The Novi High School Orchestra Program consists of Wildcat Orchestra (9th grade only), Concert Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, and Philharmonic Orchestra. Students wishing to participate in orchestra must take it as a class for credit. For students wanting to be in the Symphony or Philharmonic Orchestra, they must audition in the spring of the previous school year. Students new to Novi may audition around the time they register for classes. Additionally, the Philharmonic Orchestra students combine with Wind Ensemble students to play the masterworks of the symphonic repertoire. All orchestra students participate in Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association events including Band and Orchestra Festival and Solo and Ensemble Festival.
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about jim van eizenga
Jim Van Eizenga is in his 11th year as Director of Orchestras at Novi High School. In addition to his position in Novi, he is the conductor and music director of the Gaylord Community Orchestra, and is the conductor and music director of the Alpena Symphony Orchestra. He also regularly conducts the pit orchestra for Novi High School and for Gaylord Community Productions.
As a violist, he has performed with the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra, Dearborn Symphony Orchestra, Marquette Symphony Orchestra, Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra, Dexter Community Orchestra, Alpena Symphony Orchestra, and Ypsilanti Symphony Orchestra. Currently, he performs with Spectrum Orchestra in Bloomfield Hills.
Jim’s school orchestras regularly receive excellent and superior ratings at District festivals and have performed in New York and Washington DC. In 2019, the NHS Philharmonic Orchestra was selected to perform at the Michigan Music Conference.
Jim holds a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Western Michigan University (2011) and a Master's degree in Music Education from Michigan State University (2018). He is a member of the American String Teachers Association and the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association. He currently serves on the Board for the Michigan chapter of ASTA as Michigan Music Conference Coordinator.
about
the 50 state
string orchestra project
2022-2024
The 50 State String Orchestra Project is a large-scale consortium commission that is bringing new music to classrooms and concert halls all over the US in the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 seasons, with educational and community orchestras in all 50 states commissioning a new piece for string orchestra, similar in difficulty level and scope to Stephanie’s 2011 work for string orchestra Beyond the Gate. Her consortium commissions for chamber music have already brought new string-centered music all across the world, from her 50 State Sonata Project for violin + piano, inspired by the work of her teacher John Kendall, and her World Sonata Project, which was commissioned by violinists from 35 countries in 2016.