Starchasers: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$55.00 USD

Starchasers: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: Starchasers: String Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-49906
Price: 55.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By Tanner Otto

Grade: 1.5

Item: 00-49906

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A sequel to his earlier work Sunchasers, Starchasers by Tanner Otto is a dark, driving piece that makes B minor accessible to younger players by carefully avoiding any extensions in the violin, viola, and cello parts. Its memorable themes, reminiscent of a nighttime adventure, are spread across all instruments. The middle section becomes ethereal with the pizzicato in the viola, evoking an image of twinkling stars. Starchasers is a great teaching piece for 3/4 time and uses low-2 and high-2 work to reinforce the 1-2 finger pattern for intermediate students. (2:05)

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Series: Belwin Beginning String Orchestra

Publisher: Alfred Music

ISBN10: 1-4706-5794-5

ISBN13: 978-1-4706-5794-9

UPC: 038081575803

SKU: 00-49906

More about this title

About the Composer: Tanner Otto

Tanner Otto earned his degree in Music Education from The Ohio State University and directs orchestra at Sycamore Community Schools in Cincinnati. A violist and violinist, he has built a career blending classical training with contemporary styles, drawing on early experience improvising across multiple genres. His work with technology in music education has earned him presentations at the Ohio Music Education Association Conference and beyond.

Otto serves as Assistant Director of the nation's largest summer string camp, held annually in Moorhead, Minnesota, which enrolls over 300 students each August. He shared his expertise in camp development at the 2019 ASTA National Conference. Seven years of arranging and composing for ensembles ranging from string quartet to full orchestra have shaped his distinctive voice; his pop and rock influences bring modern energy to works that remain grounded in strong pedagogy. He began publishing with Alfred Music in 2019.

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Why we love this

Otto's sequel to Sunchasers succeeds not by accident but by design. He has engineered B minor for young players by deliberately sidestepping extension work, freeing students to focus on character and phrasing rather than technical survival. The pizzicato viola section in the middle creates a genuine moment of beauty that justifies programming this piece alongside more conventional fare.

What to expect

Starchasers evokes a nighttime journey across an open sky. The opening driving theme establishes momentum and intrigue, while the middle section's ethereal pizzicato section shifts the mood to quiet wonder. The piece balances darkness and light, adventure and reflection, creating an arc that feels genuine rather than imposed.

Who it's for

Intermediate string orchestras working at the 1.5 grade level who are ready to explore minor tonality and 3/4 time with memorable material. This piece rewards students who have mastered secure first position and are beginning extension work, making it ideal for middle school orchestras and community ensembles building confidence in young players.

How to get the most out of it

Isolate the low-2 and high-2 work in first and second violin parts during sectionals. Students need to feel confident with the 1-2 finger pattern shift before attempting the full piece at tempo.
Shape the opening theme with a clear narrative arc. This is a piece about adventure and discovery; avoid letting the dark minor tonality become static or rushed.
Balance the pizzicato section so the violas' twinkling stars remain audible. Remind lower strings that sustained pizzicato requires control and even tone, not just plucking.
Use the 2:05 duration as a pacing guide. If your ensemble is dragging, check articulation and rhythmic clarity in the driving sections rather than adding tempo.

How to use it

Program Starchasers as a centerpiece for a concert exploring programmatic string music, pairing it with contrasting pieces that tell different stories. Its accessibility and contest-worthy polish make it equally suitable for festival programming. Consider performing it alongside Otto's Sunchasers if your orchestra has the technical strength to showcase both works.