Northern Ohio String Festival

Registration Opens September 2, 2025 at 7:00 a.m.

The Northern Ohio String Festival will occur on Friday, October 24, 2025, at the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music. It is non-competitive, and participating ensembles will not receive a rating. Instead, each ensemble will receive comments from two adjudicators and a 25-minute clinic with a string clinician after their performance.

Adjudicators for the 2025 festival are Erin Broadhurst (orchestra director at Hilliard Bradley High School) and Gretchen Wyder Zunic (orchestra director at Upper Arlington High School). Clinicians are Steve Koh (Associate Professor of Violin at the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Performing Arts) and Doug Droste (Director of Orchestral Studies at the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Performing Arts).

In an effort to give all area high schools the opportunity to participate, each school is limited to one ensemble at this time. Participating directors will be notified if additional ensembles can be accepted by mid-September.

• Who: High School Orchestras (limited to the first 12 ensembles who register)
• Registration Cost: $215.00 per ensemble (includes a 2025 NOSF Participation Award plaque)
• Repertoire: There is no list to choose from. Instead, directors will select repertoire based on the ensemble’s ability level. You know your ensemble’s needs and where they are at in their development. Directors may choose for their group to perform 2 or 3 pieces. While no minimum amount of performance time is required, groups are limited to a total of 25 minutes on stage (so we can stay on schedule). That time includes tuning, stage changes (if needed), the performance, and an introduction by the NOSF emcee.
• Other Activities: Participating groups have the option to listen to other schools perform and attend an abbreviated concert performance by the BW Symphony Orchestra at 12:30pm. We will also have other on-campus activities available if you are interested. Information about these opportunities will be sent out by late September.