Aurora Borealis: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$49.00 USD

Aurora Borealis: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Aurora Borealis: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-33654
Price: 49.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Michael Hopkins

Grade: 2.5

Item: 00-33654

Need it now?

Buy Digital Version

$49.00

Shipped

One moment…

Your students will love playing this fast and energetic new work! Set in E minor, the piece is great for working on dynamic contrasts, staccato, and legato bowing. All parts are playable in first position and feature interesting melodic material for all the instruments.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Aurora Borealis: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

Open in the Player

Jump straight in and assign it today.

Start Your Free Trial

Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.

No sample videos found.

Series: Belwin Beginning String Orchestra

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 144

UPC: 038081381367

SKU: 00-33654

More about this title

About the Composer: Michael Hopkins

Michael Hopkins directs music education at the University of Michigan, where he teaches string techniques, orchestra methods, and music psychology. His career spans conducting positions with university orchestras and middle and high school ensembles across Colorado, Michigan, and Vermont, along with guest conducting at over 100 festivals and clinics nationwide.

Hopkins has shaped string pedagogy through both practice and scholarship. He founded the Burlington Chamber Orchestra, published more than 70 orchestral works, and authored The Art of String Teaching through GIA Publications. His research appears regularly in the Journal of Research in Music Education, American String Teacher, and Music Educators Journal, establishing him as a thought leader in ensemble and individual string instruction.

Show moreShow less

Why we love this

Hopkins understands exactly what intermediate string orchestras need to hear and play. The energetic pacing keeps students engaged while the focus on dynamic contrast and bowing technique gives you real pedagogical work without overwhelming younger players. This is the kind of piece that makes your orchestra sound polished in performance while building genuine musicianship in rehearsal.

What to expect

Aurora Borealis captures the movement and shimmer of its namesake phenomenon. The music radiates energy with fast passages and dynamic shifts that create visual drama, all while remaining grounded in the minor key's subtle emotional depth.

Who it's for

String orchestras at the Grade 2.5 level benefit most from this work. The first-position writing makes it accessible to developing players while the programmatic content and energetic character maintain musical interest for both students and audiences.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the dynamic contrasts deliberately; use rehearsal time to establish clear forte and piano sections so the shift in energy feels intentional rather than accidental.
Isolate the staccato passages in separate sectionals before combining them with the full orchestra; consistency across all parts transforms the rhythmic precision.
Balance the melodic material across all instruments by having each section identify which voice carries the primary theme in each section and commit to that responsibility.
Work tempo stability in the faster sections; break sections into smaller rehearsal units and build speed incrementally rather than jumping to full tempo immediately.

How to use it

This works beautifully as an opener or closer on a spring concert, giving audiences an exciting contemporary piece alongside more traditional repertoire. The programmatic title also makes it a natural fit for themed programs exploring nature or world music.