WYSO Parent Orientation New Members September 10 2016
WYSO Parent Orientation New Members September 10, 2016 “Enriching lives by providing transformational musical experiences and opportunities. ”
Agenda • • • • • Welcome Overview of WYSO Staff Season Schedule Chamber Ensembles Staying Informed Attendance & Conduct Concerts Photo Policy Dress Merchandise Orchestra repertoire Seating Arrangements Auditions Parents Association/Volunteering Tours Community Outreach Endangered Instruments Scholarships Family Fundraising
What is WYSO? • Founded by Dr. Marvin Rabin in 1966, the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras (WYSO) has grown from one single orchestra into a comprehensive program that includes three full orchestras, a string orchestra, chamber music program and a full array of ensemble programs. Today, WYSO, under the direction of James Smith is recognized as one of the finest youth orchestra programs in the country.
WYSO Organization Youth Orchestra Full Orchestras String Orchestras Philharmonia Orchestra Sinfonietta Concert Orchestra Opus One Ensembles Brass Choirs Harp Ensemble Percussion Ensemble Chamber Ensembles Partnering Ensembles Music Makers Honor Ensemble Too
WYSO Administrative Staff Bridget Fraser Executive Director Joe Bernstein Director of Operations & Education Andrea Gibbs Development Director Jonathan Schroerlucke Communications & Membership Coordinator Leah Schultz Program Assistant Brian Ellingboe Music Librarian & Operations Assistant
WYSO Artistic Staff James Smith Youth Orchestra Michelle Kaebisch Philharmonia Orchestra Tom Curry Brass Choir Geri Hamilton Opus One Mark Leiser Sinfonietta Jenny De. Roche Harp Ensemble Christine Mata-Eckel Concert Orchestra Vicki Peterson Jenks Percussion Ensemble Karl Lavine Chamber Ensemble
WYSO Artistic Staff • Sectionals are held for each instrument section of Philhamronia, Concert Orchestra, and Sinfonietta on 19 rehearsals throughout the season: • • • Violin 1 – Beth Larson Violin 2 – Laura Mericle Viola – Melanie De. Jesus Cello – Hannah Wolkstein Bass – August Jirovec Woodwinds – Yvonne Schwinge Brass – Jacob Grewe Percussion – James Mc. Kenzie Timpani – Sean Kleve Harp – Jenny De. Roche
Supplemental Office Space • WYSO has expanded its office space to include new supplemental offices • 2009 W. Beltline Hwy • Suite 202 • We will hold normal business hours there. 9: 00 am – 5: 00 pm, Tuesday – Friday. • WYSO will have a staff person in our current offices Tuesday -Friday. Times TBD.
WYSO Rehearsals • • • Youth Orchestra: 9: 30 am – 12: 30 pm Philharmonia Orchestra: 9: 45 am – 12: 45 pm Concert Orchestra: 10: 00 am – 12: 30 pm Sinfonietta: 10: 30 am – 1: 00 pm Opus One: 8: 30 am – 10: 00 am • Brass Choirs • Youth Orchestra Brass: 8: 00 am – 8: 45 am • Philharmonia Orchestra Brass: 8: 45 am – 9: 25 am • Concert Orchestra Brass: 9: 25 am – 9: 55 am • Percussion Ensemble • 7: 00 am – 9: 30 am Badger Football Games Plan ahead for traffic and parking Sept. 10, 17 | Oct. 15, 29 | Nov. 12, 26
WYSO Sunday Rehearsals Due to building availability and scheduling limitations, WYSO will be holding six rehearsals on Sunday afternoons this year. • Sunday, November 20 • Sunday, January 22 • Sunday, January 29 • Sunday, February 26 • Sunday, April 2 • Sunday, April 30 • Check member handbook for specific rehearsal times on Sundays
Special Events • Masterclasses • Several masterclasses with illustrious WYSO alumni • See WYSO students work 1 on 1 with professional musicians • Sounds of the Season • Will involve Youth Orchestra, Brass Choirs, and Percussion Ensemble playing holiday music that will be aired on NBC 15. Audience members are encouraged to attend the recording. Recording December 3. • Taste of WYSO • October 8, 2016. Enjoy food from around the world in this annual WYSO pot luck!
Chamber Music Program • Highly recommended by all conductors! • Led by Karl Lavine, Principal cellist of the MSO and WCO. • Chamber music is music played in small groups, usually 3, 4, or 5 person groups like string quartets, piano trios or woodwind quintets. It’s performed without a conductor. • Students learn valuable skills that they wouldn’t normally learn in larger ensembles: leadership, improved listening, teamwork, responsibility for an individual part, and more.
Staying Informed Website (weekly) www. wsyomusic. org Handbook (annual) WYSO Rhythms E -newsletter (monthly) Check your E-mail weekly! If you go two weeks without receiving an email from WYSO, please check your spam folder. It’s rare that a mass email doesn’t get sent out weekly.
Text Alerts • WYSO can send you text alerts for: • Cancelled rehearsals • Cancelled concerts • Change of date/time • Signing up is easy! • www. wysomusic. org/members
School Music Participation • All WYSO members are expected to participate in their school orchestra, band, or strings program. • Members who do not meet this expectation must notify the WYSO Exec. Director in writing. • WYSO is not a replacement for the daily playing, technique building, and literature exposure that is experienced in a school music ensemble. • Participation in scheduled school orchestra or band performances always takes precedence over WYSO.
School Music Participation School Based Musical Curriculum Daily playing, exposure to core literature, and reinforcement of technique Well Rounded Musician Private Lessons Gain valuable musicianship and technique while receiving pedagogical lessons WYSO Experience supplemental and often advanced literature in a diverse surrounding from different conductors
Attendance – A Worthwhile Challenge • Maximum number of absences per concert cycle • 2 Autumn: Steenbock Concert • 3 Winter: Winterfest Concert • 2 Spring: Bolz Concert • Members will receive one additional absence allowance per cycle for school music activities • Exceeding the maximum will dismiss the student from playing in the concert. • Students who miss a concert must meet with WYSO’s Exec. Director and his/her conductor to discuss commitment to WYSO • Excessive absences can be taken in to consideration when conductors analyze audition results in the spring • Using an absence for the last rehearsal before a concert is discouraged • Missing two concerts will be cause for dismissal from the WYSO program • Partial Attendance
Attendance Cont. • Reporting an absence • Go to website • Call the attendance line • 608 -263 -3320 ext. 2 • E-mail • wyso@wysomusic. org • Submit an absence form
Rehearsal Conduct • Please review pg. 3 of your member handbooks for a full overview. • There is NO CELL PHONE USE during rehearsal for any reason. If there is an emergency please contact the WYSO main office. • The computers in the hallway are for UW-Students only. • Absolutely no food or drink (except water) is allowed in the rehearsal rooms.
Half-Price Tickets • Don’t forget to order your family half-price tickets! • Order forms are DUE September 24!
Concert Etiquette WYSO aims to provide the best possible concert experience for both the performers and the audience. Certain behaviors can distract the performers, conductor, and the audience from enjoying the final product of weeks of rehearsals. • No food or drink is allowed at the concert venue • Please remove loud or disruptive children outside the hall. • When recording or taking photos, please adhere to photo policy • Please turn all cellphones off!
Photo & Video Policy • All video recordings must be made in one of the designated “recording spaces”. • Please turn the sound of your recording device off. Beeps, clicks, and buzzes will interfere with the sound quality of the WYSO recording. Those noises are also a distraction for other audience members and performers. • Please be mindful of the people around you when taking photos. Please do not stand up, block other audience member’s view, or disturb your neighbors. • ABSOLUTELY NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ALLOWED AT CONCERTS • All photo team members will monitor all audience photography
Rehearsal Attire • Members are asked to be thoughtful in how they dress for rehearsals. • Clothing should not be distracting to others, nor inhibit playing during rehearsals. • Please: • • NO midriff-baring shirts NO visible undergarments NO bare feet NO hats • We recommend against flip-flops as they are a safety hazard, particularly given the amount of equipment being moved in the Humanities Building.
Concert Attire Philharmonia, Concert Orchestra, Sinfonietta, Opus One
Concert Attire Cont. Youth Orchestra
Photo Days • • • Each orchestra will participate on a photo day Group and individual instrumental portraits will be taken Please arrive in concert dress Most individual portraits will happen after rehearsal Photos will be available to purchase • Sinfonietta – November 5 • Concert Orchestra – October 15 • Youth Orchestra – October 22 • Philharmonia Orchestra – September 24 • Opus One – November 5
Merchandise • WYSO sells clothes, calendars, cd’s, bumper stickers, and more! • Calendars purchased will count towards Musical Notes. • CD’s may be ordered at concerts. • From Sept. 10 – October 7 WYSO clothes may be ordered from www. wysomusic. org/wyso-store • We will sell clothes and other merchandise at rehearsals and concerts.
Payment • Tuition & Musical Notes Payment can be made online. • All checks or cash must be turned in with our new payment envelope. • Musical Notes, should be turned in with the musical notes envelope.
Orchestra Repertoire “Am I playing every piece to the best of my ability? ” • The repertoire of each orchestra is carefully selected by each conductor, with consideration given to: • • Educational value Artistic quality Instrumentation Programmatic Integrity • Please encourage your young musicians to talk with their conductor if: • Even professional musicians play pieces which might not be challenging, but playing these pieces well makes the musician a professional. • They have questions about the repertoire • If they are not feeling challenged • If they are feeling too challenged • If they would like to know more about the piece
Seating Arrangements • The conductor determines the seating and rotation within the various sections of each orchestra. Competition for individual chairs is not part of the WYSO program. • Seating is not based on the ranking of performers; rather parts are rotated from piece to piece (most frequently in winds and percussion), and from concert to concert. Every member of the orchestra plays an important role. • Conductor’s hearings for string players in the fall allow an opportunity for the conductor to get to know the members and assess their abilities so he or she can determine a seating arrangement within the section that is best for the orchestra. • For more information please visit http: //www. wysomusic. org/ourprogram/orchestras
Audition Process • A WYSO Conductor or Ensemble Director will hear all auditions, occasionally with outside judges • ANY returning member who wishes to stay in their current orchestra may do so • Attempt to adopt online scheduling system so audtitionees can schedule themselves • Creation of online form to replace current audition forms • Final orchestra placement for all will be made by WYSO conductors, based on audition • Returning WYSO members will also be evaluated on rehearsal preparation, etiquette, behavior, and attendance • ALL results will be mailed after the final concerts • WYSO holds an Audition Workshop in the Spring. This covers our process, how to prepare, and how we determine results.
Parent Leader Committee • Responsibilities • Help to plan and run WYSO events such as First Rehearsal Day, Taste of WYSO, Musical Notes Collection Day and the PLC Fundraiser • Serve as a great resource for new families • Orchestra Chairs • Kate Deck, Deepika Rajesh, Cynthia Kuenzi, Tanya Tandias, Tamara Nuenninghoff, Madhu Thandaserry, Pat Raes, Kristen Davies, Anne Baltes, David Mott, • WYSO Board Liason • Teresa Hall
Volunteering • On-Going Opportunities • Parent School Coordinators • Photo Team • One-Time Opportunities • • Social Activities Attendance Hall Monitor Ushers, Box Office/Admin Help Auditions Tour Petting Zoos
Touring • Youth Orchestra aims to do an international tour every 2 -3 years. Two years ago, Youth Orchestra spent 10 days in Argentina. • Sinfonietta, Concert Orchestra, and Philharmonia Orchestra tour regionally at various schools each year. • It is expected that each member of the orchestra participates in their orchestra’s tour. • Missing your orchestra’s in-state tour will result in meeting with the conductors and the executive director • Sinfonietta Tour • Thursday, March 16, 2017 • Concert Orchestra Tour • Wednesday, November 9, 2016 • Philharmonia Orchestra Tour • Saturday, March 11, 2017
Music Makers Mentorship • This collaborative project pairs young students from Bonnie Greene’s Music Makers program, which provides low cost music lessons to children whose families face financial challenges, with high school aged mentors from WYSO. • WYSO’s Music Makers Mentors attend rehearsals at Zion City modeling music student success. The partnership also includes workshops with WYSO conductors including mock auditions, group auditions, and collaborative performance. • WYSO members interested in becoming mentors will meet with Music Makers Director, Bonnie Greene following next week’s rehearsal.
Endangered Instruments • This project aims to increase interest in and mastery of “endangered” instruments: horn, viola, bassoon, bass, and low brass. These sections have become increasingly difficult to fill in school, youth and even professional orchestras, and this program aims to help strengthen these important instrumental voices. • • Open to non-wyso members Scholarships for private lessons are available through the programs Participation is FREE Highly encouraged by all conductors!
Endangered Instruments • en. CORe Horn Program • Focus on horn choir and horn-centric repertoire • Viola Explorers • Workshops devoted to the benefits and techniques of playing viola • Begin the Bassoon Workshops • Workshops for all wind players interested in playing bassoon • All About That Bass • Workshops for skill development and mastery of the string bass • Low Brass Boot Camp • Workshops focusing on trombone, euphonium, and tuba technical and ensemble development
Scholarships • WYSO offers need based scholarships for • • Tuition Private Lessons Chamber Ensembles International Tour • The scholarship deadline was June 6, 2016; however, applications will be accepted on an individual basis • Limited funds available for late applications • For more information and to fill out an application visit: • www. wysomusic. org/members/scholarships
Musical Notes Campaign • WYSO Families’ Signature Fundraising Event • Family Oriented Campaign • Students send letters to family and friends, sell raffle tickets, sell calendars and volunteer at outside events. • Donors send contributions to the student • Pick up packets at Taste of WYSO Potluck on October 8, 2016 • Turn in donations – March 4, 2017 • The success of this campaign is the largest reason we are able to keep tuition prices affordable for families.
Musical Notes Cont. • Fundraising keeps tuition at an affordable cost • Family Fundraising activities are led by the Parent Leader Committee. • Each WYSO member is responsible for fulfilling the minimum $150 fundraising expectation. During tour years, for members of Youth Orchestra, funds raised over $150 are attributed to their individual tour account! Last year members of Philharmonia were able to raise money for international tour as well!
Musical Notes Cont. • Raise your money through volunteering • Bratfest • Madison Marathon • Madison Half. Marathon • Taste of Madison
Raffle for a trip abroad! • Selling raffle tickets is an easy way to meet your fundraising goal. Wisconsonites love buying raffle tickets! • There is one raffle for a trip to Paris or London. • Tickets are $10 a piece or 3 for $25 • The drawing will be held at the Winterfest Concerts.
Parking • Parking available at several lots nearby • Please do not leave your vehicle unattended in the circle. • Do not park in handicapped parking without a handicapped parking permit • WYSO is not granted special permission in the parking lot and members cars will be ticketed if in violation of parking rules
Thank You!!
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