Onward: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

LaBrie captures something genuinely theatrical here: the piece moves between genuine excitement and reflective vulnerability without feeling manufactured or manipulative. The layered rhythmic writing gives your students multiple engaging lines to track, and the overall arc (energetic opening, emotional middle, forward-looking close) creates natural dramatic shape that works beautifully in both festival and ceremonial contexts.

Onward captures restless forward motion. Swirling rhythmic figures create energy and momentum, yet beneath that drive sits an undercurrent of sentiment and uncertainty, as if looking toward the future while acknowledging the weight of what lies behind. The soaring melodic passages offer moments of genuine lyricism that ground the constant rhythmic activity.

String orchestras at the intermediate level (Grade 3.5) with secure intonation and rhythmic independence. This works equally well for concert ensembles looking to program something contemporary, festival participants seeking a piece with substantial musical content and clear arc, and programs honoring milestones like graduation.

• Keep the swirling rhythmic layers transparent by ensuring each section clearly voices its rhythmic profile; rehearse with parts isolated so students hear how their line sits within the larger texture.
• Honor the emotional shifts between sections. The transition from excitement to sentiment requires subtle tempo and dynamic adjustment rather than abrupt changes; mark these moments in your score during study.
• Balance soaring melodies against the rhythmic accompaniment by positioning melody players slightly forward in the ensemble and ensuring accompanying voices stay rhythmically locked and supportive.
• Use the three-and-a-half minute runtime to pace your rehearsals; work backward from the final climactic gesture so students understand how the piece builds momentum toward its conclusion.

Program this as a closing piece for a graduation concert where its simultaneous celebration and reflection genuinely serves the occasion. Its festival-ready structure and three-and-a-half minute length make it an excellent choice for regional or state competitions. It also pairs well on a concert with contrasting Baroque or classical works, allowing audiences to hear contemporary string writing in fresh conversation with traditional repertoire.

• Reading layered rhythmic textures across multiple simultaneous patterns
• Balancing supportive accompanying figures against prominent melodic lines
• Executing soaring, lyrical passages with dynamic shape and phrasing
• Maintaining ensemble cohesion during frequent rhythmic or textural shifts
• Interpreting emotional subtext through tempo, dynamics, and articulation choices