PROGRAMS
Through the Children's Orchestra Society, students can participate in four to five programs: Orchestra, Chamber Music, Musicianship, Ensemble programs and, for more advanced students, the Majors program. Ensemble playing is the core of COS; it fosters a valuable work ethic plus a healthy balance of team spirit and pride in personal achievement. With several levels of orchestral groups, students can work toward progressively more demanding music repertoire, limited only by their motivation. Advanced students at COS often set high goals for themselves - to be in the Majors Program or as contestants in the annual Discovery Competition.
FACTS AND FIGURES ABOUT COS
WHAT INSTRUMENTS DO COS STUDENTS PLAY?
Some of our students play multiple instruments. At COS, there are 4 Orchestras. Kinder and Sinfonia have mostly string players. JSE and YSE have string players, wind and brass players, and percussion. We have openings for violins, violas, double bass, wind, brass and percussion players. (Data from 2017-18 fall)
WHAT COLLEGES DO COS STUDENTS ATTEND?
Many of our graduates continue to play music. But what colleges did they attend? (Cumulative data from 1984-2016, based on 606 students)
WHAT ETHNICITIES ARE REPRESENTED AT COS?
Many nationalities are represented at COS, with some families who combine different ethnicities, adding to the rich culture of the children. (Data from 2016-17)
CONCLUSION
COS is a child-centered organization, and welcomes a wide spectrum of cultures and nationalities, and strives to find the best placement for a child, taking account a child's temperament and learning style. All children are encouraged to strive for their personal best, rather than competing with their peers. 100% of our students go to college, and 25% of them attend Ivy League Schools.
WHAT SCHOOL GRADES DO COS STUDENTS ATTEND?
COS places students in their 4 orchestras according to their playing levels, not necessarily according to their age or grade level. There is no lower age limit to any of our orchestras. An advanced young child can place in the senior orchestra, as long as he or she can last through the entire rehearsal. (Data from 2017-18 Fall)
