Cadet String Orchestra

  • Winter Quarter music will be available via PDF download by Friday, January 5. Instructions on how to download music will be sent via email to all enrolled BYSO students.
  • Click here for Conductor’s Messages

Rehearsals will be held on Monday evenings from 5:00 – 6:15 pm. Musicians are expected to arrive and be prepared to rehearse 15 minutes prior to start time.

WINTER QUARTER 2024 DETAILS

Rehearsals Winter Quarter Dates
Mondays from 5:00 – 6:15 pm Rehearsals begin on Monday, January 8
Rehearsal Location Drop Off/ Pick Up*
Lake Washington High School Parking is available in the school parking lot.
12033 NE 80th St Plan on prompt drop off and pick up to avoid
Kirkland, WA 98033 congestion. *See below for more details.
Retreat Winter Retreat Location
Saturday, February 10 Odle Middle School
9:00am – 12:00pm 502 143 Ave NE
Bellevue, WA 98007
Winter Concert Time & Date
Meydenbauer Theatre Sunday, March 17 @ 3:00 pm
∙ Arrive by: 2:00 pm

SPRING QUARTER 2024 DETAILS

Rehearsals Spring Quarter Dates
Mondays from 5:00 – 6:15 pm Rehearsals begin on Monday, March 25
Rehearsal Location Drop Off/ Pick Up*
Lake Washington High School Parking is available in the school parking lot.
12033 NE 80th St Plan on prompt drop off and pick up to avoid
Kirkland, WA 98033 congestion. *See below for more details.
Spring Break No Rehearsal on Monday, April 8
Spring Bookend Concert  Time & Date
Meydenbauer Theatre Sunday, May 19 @ 2:30 pm
11100 NE 6th St ∙ Arrive by: 1:30 pm
Bellevue, WA 98004

Student Checklist

  • Bring a music stand
  • Bring a pencil
  • Bring a water bottle
  • 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!

Drop Off & Pick Up Details

All arriving students will enter Lake Washington High School via the Performance Center doors (see map). If your student needs extra support walking to the entry doors, please park in the lot. No parking or idling in the drop-off zone.

All departing students will leave LWHS via the main entry doors (see map). Parents/guardians, please pick up your students outside the main entry way. BYSO staff will be there to help facilitate pick up.

All parents & guardians of Cadet & Debut students are highly encouraged to sign up to be a Cadet Pick Up Monitor and/or a Debut Pick Up Monitor. These volunteers chaperone students who are waiting for pick up, help students find their parents/guardians, and support BYSO staff in maintaining student safety after rehearsal. This is especially critical during the dark Fall & Winter months. Sign up now!


About

Cadet String Orchestra is an entry-level orchestra for strings. This BYSO ensemble is open to string players (violin, viola, cello, double bass), who are at least six years old, can read simple music easily, and are comfortable with their instrument. The typical Cadet String Orchestra student may have started the instrument only recently but has developed solid early proficiency and is prepared for the challenges of a large group setting. Students accepted into Cadet String Orchestra typically have been playing the instrument for one to three years.

Cadet String Orchestra is designed to be a young musician’s first group experience. Students receive instruction in following a conductor and playing as an ensemble. Prior orchestra experience is not required.

The repertoire for Cadet String Orchestra is mostly in first position, but it is still challenging, with some knowledge of sharps and flats required. Past works performed include arrangements of Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld, and Balmages’s Fantasy on a Japanese Folk Song.

Recent Cadet String Ensemble Performance:

Conductor: Andrew Kam

Andrew Kam received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Miami and his Master’s degree in Violin Performance from the University of Oregon. Mr. Kam currently serves as Orchestra Director for Bellevue High School and is a violinist with Symphony Tacoma. Learn more.

Contact Andrew Kam at cadet@byso.org

Messages from the Conductor

2:00 pm Call Time (arrive by)

3:00 pm Concert Start

 

How we do Seating Auditions:

  • auditions are optional
  • in-person only during rehearsal on Monday, 10/23
  • After seating auditions, there is no “ranking”. We select the leadership chairs first, then balance the remaining section chairs and rows based on ability so that the back of the orchestra is as strong as the front.

Why do we do offer seating auditions?

  • seating auditions are intended to select Principal and Assistant Principal players. These musicians are the leaders in our orchestra and must demonstrate the highest level of individual musical skill, ensemble playing, and model excellent behavior during rehearsals and performances. It is a big responsibility!

Winter/Spring* Quarter Seating Audition Excerpts:

  • Violin 1: Mi Caballito, m.13 – 29; Apollo Dance, m.29 – 57
  • Violin 2: Mi Caballito, m.13 – 24 and m.57 – End; Apollo Scherzo, m.14 – 31; Apollo Dance, m.41 – 56
  • Viola: Mi Caballito, m.17 – 29 and m.41 – 48; Apollo Waltz, m.9 – 25; Apollo Scherzo, m.45 – 48
  • Cello: Mi Caballito, m.21 – 28 and m.41 – 48; Apollo Waltz, m.25 – 40, Apollo Dance m.37 – 48

*There is no seating audition in Spring Quarter

Recordings:

Apollo Suite: (I) Prelude, h = 96; (II) Waltz, q = 152; (III) Scherzo, q= 120; (IV) Dance, q = 120

Mi Caballito, q = 138

Mi Caballito

Prelude and Fugue

Mahler’s Mysterious March

A Vikings Tale

 

 

Link to Cadet Orchestra Handbook

 

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