About The PRSO

PRSO Class

The PRSO was founded for the purpose of bringing students together from our PR schools to expose them to classical music, give them the opportunity to praise God with stringed instruments, and share this music with our community.

Our season begins in October and runs through our season-end concert in February. In addition to playing with the PRSO, many of our students can be found performing individually or in small ensembles for church functions, school events, or special occasions throughout the year.

Requirements To Join

The PRSO is open to students who play violin, viola, cello, or bass and are members of a Protestant Reformed church and/or attend an affiliated school. The directors of the PRSO do not teach the students how to play their instruments (besides general group instruction on string topics in our music). Therefore, students are required to be taking private lessons and/or to be participating in their school orchestra program to participate in the PRSO. Students should have taken lessons for at least six months before joining the PRSO (some exceptions are students who are middle or high school age and have a piano background).

Cost to Join

Because parents make a significant financial commitment to pay for music lessons and obtain a stringed instrument, and because of a wide base of financial supporters, we are currently able to offer membership in the PRSO for no cost to our families. Families can make a contribution to our non-profit organization, if desired. Thank you to all of our financial supporters who make this opportunity possible!

Orchestra Groups

Prelude Players is comprised of younger students and students new to their instruments. Students learn the basics of how to play under a conductor and with other instruments while playing music fit for their level of experience.
Concert Orchestra is for students who have experience playing in an orchestra and one or more years of playing their instrument under their belts (or are have achieved the ability to play the music selected). This group plays music at the intermediate level and works on fine-tuning orchestral skills.
Chamber Orchestra is for students play with the Concert Orchestra but also perform
as a separate group for events throughout the season as well as at the January concert. This ensemble is geared for students who have had several years of experience playing their instruments as well as the desire to work on music that might challenge their abilities and advance their orchestral skills. Students enter this group by an audition.

Concerts

The PRSO performs a concert at the end of its regular season; this concert is held in January or February. They also perform as a group for other events (special performances vary by season).

Rehearsal Schedule

Rehearsals begin in October and are held until the February concert. Rehearsal location alternates among four PR affiliated schools. Rehearsals are held on Thursdays from 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM (5:30 PM for high school students). See the 2018-2019 Rehearsal Schedule here.

Orchestra Summer Camp

In the summer months, the PRSO holds 2 two-day sessions of summer camp where students spend several hours in orchestra rehearsal and also enjoy time socializing at George and Michelle Bodbyl’s barn in Hudsonville. Dates for 2018 summer camp were June 19 and 2, July 24 and 25 (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM).

View photos of the 2016 orchestra camp.

View photos of the 2017 orchestra camp.

View photos of the 2018 orchestra camp.