Dragon Chase: String Orchestra Conductor Score

LaBrie writes with a conductor's ear for what strings can do at this level. The sectional echo work keeps every player engaged, the technical demands are genuine without overwhelming beginners, and the driving rhythm gives students something energizing to lock into rather than simply reading notes.

Dragon Chase captures the energy of flight and pursuit through relentless forward motion. The E-minor tonality gives it an adventurous edge while the melody stays accessible enough that students hear themselves playing something real.

This score is designed for grade 1.5 string orchestras with mixed ability levels and limited shifting experience. It works beautifully for ensembles building foundational technique while seeking engaging, contemporary repertoire that students actually want to play.

• Establish a steady tempo in rehearsal before adding dynamics. The marcato and accents need a rhythmic foundation to sound intentional rather than rushed.
• Isolate the first violin low 2s on the A string in separate passages first. Students need tactile confidence before performing them in context.
• Shape the crescendos as a full orchestra event. Cue the dynamic build from the podium and require all sections to swell together so the piece builds genuine momentum.
• Work bow lifts as articulation, not as technical afterthoughts. Lift cleanly between marcato figures so the rhythm reads clearly.

Program this early in the concert season when your ensemble needs to build confidence with a piece that sounds polished quickly. The two-minute-twenty-second length makes it ideal for multi-movement programs or as a standalone opener that establishes technical clarity and energy.

• Playing marcato and accented articulation with clarity and consistency
• Reading and executing dynamic markings (crescendos and accents) as a full ensemble
• Performing low second position (A string) with intonation accuracy
• Coordinating bow lifts for rhythmic articulation across all sections
• Responding to sectional echoes and maintaining rhythmic precision in call-and-response textures