Orchestra Best Sellers

Teachers keep returning to Force of Nature and Five Note Fiddler, both by Brian Balmages, for early-grade ensembles seeking real musical content at accessible levels. Gravitas by Soon Hee Newbold at grade 3 holds strong appeal for developing orchestras ready to expand their sound. Across the collection, titles marked for contest and festival use account for the majority of these scores, which tells you most teachers here are building programs with performance goals in mind.

Brian Balmages brings three decades of work spanning orchestral, band, and chamber idioms, with performances at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Sydney Opera House. His prolific output here includes 32 titles, with Force of Nature and Five Note Fiddler among the most widely adopted in this catalog. His gift for craft at every level makes his work a reliable choice whether you're teaching absolute beginners or intermediate ensembles.

Soon Hee Newbold incorporates cultural and ethnic styles informed by her extensive travel and performance experience on both piano and violin. She brings 16 titles to this collection, including Gravitas, which has resonated strongly with grade 3 orchestras seeking works with depth and character. Her approach reflects her background conducting ensembles across all levels, from professional orchestras to beginning groups.

Richard Meyer spent 35 years teaching strings at elementary, middle, and high school levels in California public schools, growing one intermediate program from 29 to 200 students. His 14 titles here, led by Dragonhunter, draw directly from that classroom experience and his work as a guest conductor and clinician. His understanding of what young musicians need to build confidence and musicianship shapes every arrangement he contributes.

Carrie Lane Gruselle holds degrees in music education with Suzuki emphasis and currently teaches elementary and middle strings in Wisconsin schools while also working at a university arts academy. Her five titles, including Finding Figaro, reflect her dual expertise in classroom teaching and ensemble direction. Her arrangements bridge the gap between accessible and musically worthwhile, a balance she's perfected through years of direct instruction.