Bremerton Symphony Youth Orchestra

New changes for 2012-2013

As one season ends, the next begins! Today’s finale concert for the 2011-2012 season was performed brilliantly by both ensembles, but in the 2012-2013 season the BSYO will expand to three groups.

The Sinfonietta will play intermediate level music and is looking for players from 4th to 8th grade. If you can play some songs in the keys of C, G, and F, know some 2-octave major and 1-octave minor scales, and understand dotted rhythms, you’re ready!

The Orchestra will play early advanced music, and most members will be 7th to 11th graders.  Strings who can play a solo from Suzuki books 3 or 4, are perfecting their vibrato, and are able to shift to higher positions will find this group to be the right level. All musicians will need to be able to play 2-octave scales in major and minor keys, up to two sharps and two flats.  They also need to play syncopation and off-beats accurately.

The most advanced group, the Symphony, is for experienced orchestral musicians who can interpret styles of music from different time periods.  Most of the Symphony players will be in high school.  String players must show that they can play comfortably in various positions, and they will audition playing solos from Suzuki books 5 and higher, Barbara Barber books 3 and higher, or other standard repertoire. All Symphony musicians need to know 3-octave major and minor scales up to 3 flats/sharps and understand meter changes and complex rhythms.

Finally, we will have two Elite Chamber Ensembles, comprising the top players from the string and wind sections.  We’re looking for 16 string players (4 string quartets) and 10 wind players (2 standard woodwind quintets) to perform both small group and chamber orchestra repertory.

We especially need violas, cellos, basses, and trombones this year! If you know anyone who might be interested in joining the group, make sure they sign up to audition on June 2nd!