About the Huron Orchestras
The Huron High School Orchestra Program is home to four curricular Orchestras: Philharmonic Orchestra, a foundational string technique class; Concert Gold Orchestra, an intermediate string technique and ensemble class; and two advanced orchestras: Concert Green and Symphony Orchestras, comprising approximately 180 string students. Students in the orchestra program also combine with members of the Symphony and Concert Bands to experience a wide range of symphonic orchestral repertoire including a movie soundtrack project including 3 orchestras and members from the Concert Band. The Symphony Orchestra performs annually for thousands of community members at Hill Auditorium, on the campus of the University of Michigan, as part of the AAPS Orchestra Night featuring the combined 7th and 8th grade orchestras from each Middle School and the Symphony Orchestra from each comprehensive High School.
The Huron High School Symphony Orchestra has a rich history of musical excellence and has performed throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. Performances have included Symphony Hall and Millennium Park (Chicago), Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center (New York City), the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Washington DC), Hill Auditorium (Ann Arbor), performance venues in Nashville and Toronto, Auditorio Nacional de Música (Madrid), L’Auditori (Barcelona), Xuzhou Concert Hall and the Shanghai Oriental Arts Center (China). The Huron Symphony Orchestra has been invited to perform at the Michigan Music Conference eight times and at the International Midwest Clinic in Chicago four times and has premiered works in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Michigan Youth Arts Festival (2011) and the 70th Anniversary of the Midwest Clinic in Chicago (2016). Prior workshops and residencies have included: Apollo’s Fire, Martha Graham Ballet Company, The New York Philharmonic, Lincoln Trio, Elias String Quartet, and the Romanian New Age Electric String Quartet, Amadeus. Members of the Huron Symphony Orchestra have received multiple MSBOA nominations as outstanding soloists and chamber ensembles as well as being frequently selected to perform with the MSBOA All-State and Honors Orchestras. Members have appeared with Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestra 2, Voce Velata, Detroit Civic Youth Orchestra, Michigan Youth Symphony Orchestra, and as concertmaster of the Interlochen World Youth Symphony Orchestra. Additional awards include winners of the Ann Arbor Symphony Young Artist Competition, Michigan Pops Concerto Competition, Michigan Youth Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, New York Laureate International Competition, Rosalie Edwards Youth Music Competition, Glass City Chamber Music Competition, and the MSBOA Solo and Chamber Ensemble Competitions.
Huron Orchestra students also participate in chamber music throughout the year, beginning with a chamber music cycle at the annual Huron OrchestRAT Camp @ Interlochen, continuing with a 4-month long curricular unit in the two advanced ensembles in the winter, and concluding with a third cycle at the end of the year for all orchestras. Students in the two foundational orchestras participate in a 4-month long group solo unit receive weekly small group coachings and rehearsals with collaborative pianists in a curricular setting. The unit culminates in performances at District and State Solo and Ensemble Festivals and a series of smaller recital performances in March featuring these solo groups from the two foundational ensembles and chamber ensembles from the two advanced ensembles. In the spring, the entry level orchestra is introduced to chamber music via a series of duets and the intermediate ensemble via quartets and quintets. On a typical year, Huron Orchestra students participate in around 180 MSBOA District Solo and Ensemble events, with about 75% of the events typically earning an invitation to the State festival. Additional opportunities for learning folk music, improvisation, composition, music theory, musicianship and conducting begin with seeds planted at the annual summer orchestra camp and continue to be woven into the curriculum throughout the year, highlighted with guest artists and residencies, with a goal of ever-increasing and expanding these musically rich experiences.
Huron Symphony Full Orchestra at the Auditori Nacional de Música de Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain performing “Throne Room and Finale” from Star Wars by John Williams
Huron Symphony Full Orchestra at the 20th Annual Michigan Music Conference in Grand Rapids, MI performing P. I. Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture, Op. 49
About the Directors
Timothy Krohn
Director of Orchestras, Music Department Chair
As an educator, conductor and performer, Timothy Krohn is committed to inspiring and engaging communities through music. Mr. Krohn has served as the Director of Orchestras for Huron High School since 2011 and as Music Department Chair since 2017. Mr. Krohn leads the music department, directs the four orchestras, and teaches piano and music theory classes.
Mr. Krohn has previously served as the Music Director and Conductor of the Mason Symphony (5 seasons), Director of Music at Lord of Light Lutheran Church (18 years), and Musical Director of the Arbor Brass Choir (4 seasons). Mr. Krohn has served on the staff/faculties of the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, the Michigan All-State Program at Interlochen, the Rudolf Steiner High School in Ann Arbor, Saline High School, and the Michigan Marching Band, and enjoys working with musicians of all ages. He has given presentations at the Michigan Music Conference, Interlochen Arts Academy, University of Michigan, and several Lutheran Churches across the midwest on a variety of topics including: A Scaffolded Approach to Baroque Performance Practice, Applications of the Ploger Method for the Ensemble, The Power of Relationships and Secure Attachment in the Music Classroom, A Transformative Approach to Trumpet Pedagogy, Finding Your Musical Voice, and Leading Congregational Song. In 2016, Mr. Krohn was honored by his colleagues as MSBOA District 12 Teacher of the Year.
Originally from Lewisburg, PA, Mr. Krohn has played violin since age three and trumpet since age ten. Mr. Krohn has performed regularly throughout South-East Michigan as an orchestral, church, and folk musician, and has appeared with the Symphony Orchestras of Ann Arbor, Flint, Williamsport, Detroit, Adrian, Birmingham-Bloomfield, Michigan Sinfonietta, the Lexington Bach Festival, and performs regularly with the University of Michigan SMTD Musical Theater Department. Mr. Krohn has made solo appearances with the Birmingham-Bloomfield Symphony, Lexington Bach Festival, Chautauqua Festival Orchestra, and University of Michigan Concert Band. He has recorded as principal trumpet for the U of M Symphony Band Album, Sound Shapes and Cymbals, and on flugelhorn for the GRAMMY award-winning recording of William Bolcom’s Songs of Innocence and Experience, under the baton of Leonard Slatkin.
Mr. Krohn holds degrees in Music Education, Trumpet Performance, and Conducting from the University of Michigan where he was a student of William Lucas, Robert Culver, and Michael Haithcock, and has also studied with Marianne Ploger, Kenneth Kiesler, Jerry Blackstone, Theodore Morrison, Colleen Conway, and Steven Davis. Mr. Krohn is certified as a level 3 instructor for the Ploger Method.
Mr. Krohn resides in Ann Arbor with his wife Kelly and their three children, and enjoys co-coaching several rec and ed soccer teams with his wife, cooking, playing games and spending time with friends and family.
Reid Smith
Associate Director of Orchestras
Reid Smith is an educator and performer who believes in the transformative ability music has in the lives of students. Mr. Smith taught in Duluth, GA, St. Charles, MO, and Farmington, MI before taking his current position as a strings specialist in Ann Arbor Public Schools.
As a teacher, Mr. Smith’s orchestras have performed at the Georgia Music Education Association Conference, the Michigan Music Conference, the ASTA National Conference, and the Midwest Clinic. His time in St. Charles, MO, was spent building a program from 40 students to 160 when he left in 2010 to pursue his graduate degree.
Originally from Saline, MI, Mr. Smith started cello in his public school orchestra program under the direction of Bob Phillips. He played in The Saline Fiddlers through high school and continued his work with the group through college.
Mr. Smith holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Michigan and Master’s in Music Education from Michigan State University, where he studied under Bob Culver, Colleen Conway, Anthony Elliott, Judy Palac, and Suren Bagratuni. Mr. Smith lives in Ypsilanti with his wife Sarah, their three children, and one very naughty dog.
About the Student Board
President
Katherine Ma is a senior and plays the viola. She is the viola section leader of the Symphony Orchestra. Outside of school, she enjoys nature photography, but also hopes to delve into street photography as she enters college
Vice President
Trevor Nelson is a senior in Symphony Orchestra. When not playing cello, he enjoys playing tennis and spending time his church youth group.
Secretary
Myra Jamin is a senior and has been playing the violin for 13 years and the piano for 11, with a little viola on the side. Outside of Huron, Myra plays in the chamber ensemble Voce Velata and Michigan All-State High School Orchestras. Myra’s academic interests include psychology, humanities, and languages, and in her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, puzzles, and video games.
Treasurer
Kiki Choi is a senior violinist in Symphony Orchestra. Outside of orchestra, she plays kendo and lacrosse. She also enjoys reading and watching movies.
Co-Orchestra Manager
Maya Fu is a senior, and has been a Symphony cellist for four years. Outside of orchestra, she is an editor in chief for the Huron Emery, and loves writing, running, and playing tennis.
Anna Lee
Anna Lee is a senior and has been a violinist in the Huron Symphony orchestra for the past four years. She serves as Concertmaster in the Michigan Youth Symphony Orchestra, draws in her free time, and loves to create playlists on Spotify!
Mentorship Coordinator
Selah Dowell is a current senior at Huron High School. She is co-concertmaster of Symphony Orchestra. Outside of orchestra, she enjoys working out, shopping, and finding new high-protein recipes to try!
Librarian
Alice Choi is a senior violinist on the Huron Orchestra Board. Other than performing in various orchestras such as MYSO and All-State (24-25), her hobbies include discovering new indie games and eating out with friends. Her favorite food is pho.
Librarian
Will Sutton is a senior bassist in the Huron Symphony Orchestra. In his free time, Will enjoys reading, cooking, and playing with his dog.
Librarian
Jessica Wu is a current junior at Huron High School. She is a member of the cello section of Symphony Orchestra. Beyond orchestra, she is a competitive dancer and an avid reader.
Librarian
Jayeun Lee is a junior cellist in the Huron Symphony Orchestra. Aside from her love of cello, she is equally as passionate about Academic Games and takes great joy in Ethics Bowl and Huron APEX. She also participates in taekwondo!
Librarian
Danielle Lee is a junior, and this is her third year as a symphony violinist at Huron orchestra. Outside of school, she loves playing the guitar, hanging out with her friends, or finding ways to serve the medical community!