Boulder Valley District Honor Orchestra

Welcome and Congratulations to the 2026 Boulder Valley District Honor Orchestra High School Musicians!

My name is Michael Linert, and I can’t wait to make music with you all on October 5th!
We’re going to have such a wonderful day together! Please enjoy this welcome video!

Below are some expanded instructions and videos to help with your preparation for our wonderful day together! If you have not yet received the sheet music with bowings/fingerings, please reach out to your school’s director.

If you have questions on these instructions, please feel free to email me at ML@Lumiroar.com or comment at the bottom of the page.

Ballet No. 6 (from L'Amant Anonyme)

• Performance Recording

• Composer: Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges / Arr. Jennifer Meckler 

• Timing 1:55 

• Meter: 6/8

• Tempo: Dotted Quarter = 120 (We might speed this up further, up to 150, but aim for a clean sparkling performance at 120.)

• Keys: A Major / A Minor

• Bowings: No changes were made to the published parts.

• Bow Usage: Classical style - Often using smaller bows around the quarter to middle divisions.

• Phrasing: The stars that you (BVSD STARS!) see in the parts are emphasis points in the phrase. Treat those starred notes as the strongest peak of the phrase, and be sure to adapt your dynamics to make non-starred notes a bit softer. Be especially certain to taper your sound after the starred notes.

• Fingerings

  • Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola, and Bass: Reminder fingerings and suggestions for 4th finger vs 0 are included. If 4th is marked, please practice that way, if possible. If 0 is marked, please play that way. I did not always re-notate these fingerings for repeated sections. If unsure, pick what you think sounds/works best.

  • Cello: “Essential” and “Advanced” fingerings are provided. For this piece, professionals could debate which one is more authentic. “Essential” stays in 1st position as often as possible, which some prefer to keep the sound brighter. The “Advanced” parts have more shifts, which means less string crossings and extensions, but produce a bit darker tone.

De Colores

• Performance Recording - Please Note: This performance performs the 1st ending twice. We will decide the full form during the festival. Also, a few of the rhythms and pitches are slightly different than what is printed in the parts, please play a close to what is written, as possible.

• Composer: Traditional Spanish/Mexican Song / Arr. Michael Linert

• Bowings/Fingerings - Bowings and suggested fingerings are in the parts.

• Each packet is 8 pages. All instruments will learn all parts to some degree, but each section should focus their prior preparation on the following: 

  • Violin 1 - Harmony & Melody 1

  • Violin 2 - Harmony & Melody 2

  • Viola - Melody 1 & Harmony

  • Cello - Melody 2 & Bass

  • Bass - Melody 1 & Bass

• Bassline Part Options

  • Pluck, as written.

  • Pluck in octaves, playing the lowest two notes of your instrument of the written pitch. Pluck with your thumb and 1st finger OR thumb and 2nd finger.

  • Bow, as written, but play with a shortened articulation to match the sound of a plucked note.

• Harmony Part Options

  • Pluck (or bow - bowings are written under the notes) the root of the chord following the score rhythm.

  • Pluck (or bow) one or more of the non-root notes of the chords. Options are listed below:

    • G - G, B, D

    • C - C, E, G

    • D7 - D, F#, A, C

    • G7 - G, B, D, F

  • Strum the notes of the chords, playing 3 or 4 notes at a time. All strums should be played “down stroke” with the back of the nails of the right hand fingers. Violins and violas can hold their instruments in “guitar position”.

• Melody 1 and 2 - Learn both parts with the bow, and aim for a connected, lyrical tone throughout.

• Vocal Part - If you are interested to sing, please practice singing either the upper or lower notes of the part in your best chest/mixed-voice range. The parts can be sung at written pitch or an octave lower. We will only perform the 1st verse and chorus lyrics. If anyone likes to sing, there will likely be opportunities for you to sing for parts of our day together, possibly in the performance!

Incredible Voyage

• Performance Recording

• Composer: Michael Hopkins

• Timing: 4:26

• Meters: 3/4 & 4/4

• Keys: G Major / C Minor / A Major / A Minor - Many accidentals too!

• Bowings: No changes were made to the published parts.

• Fingerings

  • Violin 1, Violin 2, and Viola: Reminder fingerings (with positions marked) are included. There are some other unmarked opportunities for shifts for some richer colors in some lyrical sections and/or to make some passages slightly more comfortable. If you see some instances to change, you may, but please ensure they are cleanly executed.

  • Cello and Bass: “Essential” fingerings are provided to minimize shifts, notate positions, and remind of fingerings. “Advanced” fingerings are provided to include more shifts. Please choose which one is best for you at this time.

    • Errata: Cello - Advanced Fingerings Part - m. 43: The B should be 3 ½ position “-4”, followed by the Ab with “1”.