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H i s t o r y

The Raleigh Festival Orchestra is a completely student-run orchestra. It is composed of primarily college, high school and some middle school students from Raleigh and surrounding areas. It is a full symphony complete with strings, winds and percussion.
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The idea of the orchestra was inspired by Mitchell Franklin, a pianist at Appalachian State University, when he was learning Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto No. 1. He wished to perform it with a full symphony. However, this was not able to happen while at school. So he sought the help of Robert Garbarz, a violinist at UNC-Chapel Hill and a close friend from high school. Garbarz was intrigued by the idea and began working towards putting together a student orchestra over the summer. Garbarz sought more help so he contacted another close friend from high school, Michael Grimes, a horn player at Appalachian State University. With the combined resources of Garbarz and Grimes, they managed to put together a twenty-one member orchestra. 



 With only 6 rehearsals, the first year was a great success! On August 4th, 2012, at Saint Mary's Pittman Auditorium, the orchestra performed Rossini's Barber of Seville Overture, the first movement of Mozart's 12th Symphony,  Mr. Grimes' Meus Amicus, a violin concerto composed for Mr. Garbarz and finally, the entire Grieg Piano Concerto No. 1, featuring Mitchell Franklin on piano. The concert was free, but accepted donations and managed raise $354, enough to cover the whole cost of renting the auditorium. 



The students plan to keep the orchestra alive for many years to come. With this, they intend to keep the tradition of premiering a student-written piece each year, as well as a concerto competition, open to any member of the orchestra to audition. 

From left to right: Mitchell Franklin, Michael Grimes and Robert Garbarz

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