The orchestra program at Brandon Valley High School is a thriving and accomplished string program. This year Brandon Valley is proud to showcase the variety and skill of its performers in two performing string ensembles: HS Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra, directed by Mrs. Shelly Berg. String students continue to advance technical abilities and musicianship through music performance in Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra. Students involved in the string ensembles are exposed to a wide variety of orchestral repertoire. HS Orchestra is open to all 9th - 12th grade students by basic skills audition. Chamber Orchestra is open to students in grades 10 - 12 by audition placement held in the spring.
This school year, 2022/2023 the orchestra consists of 80 talented, dedicated and hardworking students! Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra meet daily during the school year, preparing music for a variety of musical events. String players perform at three school concerts, attend contests and compete in festival at the state level.
In October, students can audition to be part of South Dakota All-State Orchestra which performs in conjunction with All-State Chorus. This year All-State Orchestra will be held in Sioux Falls, October 28th and 29th. In March, the Brandon Valley High School Orchestras participate in Orchestra Large Group Festival. This year’s festival will take place March 2nd at Washington High School, Sioux Falls. Augustana University hosts the Region II District String Solo/Ensemble Contest on March 7th. Some orchestra students play in the pit orchestra for the Spring Musical.
Every four years the orchestras travel. Spring 2025, the Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra will be traveling to Los Angeles, CA. The students' most recent travels took them to New York City in 2022.
Additionally, Mrs. Berg currently is the advisor for Tri-M, National Honor Society for Musicians, at Brandon Valley High School. Students in Band, Orchestra, or Chorus that maintain a B or higher in their instrumental and/or vocal music class(es), with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher in all classes. New members must complete and document a minimum of 20 service hours in the year they first apply to join. In subsequent years members that wish to sustain their membership must complete and document a minimum of 10 service hours.