Meet the Director - Orchestra
Daniel Valdez is the Ballard High School Director of Orchestras. Mr. Valdez has been directing orchestra programs for over 10 years. He has led successful programs in the San Francisco, Austin, Houston, and Chicago areas. Each orchestra he has led demonstrated musical excellence in a variety of competitions, festivals, clinics, and concerts. Daniel earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Double Bass Performance from the University of California at Santa Cruz, and a Master of Music and Human Learning degree from the University of Texas at Austin.
Daniel is originally from Northern California, where his first introduction to performing music was playing electric bass in a garage band with his friends. Immediately falling in love and wanting to learn more, he began studying jazz with a private tutor, eventually transitioning to the double bass and focusing more on performing classical music with orchestras. He has a deep passion for all forms of music and loves nothing more than sharing that with others.
Concert Orchestra
A string orchestra comprised of students who play violin, viola, cello, or bass. All incoming freshmen begin in this group unless they choose to audition for Chamber Orchestra. This class is also open to beginners. This class will focus on nuts and bolts skills review, will perform a variety of music for string orchestra and will perform at our Fall, Winter, and Spring Concerts. Concert Orchestra members will attend the fall retreat with Chamber Orchestra members.
Chamber Orchestra
In auditioned chamber orchestra comprised of students who play violin, viola, cello, or bass. This is a highly selective and motivated group of string players. Chamber Orchestra performs a rigorous array of string orchestra literature ranging from Baroque to contemporary. Chamber Orchestra combines with members of the band and choir for a winter masterwork performance, participates in chamber technique instruction/ coaching from local experts, and performs at the Fall,Winter, and Spring Concerts. Chamber Orchestra will attend the fall retreat with Concert Orchestra and compete at regional festivals. Over the course of the year, students will form small ensembles (trios, quartets, etc.) for various gig performance opportunities. There may be a regional, national, or international spring trip scheduled, depending on the year. Seating and section leader auditions will take place at the beginning of each school year.
Ballard High Folk Ensemble
The Folk Ensemble is comprised of students who play the violin, viola, cello, bass, guitar, mandolin etc. Members work to refine their improvisational skills, learn music in an aural tradition, and perform authentic American roots music by arranging traditional tunes of the American Roots and Jazz repertoire. The Folk Ensemble performs at school concerts and special events and is available for private performances throughout the year.
