About the Athens Orchestras

Music has filled room 1610 of Athens High School since 1981. The Concert and Symphony Orchestras have grown since their meager beginnings to their now impressive size and ability. They are nationally known for their talent, and won numerous awards at competitions across the country, recently, in Toronto, Philadelphia, Chicago, Myrtle Beach, Gatlinburg, and New York City. Geoffrey Benes has conducted both orchestras since 1991. They consistently receive first place ratings at both district and state orchestra festivals, with many individual players and ensembles winning medals at district and state Solo Ensemble. In March of 2011, both orchestras were selected to perform at the prestigious National Youth Festival in Carnegie Hall. Though the primary objective is to learn music, the groups find themselves going beyond that simple scope, learning about expression, hard work and appreciating what music truly is. Somewhere through all of this, they manage to have a little bit of fun, too.

Madness & Mayhem 2009

Symphonic Celebration 2009

Orchestra with Barrage-Sept 2007

Symphony in Boston-Spring 2007

Concert Orchestra-Spring 2006