Announcements
Welcome to the 2024-25 school year!
Concert performance dates, forms, and other info will be posted in each orchestra’s Canvas page. Dates will also appear on the “Calendar” display on this webpage.
The Programs
The Chamber Orchestra is comprised of the most advanced string players who can demonstrate the highest level of proficiency on violin, viola, cello, bass, piano, or harp. Acceptance into this group is by audition only. The members of the Chamber Orchestra should be prepared for a rigorous rehearsal and performance schedule, including but not limited to six performances, state contests, convention performances and clinics. Students in this group are expected to make all performances, including those that will involve travel or touring.
Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor is Required / Audition Required
Symphony A Orchestra is comprised of advanced string players who can demonstrate a high level of proficiency on violin, viola, cello, bass, piano or harp. Acceptance into this group is by audition only. The members of the Symphony Orchestra A should be prepared for a rigorous rehearsal and performance schedule, including but not limited to four in-school performances, state contests, convention performances and clinics. Students in this group are expected to make all performances including those which may involve travel or touring.
Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor is Required / Audition Required
Symphony B Orchestra is comprised of advanced string players who can demonstrate a high level of proficiency on violin, viola, cello, bass, piano or harp. Acceptance into this group is by audition only. The members of the Symphony Orchestra B should be prepared for a rigorous rehearsal and performance schedule, including but not limited to four in-school performances, state contests, convention performances and clinics. Students in this group are expected to make all performances including those which may involve travel or touring.
Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor is Required / Audition Required
The Concert Orchestra is comprised of string players who can demonstrate a moderate level of proficiency on violin, viola, cello, bass, piano or harp. The members of the Concert Orchestra should be prepared for a performance schedule that includes three to four performances per year and may also include adjudication. Students in this group are expected to make all performances associated with the group.
Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor is Required / Audition Required
General Information
Mr. John Riegel
- (614)-921-7300
- John_Riegel@hboe.org
John Riegel has been a music educator since 1990, the Director of Orchestras at Hilliard Darby High School since 2000, and Performing Arts Department Facilitator since 2002. Prior to coming to Hilliard, Mr. Riegel directed the orchestra program in the Mansfield, Ohio City Schools for nine years.
Originally from Oxford, Ohio, Mr. Riegel holds a Master of Arts in Music and Bachelor’s degrees in Music Education and Music Performance from The Ohio State University, where his major teachers included Dr. Robert Gillespie (string pedagogy) and Michael Davis (violin). He began his teaching career as string specialist and high school orchestra director in the Mansfield City Schools in 1990. During his tenure in Mansfield, he also served as chair of the OMEA East-Central Region for six years, organizing and overseeing the annual Region Orchestra festival and Region/All-State Orchestra string auditions, and reporting to the OMEA state board. From 1993 to 2001, Mr. Riegel conducted the Mansfield Symphony Junior Strings Youth Orchestra (now known as the Mansfield Youth Strings), one of two youth orchestras under the auspices of the Mansfield Symphony. He was a faculty member of the Ohio String Teachers Association Middle School Orchestra Camp for twelve summers. Since 2011 he has served as an orchestra conductor at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp near Muskegon, Michigan.
Mr. Riegel holds memberships in the American String Teachers Association, National Association for Music Education, and the Ohio Music Education Association. An active violinist, he has performed with the Mansfield Symphony and numerous other ensembles, and currently freelances in the Columbus area.
Mr. Riegel resides in Columbus with his wife Turid, also a violinist and teacher.
- (614)-921-7300
- sara_given@hboe.org
Ms. Given is the Heritage Orchestra Director and Darby Orchestra Assistant Director. Previously, she worked as Master Teacher for The Ohio State University String Project, a program that provides string instrument instruction to underserved communities in Central Ohio. Sara has presented clinics for The National Association for Music Education, The American String Teachers Association, The Ohio Music Educators Association, and The Midwest String Teachers Workshop. Her work has been published in The Triad Journal for Music Education and Strings Magazine