Michael Coelho conducts the Symphony Orchestra, NMYO’s premier ensemble. Weekly rehearsals are held Mondays from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Masconomet High School in Topsfield, MA.

The strings in Symphony Orchestra should be working on music at the Sr. District or All-State level with the ability to play at a minimum level equivalent to the middle of Suzuki Book 5 or the Bach a minor Concerto.

The winds and percussion in Symphony Orchestra are also members of the Wind Ensemble.  They rehearse from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. with Symphony Orchestra and join the Wind Ensemble from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The Symphony Orchestra performs two major concerts in December and May.

In addition to practicing as a full orchestra, members of the Symphony Orchestra (strings, winds, brass, and percussionists) participate in the Chamber Music Program. During the seven-week rehearsal period, January through February, the orchestra is divided into 10 to 15 small chamber groups. They are coached in chamber music and the program culminates with a concert in early March. The musicians also perform various outreach concerts during the remainder of the year and the top chamber ensembles are chosen to perform in the Honors Chamber Music Concert. Read more about our Chamber Music program here.

During the chamber music program, strings rehearse together from 5:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., then rehearse chamber music from 5:45 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. Winds, brass, and percussion rehearse with Wind Ensemble from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., then rehearse in their chamber groups from 6:00 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.