Our Mission
Committed to helping our musicians achieve their dreams.
There are two orchestras at West Potomac High School.
The Concert Orchestra
This orchestra focuses on Technique, emphasizing posture, bow grip, bow usage, vibrato development and enrichment, and shifting. The repertoire includes pieces that fit the needs of this orchestra and covers a range of time periods and styles. Students also learn music theory and history. This is a performance-based class and performance etiquette is reinforced.
The Symphonic Orchestra
This orchestra focuses on Technique, including the elements listed above and emphasizing artistic expression. The class delves deeper into music theory and history. The repertoire is more demanding to meet the technical and musical needs of the group. This is a performance-based class.
Co-Curricular Requirement for Orchestra
Many courses include participation requirements outside the regular school day. In order to receive credit for the course, students must be enrolled in the course and meet both the school-day and after-school requirements. For more details about co-curricular requirements, please refer to Regulation 3688 in the course descriptions of the FCPS Standard and Optional Course Offerings catalogs.
https://westpotomachs.fcps.edu/student-services/academic-advising
Orchestra Director, Alicia Day Javkhlan
This is Alicia's third year as the director of the West Potomac High School Orchestra. She is a graduate of WPHS and holds a Bachelors Degree in Music Performance from California State University in Long Beach and a Masters Degree from George Mason University. She started her music teaching career in Prince William County Public Schools, before transferring to Fairfax County Public Schools.
She played soccer for CSU Division I soccer team as Goal Keeper. Her husband is Jay, and they have three children Zorig, Buuvei and Anu.