About | Thousand Oaks High School Orchestra

About TOHS Orchestra.

TThousand Oaks High School offers three levels of String Ensembles. They perform at the fall, winter, & spring concerts, the all-district strings concert, and SCSBOA and other festivals. Students receive 5 units of UC approved fine arts credits for every semester enrolled in the Orchestra. In addition, music students can and do participate in a variety programs, including sports, AP and Honors classes, Ethos, and The Center. Add orchestra to your schedule. We work closely with the counseling office to place students in the appropriate group and accommodate scheduling conflicts. Make music part of your student life.

Concert Orchestra

This is a string orchestra for developing and intermediate high school musicians. Concert students study a variety of musical works and styles, including traditional string literature and modern compositions. The focus of this course is on developing musical skills as ensemble musicians.

Camerata Orchestra

Camerata Orchestra is for intermediate high school musicians. Camerata students continue to study a variety of musical works and styles, including traditional string literature and modern compositions. The focus of this course is on further developing musical skills as ensemble musicians.

Chamber Orchestra

This honors ensemble is for advanced high school musicians. Students are expected to practice class repertoire a minimum of 30 minutes daily and participate in rehearsals as prepared, informed musicians. An audition is required. Auditions are usually held in May for the following school year. Please note: the time commitment for Chamber musicians is significantly greater than the other TOHS Orchestras due to the increased rehearsal and performance requirements.

Our Director.

Ben Roberts has been the orchestra teacher for Thousand Oaks High School and Redwood Middle School since 2016. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from Central College of Iowa and a Master's Degree in Violin Performance from Illinois State University. He received his teaching credential from San Francisco State. While in the Bay Area he was the Assistant Principal 2nd Violin of the Santa Cruz Symphony and Assistant Concertmaster of the San Francisco Sinfonietta. He has played with many other professional ensembles including the Illinois Symphony, Des Moines Symphony and as Principal 2nd Violin of the Arosa Music Festival in Switzerland. He previously taught music in the Oakland and San Mateo school districts, and while living in Texas, in Sulphur Springs and Houston. He arranged music and was the sectionals coach for a youth orchestra in San Francisco. For several years he was a member of the highest nationally-ranked Irish and World Music groups with a leading online booking agency. He enjoys teaching and working with students to develop a high quality of musicianship, in a positive environment where everyone's contributions are valued.

Email Mr. Roberts

Orchestra Boosters.

As TOHS Orchestra Boosters, our goal is to encourage and support the activities of our school's outstanding music program for the benefit of all music students. We promote and create interest and participation in the Thousand Oaks High School orchestra program among the students, parents, faculty, and community-at-large. We also support the orchestra by raising funds to be used for purchases and expenditures to help provide the highest quality music program and to enable student participation in music competitions.

Our organization is dedicated to supporting and expanding the orchestra program, which requires hands-on efforts from orchestra families for its continued success. A major part of our job is to encourage parents to explore and participate in the volunteer opportunities involved in supporting a quality music program. Our students’ opportunity to thrive in orchestra is dependent, in part, on volunteering to support the orchestra's activities. Anything you do will be greatly appreciated, be sure to get involved!

Some Orchestra History.

Foundation.

The Thousand Oaks High School Orchestra Program was formed in 2009 - one of the first high school orchestra programs in Ventura county.

First Students.

The orchestra began with only 15 students. Thanks to an expanding strings program in the CVUSD, students started coming in from middle school programs with a passion for orchestra.

National Travel.

In 2016, the TOHS Lancer Orchestra travelled to Seattle for the Heritage Festival competition.

New Director.

Thanks to the efforts of Mrs. Anna Sobrino, the program doubled in size and continues to thrive. The Orchestra program begins a new chapter, welcoming Mr. Ben Roberts in Fall 2016.

Donate Now.

Please consider donating to the TOHS Orchstra Booster Program to support and expand instrumental music at our school .