DSO Information
The Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra is the resident orchestra of the Hopkins Center at Dartmouth College. Comprised primarily of Dartmouth students, its powerful performances have made it a major hit with area music lovers, who appreciate not having to travel to the city to enjoy a quality evening at the symphony. Conducted by Anthony Princiotti, the DSO is dedicated to the performance of standard works from the symphonic repertoire (while also including a few works off the beaten path). In recent seasons, the DSO has performed symphonies by Beethoven, Berlioz, Brahms, Haydn, Shostakovich and Dvorak, among others. The repertoire for the 2006-2007 season included Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony, Bach's Concerto for Oboe and Violin and a program of music influenced by Spanish and Latin-American cultures that included Chabrier's España, Lalo's Symphonie Espagnole, Bernstein's Symphonic Dances from West Side Story and Gershwin's Cuban Overture. Programs for the 2007-2008 season include symphonies by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Mahler as well as concerti by Schumann and Dvorak. The orchestra performs in the Hopkins Center's Spaulding Auditorium during the fall, winter and spring terms. Sophisticated repertoire, student and professional soloists and sellout audiences have given the DSO a growing regional reputation for excellence in performing and programming.
Mission
The mission of the Dartmouth Symphony is to provide Dartmouth students with the opportunity to play and perform orchestral music at a high level, and to give Dartmouth students and the community the opportunity to hear symphonic concerts. The orchestra's programming is designed to educate the orchestra's members through the performance of the standard orchestral repertoire while also exposing them to new and lesser-known works. Membership is by audition, and is open to Dartmouth students, faculty, staff and community musicians. It is the goal of the DSO to present performances that reflect the best efforts of its personnel. The DSO also strives to instill and nurture in its members a love of playing orchestral music, as well as a respect for the process of developing the skills necessary for good orchestral playing.
Personnel
The orchestra is comprised primarily of Dartmouth undergraduates, although the orchestra's roster includes graduate students and community members. Undergraduates are given primary consideration in decisions concerning orchestra membership and seating, followed by Dartmouth graduate students, faculty, staff, and community players.
Auditions
The primary auditions for the DSO take place at the beginning of the Fall term; players wishing to audition at any other time should contact the conductor to set up an audition. Auditions last between 5 and 10 minutes. Auditionees are asked to play a piece (or a portion thereof) that will give some indication of their ability to move around their instrument, as well as the quality of their sound. There may also be some (relatively simple) sightreading. Decisions regarding membership are made within the context of the orchestra's current personnel needs, the relationship of the player's ability to the median technical level of the orchestra's players, and the player's comportment during the audition. Auditions are for new members only. All personnel decisions are made by the conductor.
Schedule
The regular rehearsal schedule for the DSO is Mondays and Thursdays from 7 to 9pm. A number of Thursdays are devoted to sectional rehearsals. The rehearsal schedule is expanded during concert week. The DSO performs one full program during the Fall, Winter and Spring Terms.
Requirements for Membership
Requirements for membership in the orchestra include the ability to focus and work constructively during rehearsals, preparation of individual parts to the best of the player's ability, and consistent, punctual attendance at rehearsals.