Clover Hill High School Orchestra

Midlothian, Virginia

The Orchestras

CONCERT ORCHESTRA This orchestra is open to any student who has studied their instrument for at least one year. Concert Orchestra is designed for students who either need to progress further in technical skill or those who want a more casual school orchestra experience. Concert Orchestra performs Grade IV Music at District Assessment.

No Audition Required

CHAMBER ORCHESTRA This is the top orchestra ensemble at Clover Hill. Chamber Orchestra, represents CHHS at Assessment and performs with our band and choir. This orchestra is designed for students who are ready to attempt Grade VI Music. Recent Performances include Bethany Place Baptist, Chester Presbyterian Church, and the Cathedral for the Sacred Heart.

Audition Requirements: First 8 measures of Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 3: 3rd Movement

CAVALIER 21 This pre-college orchestra is designed for students who are ready and eager for professional repertoire. The Orchestra was founded in 2016 in order to bring the String Orchestra Repertoire to the Richmond Community with a new, youthful passion. The Orchestra has gone on tour each year and plays for hire throughout the Richmond Community. Recent Performances include First Baptist Church, Music In the Old Church Music Festival, Richmond Mozart Festival, and Classical Revolution RVA.

Audition Requirements: Bach Brandenburg Concert No. 3: 3rd Movement and 12 Major scales: two octaves.

Audition Information

Meet the Director Mr. Justin Williams

As an active performer, Mr. Williams has served as Concertmaster of the Fairfax Chamber Players and the VCU Symphony Orchestra. In high school, he earned a seat in the All-Virginia Orchestra on double bass and violin. He is currently a first violinist in the Northern Neck Orchestra.

Justin began his public school teaching career in St. Louis, Missouri with the Riverview Gardens School District. Mr. Williams thrived in the underserved and underfunded environment by initiating new instructional methods and extracurricular programs. In 2014, he was voted as Teacher of the Year. Mr. Williams was then employed as one of the orchestra directors for Centreville High School and Willow Springs Elementary School, two of the largest orchestra programs in the state of Virginia. He is currently the AP Music Theory Teacher and Orchestra Director at his alma mater, Clover Hill High School Academy for the Arts. Under his leadership the orchestra has won two First Places Trophies and one Grand Champion trophy at recent Music Festivals. The CHHS Chamber Orchestra has earned Superiors at the VBODA District 3 Assessment for the past 20 consecutive years. He was the Dean of Students for the Wintergreen Summer Music Academy in 2017 and 2018.

Justin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Virginia Commonwealth University where he was a violin student of Susanna Klein and Simon Lapointe. He also focused on keyboard studies with classes in Score Reading, Organ and Jazz Piano.

Mr. Williams founded Cavalier 21 in 2017 to introduce the Greater Richmond Community to a high quality string orchestra sound.