Dear Music Educators, Students & Parents,

Three levels of participation are available for wind, string and percussion players: The Symphony (advanced level) is directed by Grant Donnellan and the Philharmonia (intermediate level) is directed by Morgan Schwab. The Sinfonia (novice level) is directed by Coral Marchant.

Ensemble level placement is determined by audition and experience level, not age. Western’s Music Education Majors provide additional weekly coaching assistance through a unique internship program coordinated with WWU to provide maximum faculty contact for our students.

We will perform three concerts in Western’s acoustically excellent Concert Hall: December 1, March 8 and June 7. Our concerts are free of charge as a gift to the public and parents who support our students. Rehearsals are on Monday nights at Western from 6:00-8:15, with our first rehearsal on September 22. New students may audition for placement on September 22 from 5:00-6:00. Students are encouraged to enroll for the entire year, but we accept new members at the beginning of each concert quarter, as well. Students may attend the first tworehearsals of any quarter free of charge as a means to “test the water”: we know you will be hooked when you experience the camaraderie and high level of music making in our orchestras!

Symphony members are encouraged to participate in the North Sound Concerto Competition for the opportunity to perform as a soloist with orchestra on one of our concerts. Auditions for Concerto Solo opportunities will be held after the first two rehearsals in September.

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Grant Donnellan, Symphony Director, is Professor of Violin and String Education at WWU and Director of Western’s Chamber Days summer chamber music camp. He also performs as concertmaster of the Whatcom Symphony and Director of the Ferndale Summer Pops Orchestra and is on the faculty of the Marrowstone Summer Music Festival at WWU.

Morgan Schwab, Philharmonia Director, is orchestra and band director at Fairhaven Middle School and maintains a large private violin/viola teaching studio in Bellingham. She is also Principal Viola for the Whatcom Symphony Orchestra and has considerable expertise as a violist and orchestral musician. In addition, she is a graduate of Western’s Music Department and faculty for Western’s Chamber Days summer chamber music camp.

Coral Marchant, Sinfonia Director, is a graduate of Western’s Music Department and maintains a thriving cello teaching studio in Bellingham. A fine cellist, she performs with the Whatcom Symphony, the Whatcom Chorale Sinfonia and as a freelance artist. Coral is also a graduate of Western’s Music Department on the faculty of Western’s Chamber Days summer music camp.