The Hershey Symphony is proud offer Festival Strings, an educational and enriching orchestral experience for students in grades 6 through 10 as a student counterpart to the Hershey Symphony Orchestra. This program includes rehearsals and performance opportunities, including a performance with the Hershey Symphony! Rehearsals are held weekly at the Palmyra Area Middle School from September to May. Mr. Andrew Kurtz directs the ensemble.
If your student is interested:
There is no audition required, but students require a signature and recommendation from their school director or their private instrumental teacher. A signature from a director from the prior year is acceptable. Students will not be accepted without a completed recommendation form. Forms will be available on this website in late summer for the upcoming school year.
To participate in the orchestra, students should feel comfortable with the following:
Grade 3/4 Music, which includes concepts such as:
• Shifting to 3rd and 4th position
• Rhythmic figures with sixteenth notes, triplets, dotted rhythms, and time signature changes
• A variety of key signatures from 3 sharps to 3 flats.
There will be a variety of music that exposes students to a mix of styles and techniques that they can bring back to their own ensembles. We are on a very tight schedule and the music is challenging, so students are expected and need to practice diligently at home. Consistent and timely rehearsal attendance is also very important.
Sign-up and payment information:
Your registration and tuition payment cover the full school year. Links to register and pay will be added in late summer 2025.
Note: The Hershey Symphony is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination. Please refer to our nondiscrimination statement here.
If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Kurtz using the form below.
Link to November 2024 concert:
You can watch and hear a recent Festival Strings concert here.