm skills, have a good tone, and be confident in playing in first, third, and fourth position on all strings. Membership is by audition.
Contact us at ensembles@grotonhill.org for further inquiries.
Saturdays from 1:15-2:15
Christian Hoschek, Director
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.
Contact us at ensembles@grotonhill.org for further inquiries.
Rehearsals are open to prospective students! Experience a close-up look at the Youth Ensemble that speaks to you.
Submit this preview form to schedule a visit.
On Sunday, November 23, 2025, Sinfonia Concert Orchestra members rehearsed and performed with Tony Award–winning actress, singer, and dancer Sutton Foster! This was the first-ever guest artist collaboration between a Broadway star and the Groton Hill Youth Orchestras.
Your musicianship opportunities can span across more than one ensemble here at Groton Hill. Advanced winds, brass, percussion and string bass students have the opportunity to perform in both the Sinfonia Concert Orchestra and Groton Hill Wind Ensemble at a special discounted rate! Just select both on your audition form, and we’ll do the rest.
“Rehearsals are a place for us to work together. To form a shared idea of the musicality of the repertoire, and then to bring that vision alive and share it in our performances.”
“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.”
Christian Hoschek, a Peruvian California native, is a violist and music educator. In his youth, Christian played with the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. He has taught at UMass Lowell’s String Project, an inner-city youth string orchestra collaborative, and currently serves on the elementary strings faculty at Waltham Public Schools.
“As a Peruvian California native, I have seen how music can bring people together, allowing barriers, whether they be cultural, socio-economic, or linguistic, to fall away.”