Thank you for attending this year’s Orchestra Festival!
Information for this year’s program will be updated soon.

27th Annual PLU Invitational High School Orchestra Festival

October 24, 2025

Mary Baker Russell Music Center

For over twenty years, the PLU Orchestras have hosted up to a dozen of the finest high school orchestras and chamber orchestras from around the region for a day of music making and sharing. The Annual PLU Orchestra Festival offers your ensemble an opportunity early in the year to hone their performance skills and get great feedback from both our faculty and the warm, generous acoustic of our world class Lagerquist Concert Hall.

Application:

High school directors or youth symphony directors, please submit your Application form for the Festival For High School Orchestras. Each organization is guaranteed participation if the application form and payment is received by the deadline of October 14th, 2024.

Please note: Due to a high volume of applicants, we are currently fully booked. However, applications will remain open until October 14 for those interested in being placed on the waitlist.

Orchestra Festival Application Form is now closed

Confirmation and Registration:

Once applications have been reviewed, directors will be notified of acceptance via email and provided access to Registration form. Once received, please complete registration and payment using the link provided by the deadline. 

Please note that no refunds will be allowed after registration has been completed, and no registration or payment will be accepted following the deadline listed below:

  • REGISTRATION DEADLINE: October 14, 2024, 2:00 pm
  • PAYMENT DEADLINE: October 21, 2024, 2:00 pm
  • REGISTRATION FEE: $200.00 per Ensemble

Schedule:

  • 8:00 am-12:00 pm – Welcome/Festival Begins
  • 12:00-12:30 pm – PLU Symphony Orchestra Performance
  • 12:30-1:00 pm – Meet and Greet with Clinicians, Q&A with Students
  • 1:00-6:15pm – Festival Resumes

Depending on the amount of attendees, an additional 5 to 10 minutes between all time slots may be added as a buffer time to allow for stage set up change.

Performance

Friday, October 25

Each ensemble will receive 30 minutes of stage time based on their preferred time frame. Please keep the total performance time to 15 minutes and save the second half for clinic and feedback.

NOTE: Please ensure your ensemble arrives at least 45 minutes before your assigned time spot. You are welcome to stay in the hall after you have finished your performance and clinic.

Benefits of Orchestras Attending:

  • A chance to perform in one of the best concert venues in Washington, Lagerquist Concert Hall
  • Positive feedback from expert PLU faculty clinicians
  • A low entry fee
  • A link to an audio/video recording of your performance and clinic session will be provided within approximately two weeks after the festival
  • The opportunity to hear other orchestras’ performances and clinics, Including PLU Symphony Orchestra

For Questions:

Asieh Mahyar, Director of Orchestras
School of Music, Theatre & Dance; Pacific Lutheran University
(253) 535-7602 e-mail: asieh.mahyar@plu.edu

Abby Deskins, Coordinator of Educational Outreach Programs
College of Professional Studies; Pacific Lutheran University
(253) 535-7877 e-mail: adeskins@plu.edu

More Information: