Davis High School Orchestras

Davis High School’s Symphony Orchestra, Baroque Ensemble, and Chamber Orchestra are led by Angelo Moreno. Students also have a chance to participate the the state-wide CMEA/CODA All-State Orchestras.

The program holds annual auditions for the Symphony Orchestra and Baroque Ensemble, and hosts a Concerto Competition.

Orchestra Alumni can stay involved in the program after graduation.

The Davis High School Orchestra program has been around since the earliest years of the high school in the 1920’s. For more than 70 years, the HS orchestra was just one group, often performing as a full symphony (with brass, woodwinds and percussion), or otherwise as a string orchestra. In 2005 enrollment grew so as to allow for a full Symphony Orchestra and a string Chamber Orchestra. Since Angelo Moreno came to his position in 2000, the orchestra program has quadrupled in size, from about 35 students to a current enrollment of about 130. In June of 2006 and 2015 and 2018 the DHS Symphony Orchestra performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Past DHS Orchestra Directors:

• 1935-1941 Norman Walters

• 1941 Jack Taylor/Norma Bentley

• 1942-1943 Ralph Smith

• 1943-1945 June Cunningham (nee Beckman)

• 1945-1948 Ralph Smith

• 1948-1955 Forrest Honnold (also band & choir)

• 1955-1960 Don Brewer (also band director)

• 1960-1962 Walter Cothary

• 1962-1963 Don Brewer

• 1963-1966 Madeline Brewer (nee Biehler)

• 1966-1970 Richard M. Brunelle (also choral director)

• 1970-1971 Rachel Kessler (also choral director)

• 1971-1993 Richard M. Brunelle (also choral director)

• 1993-1996 Karen Gardias (also choral director)

• 1996-1997 Kristen Hedegaard (also choral director)

• 1997-2000 Stephen Kidd (also directed jazz choir)

• 2000-present Angelo Moreno