About CHHSO
Mrs. Hannah Smith-Bush Grooms, Director of Orchestras
Hannah Smith-Bush Grooms holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from James Madison University, and has studied under Mr. Foster Beyers, Dr. Stephen Bolstad, Dr. Wanchi Huang, Dr. Lisa Maynard, and Dr. Robert McCashin, as well as with Mrs. Nancy Koes, Mrs. Ginger Paris, Mr. and Mrs. Bruce and Ellen Habitzruther, and Mrs. Deliece Blanchard. Prior to receiving her degree, she worked as an early childhood educator in New Kent, Virginia and completed her student teaching with Mrs. Laura Mulligan Thomas and Mrs. Emily Thomas Waters, both of Charlottesville, Virginia. It has been Hannah's dream to be a high school orchestra director since she was in high school herself. The 2022-2023 academic year is her second year of teaching. During the 2021-2022 school year, the Clover Hill High School Combined Orchestras received a rating of superior at the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association Assessment.
The Clover Hill High School Combined Orchestras, based in Midlothian, Virginia, are composed of two orchestra classes: Concert Orchestra and String Ensemble. The Concert Orchestra plays VBODA grades II-III music and is our un-auditioned class. String Ensemble plays VBODA grades IV-VI music, and is an audition-based class. Auditions are based on 3-octave scales, regional orchestra audition material, and sight reading excerpts. This year, CHHSO has 35 excellent student musicians and we are looking to grow our numbers for the 2023-2024 school year!
Concert Orchestra
The CHHS Concert Orchestra plays VBODA grades III and IV music. Membership to this group is not based on an audition, however, members must have at least two years of playing experience. This ensemble is for the string player who either wants a more casual high school orchestra experience, or the string player who needs to develop their technique before auditioning for Chamber Orchestra. All freshmen will be placed in Concert Orchestra.
String Ensemble
The CHHS String Ensemble plays VBODA grades V and VI music. Membership into this group is based on audition and is only available to 10th, 11th, and 12th graders. String Ensemble will perform together and separately from the Concert Orchestra.
Audition Requirements:
G, A, Bb, B, C, D, E, and F major scales, 3 octaves
Prepared excerpt
Sight reading excerpt
Guitar
No experience necessary. This introductory course is designed to give the beginning guitarist an opportunity to develop the fundamentals of guitar. An instructional fee is required. School instruments are available for rental for a fee of $50 per school year.