What is the best set up for a youth orchestra, consisting of 40 violins, 10 viol

Question:

What is the best set up for a youth orchestra, consisting of 40 violins, 10 violas, 6 cellos and four basses?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Wow! You have a gigantic orchestra that's probably twice or even quadruple the size of mine! The setup I would recommend is having normal sections, so first violins to the left of the conductor, seconds next to them, thirds (if any, really, you don't need any) to the right of the seconds, violas to the next of them, cellos to the right of the conductor, then basses in the back behind the cellos and violas. Assuming you have a first/second ratio of 18 firsts and 22 seconds, the first row could have 5 firsts, 6 seconds, 3 violas, and 2 cellos. The second could have 6 firsts, 8 seconds, 3 violas, and 2 cellos. The third row could have 7 firsts, 8 seconds, 4 violas, and 2 cellos. The last would have the basses in the back behind the lower strings. Hypothetical, but you could try it.