Stanford Symphony Orchestra, Stanford Philharmonia, and Stanford Summer Symphony

The Stanford Symphony Orchestra, Stanford Philharmonia, and Stanford Summer Symphony provide outstanding opportunities for the practice and enjoyment of orchestral music. SSO and SP rehearse and perform throughout the academic year, with SSS taking place each July. Most concerts are performed in Bing Concert Hall. Collaborative performances often take place with the Stanford Chamber Chorale, Stanford Symphony Chorus, University Singers, Stanford Wind Symphony, and Stanford Live. Membership in SSO, SP, and SSS is open by audition to all Stanford students (undergraduate and graduate), medical students, Stanford staff and faculty, and members of the community of all ages, with priority given to Stanford students. Members do not have to major in music; in fact, fewer than 5% of SSO and SP members are music majors, with most orchestra members majoring in STEM fields. 

MUSIC 160/160Z Stanford Symphony Orchestra & MUSIC 160A/160AZ Stanford Philharmonia – Winter 2021

These orchestra courses will be offered in Winter Quarter:
• MUSIC 160/160Z, Section 1   SSO   M Th 7:00-8:00pm   Braun Music Center, Room 110 (Braun Rehearsal Hall)
• MUSIC 160/160Z, Section 2   SSO   M Th 8:30-9:30pm   Braun Music Center, Room 110 (Braun Rehearsal Hall)
• MUSIC 160A/160AZ, Section 1   SP   Tu 7:00-8:00pm   Braun Music Center, Room 110 (Braun Rehearsal Hall)
• MUSIC 160A/160AZ, Section 2   SP   Tu 8:30-9:30pm   Braun Music Center, Room 110 (Braun Rehearsal Hall)

The plan is to have 3 or 4 chamber orchestras: SSO Section 1; SSO Section 2; and SP, either in 1 or 2 sections depending on the number of students wanting to participate. In accordance with the format of Winter Quarter as described on 7 December, each group will rehearse online using JackTrip for the first part of the quarter and will switch to in-person rehearsals midway through the quarter once all participating students are on campus.

Each section of SSO and SP may have up to 14 musicians according to current guidelines on the maximum number of people allowed in Braun Rehearsal Hall. Each ensemble would meet for 60 minutes at a time followed by a 30-minute break outside the room. Strings, percussion, harp, and keyboard only would be allowed to participate. Because of Stanford University and Santa Clara County coronavirus restrictions, it’s likely that only registered Stanford undergraduate and graduate students will be allowed to play in SSO or SP in Winter Quarter.

Unfortunately, wind players and vocalists cannot be included in ensembles in Winter Quarter, which means that Wind Symphony and none of Stanford’s choirs or vocal ensembles will take place in person during Winter Quarter. Wind players willing to play percussion should send an email to Professor Phillips at <orchestra@stanford.edu> to let him know of their interest.

If you’re interested in playing in SSO or SP in Winter Quarter and haven’t filled out the Orchestra Participation Form yet, please do so now and register for one of the sections of SSO or SP. You might remain in that orchestra or be assigned to a different one, depending on how the rosters are finalized, but go ahead and register for one of them to indicate your interest in playing next quarter. If you prefer to register for the zero-unit version of SSO or SP, please fill out this form to receive the permission code, which you’ll need in order to do that.

Auditions will take place over Zoom during the week of 14 December with the aim of determining the rosters by 21 December. There will be an online audition sign-up form for each student to fill out who’ll be auditioning. On that form, you’ll be asked to indicate your availability for the meeting times for each orchestra. Further information about auditions will be posted shortly. Once the rosters are finalized, some students may have to change their registration from one orchestra to another. The repertoire for each orchestra is still being determined.

MUSIC 151C/151CZ, Stanford University Ragtime Ensemble is scheduled for Spring 2021 in the hope that in-person ensemble activity will resume by then. This ensemble, which will be led by Prof. Phillips, will play ragtime repertoire by Scott Joplin, James Lamb, Eubie Blake, and others, scored for the Red Back Book ensemble of 12 players: flute/piccolo, clarinet, cornet (or trumpet), trombone, tuba, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, drums, and piano.

Due to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and to help protect the health of our communities, all Department of Music concerts are canceled until further notice.