BHHS Launches First Inaugural Summer Orchestra Retreat

The 2024 Bloomfield Hills High School Orchestra Retreat was the inaugural edition of a yearly end-of-summer event for the BHHS orchestra program! Students in grades 9 through 12, from all three of the BHHS curricular orchestras, came together to prepare two pieces of music for a public performance in a single weekend of intensive rehearsal. Students also participated in social events, received sectional coachings from Detroit-area professional musicians, and took elective classes in other musical topics from other Detroit-area professionals.

Sean Brennan, BHHS Orchestra Director, explained, “I was inspired to create this event in support of the staff goals for building culture and belonging at BHHS, using Mr. Posner's excellent marching band camp structure as a model. The retreat provides a unique opportunity for students in all three of our curricular orchestras and all four grade levels to work, play, converse, and act as one ensemble, creating the sense of unity and belonging that is so important for our students to achieve their full potential within these halls. The retreat orchestra also accomplished an impressive feat, putting together a concert program in a single weekend! This connection between intensive work and satisfying results can hopefully follow students into the beginning of the new year.”

Maya Zendel (grade 10) shared, “My favorite part of the retreat was meeting new people and making many musical memories." Luke Blowers (grade 9) added, "My favorite song to learn was Andante Festivo. It was fun to learn because it was slow yet complicated, and every note had to sound nice. It was a fun challenge, and it gave me a taste of how fun the pieces of the high school orchestra could be like!”