Saline Orchestras have been recognized as one of the premier orchestra programs in the state of Michigan. All of the Middle School and High School Orchestras have consistently received first division ratings at District and State competitions and the program has also been featured at the Michigan Music Conference several times. The Saline Orchestra program is a favorite destination for college and university student teacher placements. Information about our directors can be found here.
The Saline Orchestra program consists of hundreds of string players in grades 5 through 12. The 5th Grade Orchestra meets daily in two separate groups but performs together in three concerts each year (December, March, and June).
There are three orchestras at Saline Middle School. The 6th Grade Orchestra rehearses every day in smaller groups and performs in concert as a combined ensemble. 7th Grade Orchestra and 8th Grade Orchestra meet every other day for one hour during the school day. They perform three local concerts each year (December, March, and June) in addition to participating in MSBOA District Orchestra Festival and Solo and Ensemble Festival.
Saline High School also has three orchestras that each meet for one hour daily. Ninth Grade Orchestra is for students in 9th grade. Symphony Orchestra contains students in 10th through 12th grades. The elite Chamber Orchestra is an auditioned ensemble containing string players in the 10th through 12th grades. All orchestras from the High School join with Saline's most talented wind, brass, and percussion players for concerts each year and participate in MSBOA District Orchestra Festival and Solo and Ensemble Festival.
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Originally from St. Clair Shores, Michigan, Matthew Briere started playing the violin in the his local public school music program. After running home from the bus stop and begging his parents to play the violin, Mr. Briere began a life of music making in the fourth grade. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Eastern Michigan University, where he is currently working on his Master's Degree. Mr. Briere has performed with the Lac St. Clair Symphony, the EMU Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony Civic Orchestra, and the Dexter Community Orchestra. Fulfilling a passion of his, he regularly plays and performs chamber music in the Saline/Ann Arbor area.
Mr. Briere currently teaches Orchestra in the Saline Area Schools where he is responsible for conducting the High Orchestras, as well as, team-teaching 5th Grade Orchestra. Previously, Mr. Briere founded the orchestra program at Trillium Academy in Taylor, Michigan. While teaching at Trillium he was recognized by the Michigan Association of Public School Academies as the 2010-11 Charter School Teacher of the Year.
In his spare time, Mr. Briere enjoys playing basketball, reading, cooking, and hanging out with his wonderful wife and daughter.
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.