Accessible Orchestral Repertoire

Orchestral Repertoire: An Annotated Guide for Non-Professional Orchestras is a repertoire and programming resource for any conductor who leads a non-professional symphonic orchestra. Based on the model of and intended as a compliment to David Daniels’s Orchestral Music, this book offers practical and insightful commentary on repertoire appropriate for intermediate and advanced youth, community, and collegiate orchestras. Functioning like an annotated bibliography, Orchestral Repertoire: An Annotated Guide for Non-Professional Orchestras contains entries on individual symphonic works including information about the composer, instrumentation, movement length, and publisher. Additionally, each entry features notes regarding the particular pedagogical, stylistic, logistical, and technical strengths and challenges of the specific work.There are many considerations specific to non-professional ensembles that are essential to selecting repertoire that is appropriate and successful. For instance:●Non-professional and student ensembles may not have access to the full spectrum of auxiliary instruments as a professional ensemble, or have players who have experience with them. ●It can be very beneficial to know in advance if there are any particularly challenging exposed solos in a work. ●This book can guide repertoire selections for a non-professional ensembles where there is often pressure to make sure everyone is playing as much of the time as possible.●Non-professional ensembles often have to manage the reality that sections are at different levels of experience and maturity.●Educational conductors focus not only on programming a season that will please audiences, but also consider how to provide stylistic variety to our own players and teach specific ensemble skills through the selection of repertoire. Orchestral Repertoire: An Annotated Guide for Non-Professional Orchestras can help every conductor in the process of selecting repertoire that will both feature and enrich any individual non-professional ensemble for which thoughtful and strategic programming is required.

Accessible Orchestral Repertoire is a valuable reference resource which will surely take its place on the desk of many conductors. The notes describing the musical elements and musical difficulties of each piece are particularly interesting and useful.--John Nardolillo, director of orchestras, University of Kentucky, Here is the book I wish I had, back in the 1960s when I first started conducting youth and community orchestras. Daniel Chetel's book will be useful to the neophyte conductor, as well as those of more experience, who are sure to find new and tempting scores to consider.--David W. Daniels, author of Daniels' Orchestral Music, This is a welcomed and long-awaited source for conductors and administrators of educational and community ensembles, in which Chetel mindfully responds to current cultural and artistic challenges of the ever-shifting orchestral world. While including a desperately needed component of underrepresented creative output, this book recognizes the needs of a truly diverse array of ensembles.--César Leal, director of orchestral activities, Sunderman Conservatory, Gettysburg College

This season Daniel Chetel concludes his five-year tenure as the Music Director and Conductor of the Central Kentucky Youth Orchestras to join the faculty of Augustana College where he will lead the Augustana Symphony Orchestra and serve as an assistant professor of music. Dr. Chetel has served as the Assistant Conductor for the UK Opera Theatre and the Central Kentucky Youth Orchestras. He has also led the UK Symphony Orchestra at subscription concerts, educational outreach concerts, and special events. In addition, Dr. Chetel currently serves as the Conductor of the UK Philharmonia at the University of Kentucky School of Music. Dr. Chetel has served as the Conductor of the UK Opera Theatre’s Annual Undergraduate Production, Cover Conductor for the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra, and guest conductor of the Reading Symphony Orchestra in Reading, PA. A strong believer in music education, Dr. Chetel worked for the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras as Program Coordinator for the BYSO’s Intensive Community Program, a rigorous stringed instrument curriculum serving underrepresented youth throughout Boston. In the summer of 2008 Dr. Chetel traveled to Acarigua, Venezuela to work with a nucleo of the nation-wide Venezuelan Youth Orchestra System, El Sistema. CKYO’s new community music initiative North Limestone MusicWorks is based on the philosophies and practices of El Sistema. As an operatic conductor Dr. Chetel has worked for DiCapo Opera (NY), University of Kentucky Opera Theatre, University of Maryland Opera Studio, Newton Symphony (MA), Dunster House Opera Society (MA), and the Reading Symphony Orchestra (PA).