Flute Choir and Flute Orchestra are combined for Fall Quarter 2025. For rehearsal and concert details, including messages from your conductor, please view the ensemble page for the Combined Flute Ensembles.
Rehearsals will be held on Monday evenings from 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Musicians are expected to arrive and be prepared to rehearse 15 minutes prior to start time.
Print your sheet music prior to first rehearsal (using link at top of this page) and bring with you to rehearsal
Arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of rehearsal to ensure you are in your chair and ready to play at the start of rehearsal
Have fun!
ATTENDANCE POLICY FOR LAST REHEARSAL BEFORE THE CONCERT
If a Flute Orchestra student misses the final Monday night rehearsal before the concert, their participation in the upcoming concert will be contingent on a music test. They will be required to submit a video of their performance of excerpts (details provided by the conductor) no later than Wednesday at midnight. The conductor will then make a decision whether the student can participate in the upcoming concert. This decision will be communicated by Thursday.
Flute Orchestra is an advanced ensemble for flutes. Flute Orchestra consists of BYSO flutists who were placed at the Philharmonia level after auditioning. Because orchestras need only a few flutes at a time, some of these students may take turns playing in Philharmonia during the year while also practicing and performing in the Flute Orchestra ensemble. The typical Flute Orchestra student has had several years of private instruction and substantial ensemble experience and is highly skilled on his or her instrument.
Flute Orchestra students prepare challenging music encompassing the entire flute family: piccolo, traditional C flute, alto, and bass. Flute Orchestra is a dynamic group where students can develop ensemble and specific flute-related skills in an enjoyable and rewarding setting. Past works performed include Camuglia’s La Danse de la Nuit, De Bosismortier’s Concerto in A for Five Flutes, and Bozza’s Jour d’été à la Montagne.
Recent Flute Orchestra Performance
Conductor: Dr. Sandra Saathoff
Dr. Sandra Saathoff is a freelance flutist, clinician, and principal flute of the Seattle Philharmonic. She helped launch a nonprofit organization, Silver Flight Ensembles and Foundation, dedicated to helping student flutists, and currently conducts the Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra's flute ensemble. A published author and music arranger, she has also performed and taught throughout the United States and Europe. Dr. Saathoff has served as Assistant Program Chair, Secretary, Convention Manager, and on the Long-Range Strategic Planning Committee for the National Flute Association; as well as President, VP, and Newsletter Editor for the Seattle Flute Society. Learn more.
I hope you are enjoying these last few weeks of summer!
We have lots to look forward to this year – our autumn concert at Benaroya, interesting masterclass opportunities, the winter caroling tour – and the chance to perform at the National Flute Association in Portland (August 2026)!
And music! – I have found some fun music to play – with our friends old and new – that I hope you will enjoy! And one arrangement made just for us from someone who performed and wrote for the famed jazz musician, Benny Goodman!
Placement/Rotation schedule emails will be sent soon – so start checking TODAY for more news and information. Autumn rotations are listed below.
*** Please add the BYSO dates to your personal calendars now so there are no surprises. THANK YOU! ***
Happy Fluting!
~Dr. Sandy
______________________P______________________ (__( O )_____]]_o o_O_O_O O O_O_O_O_]d’ O_O_O_)
*TENTATIVE* Autumn Rotation into PHILHARMONIA, pending student enrollment and other factors. (Leave of Absence requests may affect the ability to have a rotation into an orchestra, fyi.)
Isabelle L
Ella S
Arnav V
Matilde V-S
Shachar S
Chloe C
*TENTATIVE* ROTATION SCHEDULE into YOUTH, pending student enrollment and other factors. (Leave of Absence requests may affect the ability to have a rotation into an orchestra, fyi.)
AUTUMN:
Rio (Youth)
Hannah (FO with rotation into Youth in Autumn and Spring)
Noah (FO with rotation into Youth)
York (FO with rotation into Youth in Autumn and Winter)
WINTER:
Rio (Youth)
York (FO with rotation into Youth)
Shiho (FO with rotation into Youth)
Chanler (FO with rotation into Youth)
SPRING: (Tentative – providing no Leave of Absences…)
Rio (Youth)
Hannah (FO with rotation into Youth)
Eunice (FO with rotation into Youth)
Matthew (FO with rotation into Youth)
Julinna (FO with rotation into Youth)
WOO HOO! You did it! Thank you all for such a beautiful performance! I’ve heard nothing but amazingly positive feedback. BRAVO and CONGRATULATIONS!
I will look forward to seeing you at your upcoming audition – but will miss our weekly Monday night rehearsals. You have been a wonderful and inspiring group to work with!
Best wishes for a great end to your school years and a summer full of rest, relaxation, adventure – and flute!
~Sandy
Link of the week: Some things to think about (Bulletproof Musician site also has articles about practicing / performing / reducing anxiety / etc.):
Torvil and Dean – Olympic Ice Dancing 1984. The exquisite pacing and building of tension, and the perfectly timed synchronicity … amazing! A way to “SEE” what we try and do as musical story tellers! https://youtu.be/t2zbbN4OL98?si=HQJ_n3dEILm4NX9U
