The Owensboro Symphony Youth and String Orchestras will begin their season with their first rehearsals on Monday evening, August 28, 2017. The Youth Orchestra, under the direction of Tom Stites and the String Orchestra under the direction of Wade Wiggins, are an integral part of the Owensboro Symphony’s education and community engagement efforts.
The mission of the Owensboro Symphony Youth program is to provide talented young musicians from the region with challenging rehearsal and performance experiences in professional settings. The program emphasizes the performance of traditional orchestral literature under the leadership of professional musicians. These youth programs provide specialized training to nearly 100 talented young musicians each year, some of whom go on to join leading American symphony orchestras. In addition, several adults and college students who wish to continue their career as instrumentalists also rehearse and perform in the orchestra training program.
YOUTH ORCHESTRA AUDITIONS
The Youth Orchestra will hold open auditions for its 2017-18 season on Monday, August 21, 2017 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Owensboro Symphony Academy located at 211 East Second Street in Owensboro. There are openings for all orchestral instruments in the Youth Orchestra: Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Trumpet, Horn, Trombone, Tuba, Percussion. A student interested in joining the Youth Orchestra should contact Tom Stites at [email protected] to arrange an audition. Audition requirements and a complete schedule for 2017-18 can be found on the Owensboro Symphony’s website at TheOSO.com. On-site auditions at area schools can also be arranged by area school music directors through Tom Stites.
STRING ORCHESTRA MEMBERSHIP
No audition is required for membership in the String Orchestra. A student interested in joining the String Orchestra must have a recommendation from their school orchestra director or private teacher – if no school program exists in their school. It is preferred that a student have a minimum of two years of training before joining the String Orchestra. A student interested in joining the String Orchestra should have their recommendations for membership sent to Greg Olson at [email protected].
REHEARSALS AND PERFORMANCES
Each orchestra rehearses weekly on Monday (String Orchestra 4-6:00 p.m. – Youth Orchestra 6-8:00 p.m.). Each group performs three times during the school year. The Youth Orchestra occasionally participates in tours throughout the United States, most recently having done so during the Summer of 2017 when they performed at Carnegie Hall.
COST TO PARTICIPATE
The annual tuition fee for the Youth Orchestra is $225. The annual tuition fee for the String Orchestra is $150. A limited amount of need-based financial aid is available.
SPONSORSHIP
The Owensboro Symphony Youth and String Orchestras are programs of the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra and are made possible in part through generous grants from the City of Owensboro, Daviess County Fiscal Court and the Kentucky Arts Council.
