{"id":212,"date":"2021-09-16T16:41:46","date_gmt":"2021-09-16T16:41:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bard.edu\/conservatory-wiki\/?page_id=212"},"modified":"2026-07-03T18:43:06","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T18:43:06","slug":"orchestra-studies-program","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bard.edu\/conservatory-wiki\/programs\/orchestra-studies-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Orchestra Studies Program"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.bard.edu\/conservatory-wiki\/programs\/orchestra-studies-program\/orchestra-policies-aps\/\">Orchestra Policies: APS &amp; IAP<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.bard.edu\/conservatory-wiki\/programs\/orchestra-studies-program\/orchestra-policies-undergraduate\/\">Orchestra Policies: Undergraduate<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.bard.edu\/conservatory-wiki\/orchestra-protocols\/\">Orchestra Protocols<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.bard.edu\/conservatory-wiki\/resources-and-guides\/absence-request\/\">Absence Request Form<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Orchestra Calendars: please check your ASIMUT<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.bard.edu\/conservatory-wiki\/programs\/orchestra-studies-program\/orchestra-programming-suggestion-form\/\">Orchestra Programming Suggestion Form<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/11djRomO6nOAvI3CAVbypmnvMmZVpYI-XkqcfMbDr2NQ\/edit?usp=drive_link\">Orchestra Fall 2026 &#8211; Spring 2027 Seating<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/classroom.google.com\/c\/ODU0ODE4MjA5OTIx?cjc=hryxcw2r\">Orchestra Music on google classroom<\/a><\/p>\n<h1><b>Welcome Letter from Director of Orchestra Studies Erica Kiesewetter\u00a0<\/b><\/h1>\n<p>Fall 2026-Spring 2027<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dear Bard Conservatory Orchestra members (including pianists),<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Welcome in advance to the Bard Conservatory Orchestra! I am the Director of Orchestral Studies. Nicolas Gomez Amin is our assistant conductor, Hsiao-Fang Lin is the orchestra manager, and Viktor Toth is the librarian assistant. We are looking forward to getting to know and hear from you. We would like to tell you a few things about the orchestra to help you to prepare for the rehearsals and concerts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Before we get into details of the orchestra, here are two important links you should save to your phone and computer:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We will post music and some notices on orchestra google classroom: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/classroom.google.com\/c\/ODU0ODE4MjA5OTIx?cjc=hryxcw2r\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">https:\/\/classroom.google.com\/c\/ODU0ODE4MjA5OTIx?cjc=hryxcw2r<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Here is the orchestra internal wikis page:\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.bard.edu\/conservatory-wiki\/programs\/orchestra-studies-program\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">https:\/\/blogs.bard.edu\/conservatory-wiki\/programs\/orchestra-studies-program\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You can find the orchestra policy, protocols, absences request form, seating assignment, and music link on this website.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">First of all, here is the list of things you should bring to Bard with you:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">All black (long) dress or suit or Tuxedo (Please see below for concert dress code)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">White shirt and Black shirt<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Black dress shoes (no open toe)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Folding stands<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Portable stand light<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Tuner and Metronome<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Musician earplugs (important!)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">String players: mute that stays on instrument<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">String players: extra set of strings<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">String players: rehair your bow before you come<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Bass players: your own bass stool<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As always, we have an exciting season planned for the orchestra; you can see below the repertoire for this academic year. I did want to reach out especially to the freshmen and other new players to give you a heads up about the placement auditions. Usually they are held the first weekend of each semester. These are valuable in and of themselves, as you will be taking many auditions in your lives. This can get you more familiar with the process. I will give an audition prep class for first year students during L &amp; T (7pm, August 19 in Bito CPS), this will give you an idea of how to prepare the placement audition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This coming semester there will indeed be auditions (on Sept 4, 5, 6), but in certain sections where there are many known players who have already won principal spots the first concert will be assigned. The seatings can be found here as they are put up: (please use your bard account to access this link)<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/11djRomO6nOAvI3CAVbypmnvMmZVpYI-XkqcfMbDr2NQ\/edit?usp=drive_link\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/11djRomO6nOAvI3CAVbypmnvMmZVpYI-XkqcfMbDr2NQ\/edit?usp=drive_link<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Just some details: The auditions are behind a screen to reproduce a professional orchestral audition as much as possible, and to guarantee anonymity.\u00a0These are heard by a small panel of judges from the faculty, and then those impressions are conveyed to your studio faculty, who confer about the final decision. You are encouraged to get ahold of their comments in the weeks after the audition. The repertoire varies from instrument to instrument; in the strings we tend to have selections from the actual repertoire for the semester. In the winds, brass and percussion, it may be a mixture or only standard repertoire. Some professors allow for a solo first, some not.\u00a0 Please find the audition repertoire here:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/drive\/folders\/1U0rpgDndvpHPXdng_0LPZBpo0smiEpny?usp=sharing\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fall 2026 Audition Repertoire<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(please use your Bard account to access the list)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/drive\/folders\/1U0rpgDndvpHPXdng_0LPZBpo0smiEpny?usp=sharing\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">https:\/\/drive.google.com\/drive\/folders\/1U0rpgDndvpHPXdng_0LPZBpo0smiEpny?usp=sharing<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">*If you cannot access any google folder, you can use this link to access the audition folder:<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">https:\/\/pan.baidu.com\/s\/1lzE0StXS391PZidcFzmQFw (passcode: bcom)<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The main point here is not to fret or worry about this, but to give yourself time to learn the music and do as well as you can. I strongly advise listening to the pieces and even looking at a score online. A good audition shows not only that you know the notes in the right tempo, etc, but that you are showing that you have heard the piece and know how your part fits in. It is more fun to practice that way, too!<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the orchestra, APS and Master degree players are here in a special pre-professional capacity and as such will be asked to play a number of projects besides the regular orchestra and chamber music concerts, and that information about this will be forthcoming.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We know there is a lot of information coming at you, and a lot of emails. You will be able to find lots of handy information, and our orchestra calendar on asimut.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">*please note that all the schedules are on asimut system, not google calendar. You should always check your conservatory schedule (including your lesson and orchestra rehearsals and concerts) on asimut.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Please feel free to email any of us with any questions, and see you soon!<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Erica Kiesewetter, Director of Orchestra Studies &lt;kiesewet@bard.edu&gt;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hsiao-Fang Lin, orchestra manager &lt;hlin@bard.edu&gt;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Viktor Toth, librarian assistant &lt;vtoth@bard.edu&gt;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Nicolas Gomez Amin, assistant conductor and orchestra assistant &lt;<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">ng5928@bard.edu&gt;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Here is the rep for 2026-2027<\/b><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">October 25 and 26 <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">at the Fisher Center, Bard<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Family Weekend Concert with Leon Botstein<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Beethoven Symphony 4<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">James Johnson Yamecraw with piano soloist Marcus Roberts<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Elgar Symphony 1<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dec 11 and 13 at the Fisher Center, Bard<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Concert with Leon Botstein<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Humperdinck Hansel and Gretel (in pit!)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mar 13 at the Fisher Center, Bard<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Concert with Leon Botstein at the Fisher Center\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Augusta Holm\u00e8s : Pologne (1883)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Boulanger D&#8217;un matin de printemps<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Witold Lutos\u0142awski &#8211; Chain 2\u00a0 with violin soloist Ziheng Xu<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Bruckner 7\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">May 8 at Fisher Center<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Concert with Tan Dun<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">TBD<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Here is the seating chart for Fall 2026: <\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(it will be updated after the placement audition, please use your Bard email account to access this file)<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/11djRomO6nOAvI3CAVbypmnvMmZVpYI-XkqcfMbDr2NQ\/edit?usp=sharing\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/11djRomO6nOAvI3CAVbypmnvMmZVpYI-XkqcfMbDr2NQ\/edit?usp=sharing<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>THE ABSENCE REQUEST FORM<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Absence Request Form is available online at:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.bard.edu\/conservatory-wiki\/resources-and-guides\/absence-request\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Bard Conservatory Absence Request Form<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.bard.edu\/conservatory-wiki\/resources-and-guides\/absence-request\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">https:\/\/blogs.bard.edu\/conservatory-wiki\/resources-and-guides\/absence-request\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">An Absence Request Form must be submitted and approved by the Conservatory in advance of accepting any outside commitments.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>ABSENCES FOR PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Any absence for outside professional activities (even very brief periods of time, e.g., auditions, performances, etc.) will only be deemed an excused absence upon Conservatory approval, following submission of the completed Absence Request Form as stated above. We will do our very best to respond to requests as quickly as possible,\u00a0 but please try to\u00a0 put in your request at least 2 week or even a month in advance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i>*Important:<\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0Students should not accept outside professional engagements that occur during the school year without<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">first<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">receiving permission from the conservatory.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Rehearsal Dress Code<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">no hats or sunglasses unless you have a doctor\u2019s note.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>CONCERT Dress code:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">&#8211; Only black or clear see-through water bottles are allowed on stage, no labels should be shown on the bottle.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">&#8211; No Perfume or strong cologne\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">&#8211; No sandals or sneakers\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">&#8211; No skinny jeans, leggings, slit skirt<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">&#8211; All outfits must have black socks or hosiery and polished black shoes (no open-toe)\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">&#8211; All clothes need to be plain black (without any pattern\/ other colors\/ decorations\/ sequins etc)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Category A: BLACK TUXEDO<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">&#8211; Black tuxedo with dinner jacket<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">&#8211; White dress shirt<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">&#8211; Black bow tie<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">&#8211; Tux Pants<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">&#8211; Patent Leather Shoes<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">*please check here for more information about Tuxedo:<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">&#8211; <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.concertattire.com\/blogs\/blog\/a-guide-to-tuxedos-and-ensembles-classic-vs-contemporary-styles\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">https:\/\/www.concertattire.com\/blogs\/blog\/a-guide-to-tuxedos-and-ensembles-classic-vs-contemporary-styles<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">&#8211; <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/theblacktux.com\/blogs\/style\/tuxedo-styles\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">https:\/\/theblacktux.com\/blogs\/style\/tuxedo-styles<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Category B: ALL BLACK<\/b><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Long-sleeved and Ankle length black dress with full skirt<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">OR<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Black full palazzo pants\/tailored long black pants\/ long loose skirt<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Long-sleeved blouse (no decolletage, no sheer fabric)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">OR\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Professional black suit (trousers and jacket)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">black collared dress shirt<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">no tie<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">OR\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Wide-leg, black jumpsuit with a black blazer<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Orchestra Policies: APS &amp; IAP Orchestra Policies: Undergraduate Orchestra Protocols Absence Request Form Orchestra Calendars: please check your ASIMUT Orchestra Programming Suggestion <span><a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.bard.edu\/conservatory-wiki\/programs\/orchestra-studies-program\/\">Read More<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":169,"featured_media":0,"parent":104,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-212","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bard.edu\/conservatory-wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/212","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bard.edu\/conservatory-wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bard.edu\/conservatory-wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bard.edu\/conservatory-wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/169"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bard.edu\/conservatory-wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=212"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bard.edu\/conservatory-wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/212\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1588,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bard.edu\/conservatory-wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/212\/revisions\/1588"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bard.edu\/conservatory-wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/104"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bard.edu\/conservatory-wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=212"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}