Membership Information

 

The Sioux Empire Youth Orchestras offer an outstanding progressive orchestra program for students at all levels of talent.    The orchestras are open to any qualified performer of orchestral instruments ages 5-22.  Auditions are for placement only.  No young musician will be turned away.  Placement is based on many factors:  age, experience, technical proficiency and personnel needs within the section of the orchestra.  Membership in SEYO is for the entire season, from the first rehearsal in September through the final concert in May.  Musicians are expected to remain active and committed for the entire season with the group in which they have been a member.

 

Auditions

Applicants for the Philharmonia, Wind/Brass Ensemble and Youth Symphony must be prepared to audition.  Conductors of the other orchestras also appreciate hearing applicants for a few minutes to assess their playing level.  Each orchestra conductor is responsible for ensuring that the proper artistic evaluators observe and review each audition.  Following completion of the auditions, placement by the review team will occur with final approval made by the conductor of each respective orchestra.  All applicants will be notified regarding their acceptance and orchestral placement.

 

The conductor of each orchestra decides on instrumentation and chair placement.  Seating does not necessarily reflect ability.  Rotation of seating may occur and is designed to give students additional learning opportunities for each concert.  The orchestra conductor determines the orchestra’s instrumentation to achieve a balanced orchestral sound. 

 

With approval of the applicable orchestra conductors, a student may participate in more than one ensemble (orchestra).  The student may play the same or different instruments in each ensemble.

 

Preparing Auditions

Youth Symphony Orchestra.  String players should prepare a scale (preferably 3 octaves) and a solo.  SEYO encourages students to choose the etude or Bach piece assigned for All-State Orchestra.  Other options include a solo from the second half of Suzuki Volume 4 or beyond, or of similar difficulty.

 

Philharmonia.  String players should prepare a scale (two octaves) and a solo.  Students are encouraged to perform their solo fromeither Volume 3 or 4 of the Suzuki series or equivalent repertoire.

 

Wind/Brass Ensemble.  Woodwind, brass and percussion players should prepare scales and solos appropriate to their instruments, demonstrating their skill and musicianship.

 

School Participation

SEYO and school music programs share a common objective – that of making the student’s musical experience a significant and positive influence on his or her life.  SEYO members are expected to perticipate in their school music organization, if there is one.  SEYO is committed to play a supportive role to the school music programs and to provide an impetus to form new string programs in school where they do not presently exist.  SEYO members, by sharing their musical growth with their fellow students in their school music programs, provide continuous encouragement and progress to music education departments throughout the Sioux Empire.

Tuition Information

Prelude Strings—$50.00 (starts 1-5-06)

Symphonia—$50.00/Semester

Philharmonia—$75.00/Semester

Youth Symphony—$150.00/Semester

Wind/Brass (starts 11-5-06)-- half the appropriate orchestra tuition first semester; full tuition second semester.

 

Staff

Prelude

Jay Reeve

605-334-0089

Symphonia

Mark Isackson

605-336-6977

 

Harvey Jewell

605-332-4569

Wind/Brass Ensemble

Chad Hutchinson

605-367-1052

Philharmonia

Richard Getting

605-331-5167

Youth Symphony Orchestra

John Thomson

605-624-7986

Manager

Cynthia Schilf

605-376-2714