McCallum’s Orchestra program began in 1953 with the opening of the school and has a history of accomplishments under the direction of highly qualified and dynamic orchestra directors. Today the program has grown to close to 100 students participating in three performing orchestras, a double bass ensemble, and, with the support of the Austin Chamber Music Center educational outreach, several chamber groups and ensembles. Director Ricky Pringle, who previously taught in the Houston suburb of the Woodlands, is in his seventh year with the McCallum orchestras. Under his leadership, his string orchestras have consistently received top scores at UIL concert and sight-reading in both string and full orchestra competitions.

One of the signature accomplishments in the past five years of Mr. Pringle’s work at the Fine Arts Academy has been the wonderful collaborations of orchestras and string ensembles with other Academy students/directors in other strands, such as dance, theatre, and vocal music. The Chamber Orchestra with McCallum’s combined choirs have performed masterworks including Schubert’s Mass in G, Handel’s Messiah, Vivaldi’s Gloria and most recently, Menotti’s Christmas opera, Amahl and the Night Visitors.

The McCallum Fine Arts Academy Orchesra program receives invitations to perform at other venues with acclaimed programs like a Menotti production at Texas State University and a performance at Carnegie Hall. Once again, the McCallum Orchestra has been invited back to New York to participate in the Carnegie Hall MasterWorks Series.