The Valley Orchestra Program
The Valley Orchestra Program consists of four string orchestras: a freshman string orchestra, two high school string orchestras, and the chamber orchestra. From these orchestras, symphonic orchestras are created each year by adding members of the Valley Southwoods and Valley High School band departments. Additionally, students participate in many small ensembles throughout the year performing as string quartets and trios at various community functions.
The Valley Orchestra program has enjoyed many performance successes including tours of Austria (2000), Italy (2004), and a recent performance on the stage at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Read more about this very active and successful program by clicking the link to the “Young Musician’s Guide to the Valley Orchestra Program.”

The Director
Phil Peters has been the director of the Valley High School orchestra program since 1995. Mr. Peters earned his Bachelor's degree in music education from Towson University in Maryland and a Master of Music degree from the Peabody Conservatory of Music. Mr. Peters has taken doctoral coursework at the University of North Texas and has done additional graduate work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Drake University. He performs as a double bassist with the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra and in many other local ensembles. Mr. Peters also serves as director of the orchestra program at the National High School Music Institute at Northwestern University each summer. Ensembles directed by Mr. Peters have earned superior ratings at state contests in Maryland and Iowa and former students have been accepted into prestigious music schools around the country. Mr. Peters is listed in “Who’s Who Among American Teachers” and was recognized as a Distinguished Teacher by the United States Department of Education in 2006.

Helpful Information
Orchestra students and their parents will find useful links regarding the Valley High School Orchestra Program in the chart below.

The GRAMMY^® Signature School Program was designed to reward integrity as well as a high-caliber performance. GRAMMY^® Signature Schools spotlight public schools that are rolling up their sleeves and doing things right in the fight to keep music education in the forefront. Over 1,000 schools were selected to be evaluated as a Signature School. The 250 schools scoring the highest in this national competitive process become GRAMMY^® Signature Schools. A committee of education and music industry professionals then chose 16 of the best music programs to receive a $5,000 cash award to apply to their music department budget. Additionally, one school, Valley High School, was named the National GRAMMY^® Signature School. Valley sent four representatives to the 1999 GRAMMY^® Awards to receive national recognition and their award.