Rehearsals will be held on Monday evenings from 6:45 – 8:15 pm. Musicians are expected to arrive and be prepared to rehearse 15 minutes prior to start time.
FALL QUARTER 2024 DETAILS
Rehearsals
Fall Quarter Dates
Mondays from 6:45 – 8:15 pm
Season 2024-25 rehearsal dates will
be announced Summer 2024.
Rehearsal Location
Drop Off/ Pick Up
TBA
Plan on prompt drop off and pick up to avoid
congestion.
Concert
Time & Date
TBA
TBA
Retreat
Time & Date
TBA
Retreats typically happen on one Saturday
in the Fall & Winter Quarters.
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!
About
Debut String Orchestra is an advanced entry-level orchestra for strings. This BYSO ensemble is designed for progressing students on violin, viola, cello, and double bass who have 3+ years of experience on their instrument and some prior orchestra experience. The typical Debut String Orchestra student plays with solid first-position technique and has some early higher position knowledge.
Debut String Orchestra students improve their note-reading and rhythm skills while they become more confident playing as an ensemble. Past works performed include arrangements of Mozart’s Symphony No. 15, Bartok’s Romanian Folk Dances, and Spata’s Maharaja.
Recent Debut String Ensemble Performance
Conductor: Mollie Ewing
Mollie Ewing is a freelance adjudicator, clinician, and conductor for school districts around the region. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree and a Master of Educational Leadership degree from the University of Portland. Mrs. Ewing taught orchestra in the Issaquah School District from 2001 to 2010 and is currently teaching orchestra at Risdon Middle School in the Renton School District. Learn more.
This is our LAST rehearsal of the year! I’m proud of our group and all the growth we’ve had this year and look forward to showing off what we’ve learned at our concert this weekend!
Concert this SUNDAY, 5/19 at 4:30pm at Meydenbauer Theatre
Students need to arrive at 3:30pm (call time) for our final rehearsal on stage!
Goals: Eyes up to stay with the conductor, match bows with your section, look and sound good! One more note: you are required to stay for the entire performance!
We will hold seating auditions on Monday, 4/22 at rehearsal
Seating auditions are NOT optional. If you miss the auditions, you will be placed at the end of your section
During seating auditions, coaches will listen to students individually to help place students in the section. The coaches and I are looking for students who have shown mastery on their parts (posture/technique, bowing, intonation, rhythmic accuracy, expression), and also students who have demonstrated good preparation each week and strong rehearsal etiquette.
Welcome to the Spring Quarter of BYSO! New to us? Learn “About Me” HERE!
Remember to bring a PENCIL and your PRINTED music to the first rehearsal and label everything (stands will be helpful next week when we do sectionals, but aren’t necessary this week). We’re a big group, so I’ll have seats assigned to help you find your spot. We will be sight-reading our new music, which can be tricky, so hang in there! No one is expected to know the music perfectly the first night. Especially as the music bumps up a level!
Want to hear what we’re playing?! Here are the links:
First rehearsal of Spring Quarter is: Monday, 3/25/24
2/9/2024
The retreat is tomorrow! Students will start in sectionals for the first hour. Want to show some spirit…wear something RED to celebrate the Lunar New Year AND Valentine’s Day. No pressure if you don’t have anything red, I promise!
Remember to bring water. Snacks are provided, but you’re also welcome to bring other food to snack on if you prefer (or have allergies). We’ll have a break and fun activities from 1:30-2:00pm.
See you tomorrow!
2/5/2024
Students received their audition spots from their coaches at sectionals during our rehearsal on 1/22.
Mark your calendars! Retreat & Seating Audition Information:
Our retreat will be at Odle Middle School on Saturday, 2/10 from 12:30-3:30pm
Retreats are NOT optional. Please submit an absence report if your student will not be attending or if they are coming late/leaving early. We will rehearse, play games, and have sectionals in preparation for seating auditions.
We will hold seating auditions on Monday, 2/12 at rehearsal
Seating auditions are NOT optional. If you miss the auditions, you will be placed at the end of your section
During seating auditions, coaches will listen to students individually to help place students in the section. The coaches and I are looking for students who have shown mastery on their parts (posture/technique, bowing, intonation, rhythmic accuracy, expression), and also students who have demonstrated good preparation each week and strong rehearsal etiquette.
Violin 2: Adagio Cantabile: mm. 29-end
American Princess: mm. 37-49
Souvenir de Porto Rico: mm. 43-59
Viola: Adagio, mms.29-the end
American Princess, mms. 59-71 Souvenir, mms.59-84
Cello: Adagio Cantabile: m. 1-8
Souvenir de Porto Rico: m. 67-83(I want to hear the transition to pizz. as well)
Bass: American Princess: mm. 14-23 (smooth bow changes) and mm. 42-49 (rhythms)
Souvenir de Porto Rico: mm. 1-8 (rhythms) and mm. 83-99 (rhythms)
1/28/2024
Please BRING A STAND to rehearsal on 1/29. Our normal room is not available, so please be ready to move to our new locations. Violin 1 & 2 will be going upstairs to rehearse together (where they’ve had sectionals in the past). Viola, Cello, and Bass will be in the downstairs pod doing the same. Mrs. Ewing and Mrs. Vail (our assistant conductor and 2nd violin coach) will be working with the groups, along with their coaches.
For your calendar:
Our retreat will be on 2/10 at Odle MS from 12:30-3:30pm.
Our seating audition will be on 2/12 at our rehearsal. Audition spots will be updated this week.
1/7/2023
Hello Debut Musicians and Families!
Welcome to the Winter Quarter of BYSO! New to us? Learn “About Me” HERE!
Remember to bring a PENCIL and your PRINTED music to the first rehearsal and label everything (stands will be helpful next week when we do sectionals, but aren’t necessary this week). We’re a big group, so I’ll have some seats assigned to help you find your spot. We will be sight-reading our new music, which can be tricky, so hang in there! No one is expected to know the music perfectly the first night. Especially as the music bumps up a level!
Want to hear what we’re playing?! Here are the links:
Stand partner question of the week: Do you like the weather HOT or COLD?
Coaches Names:
1st Violins: Coach Caroline
2nd Violins and Assistant Conductor: Mrs. Vail
1st and 2nd Violins: Coach Rafael
Violas: Coach Camber
Cellos: Ms. Lee
Bass: Coach Moe
Don’t forget your…
12/18/2023
Happy Holidays, Everyone!
I hope you’re enjoying the season and finding time to practice and play your instrument! Music for Winter (starting on Jan. 8) will be available around January 4th or 5th. Keep your eyes peeled once we hit 2024!
Students received their audition spots from their coaches at sectionals during our rehearsal on 10/9.
Mark your calendars! Retreat & Seating Audition Information:
Our retreat will be at Odle Middle School on Saturday, 10/21 from 12:30-3:30pm
Retreats are NOT optional. Please submit an absence report if your student will not be attending or if they are coming late/leaving early. We will rehearse, play games, and have sectionals in preparation for seating auditions.
We will hold seating auditions on Monday, 10/23
Seating auditions are NOT optional. If you miss the auditions, you will be placed at the end of your section
During seating auditions, coaches will listen to students individually to help place students in the section. The coaches and I are looking for students who have shown mastery on their parts (posture/technique, bowing, intonation, rhythmic accuracy, expression), and also students who have demonstrated good preparation each week and strong rehearsal etiquette.
Violin 1:
*Updated Parts (please mark your parts):Fingals-Rock-Vln-1, Ancient-Flower-Vln-1, Vanguard-Vln-1
Fingal’s Rock: mm. 1-16 (quarter note = 100)
Ancient Flower: pick-up to m. 18-36 (quarter note = 69)
Vanguard Overture: none (quarter note = 112)
Violin 2: Fingal’s Rock: m. 17-26 (quarter note = 100)
Ancient Flower: none (quarter note = 69)
Vanguard: mm. 64-72 (quarter note = 112)
Viola: updated 10/16 Fingal’s Rock: m. 1-23 (quarter note = 100)
Ancient Flower: mm. 37-55 (quarter note = 69)
Vanguard: mm. 64-77 (quarter note = 112)
Cello: Fingal’s Rock: mm. 13-26 (quarter note = 100)
Ancient Flower: mm. 22-36 (quarter note = 69)
Vanguard: none (quarter note = 112)
Bass:updated 10/16 Fingal’s Rock: mm.17-26 and 54-65 (quarter note = 100)
Ancient Flower: none (quarter note = 69)
Vanguard: mm. 5-13 (quarter note = 112)
10/4/2023
At the next rehearsal (10/9), you will be receiving our seating audition spots. These will be selected by your coach. Seating auditions will take place during rehearsal on 10/23. Remember, it’s how well you play the spots, but also, how prepared you are in rehearsals.
How can you prepare?
Each week, ask yourself:
How is my posture, position and rehearsal etiquette throughout rehearsal?
Am I watching the conductor?
Am I listening to my section?
Did I mark up my music when the conductor or coach gave bowings/fingerings?
And then…PRACTICE!
Listening for inspiration and support on your part:
Fingal’s Rock (Felix Mendelssohn/arr. Kathryn Griesinger)
We will meet in our large rehearsal space at 6:45 pm and then break into sectionals with coaches from 7:00-7:45pm. Everyone should bring a pencil. Violin 1, Violin 2, and Violas should bring music stands to use in their sectionals. Cello/Bass will be using the school’s stands.
9/22/2023
Please read the message (below) from 9/18. Here are two additional updates from after our parent meeting:
Music links were sent to emails yesterday, 9/21 (around 4:15pm). Please print it for our first rehearsal.
Please have your student bring a portable stand to rehearsal (marked with a name). We will be using them for sectionals over the next few weeks.
Updated on 9/18/2023
Hello Debut Musicians and Families!
Welcome to the best group out there (totally biased!). I’m excited to make music with you this year. Learn “About Me” HERE!
Please plan to bring a stand, pencil and your music to the first rehearsal and label everything! We’re a big group, so I’ll have some seats assigned to help you find your spot.
Things you can do to feel more confident sight-reading at our first rehearsal:
Print out your music!
Mental Practice/Preparation: Listen to the recordings (below) to hear what the pieces sound like…even better if you can follow along with the music. You are NOT expected to know your music perfectly the first night!
Find out what key each piece is in and try to play a scale in that key.
Look for anything you don’t recognize or might have a question about and ask about them in rehearsal or with your private teacher.
Songs for Fall 2023:
Fingal’s Rock (Felix Mendelssohn/arr. Kathryn Griesinger)
