Our Program

 The Douglas Anderson Orchestra Program has earned local, state, and national recognition.  In addition to performing at the Florida Music Educators Conference in Tampa, the DA Chamber Orchestra is the only string orchestra from Florida to be invited to perform at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago in its 71-year history.  In March 2020 the DA Chamber Orchestra placed second in the country at the National String Teacher's Association competition. The orchestras at DA contributed to the music department’s recognition by the GRAMMY Foundation as the top music program in the nation in both 2010 and 2012. 

ORCHESTRAS

 The program consists of three string orchestras, ranging from a training-level ensemble through an advanced Chamber Orchestra, which regularly performs standard orchestral literature.  In addition to these orchestras, students of the DA Symphony Orchestra, which may include winds, percussion, and keyboard, perform during special events throughout the year.  An annual Concerto Concert, features soloists from the DA Chamber Orchestra and Wind Symphony. 

ACADEMICS AT DA
Recognized as a National Model School by the U.S. Department of Education, DA students’ performance on AP tests, as well as scores on college-entrance exams have earned DA recognition as consistently being ranked in the top 4% of all high schools in the nation.  DA boasts having numerous National Merit Finalists and Semifinalists over the years 

 SCHOLARSHIPS
The DA Orchestra graduates 15 – 20 students each year. Since 2009 these graduates have averaged over $2 million, each year, in scholarship offers to leading colleges and conservatories.  Orchestra graduates have attended top in-state universities UF, FSU, UCF, USF, UNF, UWF, JU, Rollins, and Stetson, as well as many out of state schools including Notre Dame, Yale, Georgia Southern, University of South Carolina, Northwestern, University of Wisconsin, Cleveland Institute of Music, and others.  

ORCHESTRA ALUMNI

DA Orchestra alumni have gone on to successful careers in performance and music education. Among them are Abner Ramirez of Johnnyswim and Sean Makin of Yellowcard.