youth playing in concert

Debut Orchestra Messages

5/16/2022

Our concert is THIS Sunday!

  • Sunday, 5/22 at Meydenbauer Theatre, Bellevue, WA
  • Students arrive at 12:20pm in concert attire
  • Concert starts at 2:00pm (Cadet performs first, followed by Debut and our special guests…the Youth Orchestra!)
  • SPECIAL GUESTS! The BYSO Youth Orchestra will be performing at our concert. Prepare to be inspired! Students will have seats in the audience to watch this performance.

Note: The Premiere, Sinfonia, Philharmonia and Youth Orchestras will be performing at Benaroya Hall on Saturday, 5/21. Debut musicians will have a complimentary ticket to attend the BYSO Benaroya concert on Saturday, May 21 at 2:00 pm. This is a wonderful opportunity for Debut students to see their colleagues in action! Debut musicians will be included on the Will Call list at Benaroya Hall. Families of Cadet & Debut musicians may purchase Benaroya tickets here: BYSO Benaroya Concert.

4/18/2022

Thank you for being patient with seating audition spots. We have a few edits to the schedule, so read the next information carefully!

Please let me know if your student will not be attending so we can make a plan for them to record and submit an audition. No prior notice and/or no audition will result in being placed at the back of their section. Coaches will listen to students individually to help place them in the spot in their section that benefits the overall sound of the group. Students should make sure the spots listed below are well-prepared (posture/technique, bowing, tone, rhythmic accuracy, expression):

  • April 25: First Violins and Cellos
    • First Violins:
      Moldau – 1 before G to H
      American Landscape – mm. 58-end
      Cordoba – m. 81-88 (SOLO)* (edited after rehearsal on Monday, 4/18)
      Cello:
      Moldau – Beginning to C and Letter I to 6 before J
      American Landscape – mm. 37-41
      Cordoba – mm. 1-19, mm. 40-47
  • May 2: 2nd Violins, Violas, Bass
    • 2nd Violins:
      Moldau – 1 before G to H
      American Landscape – mm. 9-17
      Cordoba – mm. 8-20
      Violas:
      Moldau – F through 4 before Coda
      American Landscape – mm. 31-42
      Cordoba – mm. 40-55 and mm. 1-19
      Bass:
      Work with coach

4/11/2022

Hello, Debut Musicians!

There is no rehearsal this evening because we follow Bellevue School District’s spring break. I will have audition spots up this week, however, our seating auditions will not take place until April 25 (viola/cello/bass) and May 2 (violin 1 and violin 2). That means, we have one to two weeks together to rehearse before students will be auditioning.

I apologize for any undue stress about the seating audition deadline, but I hope this gives everyone a breath of relief knowing they have more time!

Happy Spring Break!
Mrs. Ewing

3/27/2022

***BRING YOUR STAND TOMORROW and PRINT YOUR MUSIC***

Welcome to our Spring session of BYSO! We are BACK to the Northwest Arts Center (NWAC) in Bellevue and our original timeframe of 6:45-8:15pm (arrive by 6:30pm to find your seat and tune). I’m looking forward to a bit more space and a bit more time to rehearsal with you all!

If you are new to us, “WELCOME!” This is a fun group of students; talented musicians and fun to get-to-know.

Come up before rehearsal or at break and tell me your name and favorite animal! I’ll have a BYSO sticker for those that do!

We are playing three songs:
  1. Córdoba by Albeniz: https://www.jwpepper.com/sheet-music/media-player.jsp?&type=audio&productID=10307173. About: The Andalusian (Spain) city captured by Albeniz offers players whispers of flamenco influence from one of the major composers of the Spanish Romantic period. Expressive passages for section leaders emphasizes the dramatic interplay, and will enchant audiences! Check out the solos!
  2. Themes from the Moldau by Smetana:  https://www.jwpepper.com/sheet-music/media-player.jsp?&type=audio&productID=2098705. About: https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Moldau
  3. American Landscape by Soon Hee Newbold: https://www.jwpepper.com/sheet-music/media-player.jsp?&type=audio&productID=10008710. About: Inspired by the diverse landscapes and people of the United States. This should feel like a scenic train ride through America.
Our first rehearsal is always just sight-reading, then we’ll work on dividing our time with the one sectional room available at NWAC over the next few weeks.

Don’t forget to bring your instrument, music, pencil, and a stand each week.

Some helpful tools:

1/31/2022

Winter Retreat is this Saturday, 2/5: Our winter retreat will be Saturday, 2/5 at Lake Washington HS (12033 NE 80th St, Kirkland, WA 98033) from 12:30-3:30pm. Retreats are for rehearsing, but more importantly, for getting to know each other and having fun as an orchestra! We’ll also finally get to hear our parts put together as a full orchestra. Please submit an absence report if your student will not be able to attend.

Seating Auditions are Monday, 2/7: We will hold seating auditions on Monday, 2/7. Please let me know if your student will not be attending so we can make a plan for them to record and submit an audition. No prior notice and/or no audition will result in being placed at the back of their section. Coaches will listen to students individually to help place them in the spot in their section that benefits the overall sound of the group. Students should make sure the spots listed below are well-prepared (posture/technique, bowing, tone, rhythmic accuracy, expression):

Violin 1:
Allegro Presto: mm. 65-75
Swing Low: Pick-up to m. 18-33
Winter Sky: mm. 25-31

Violin 2:
Allegro Presto: mm. 65-75
Swing Low: Pick-up to m. 18-33
Winter Sky: mm. 19-27

Viola:
Allegro Presto: mm. 17-32 and mm. 65-83
Swing Low: Pick-up to m. 31-end
Winter Sky: mm. 19-30

Cello: 
Allegro Presto: mm. 1-12 and 67-75
Swing Low: mm. 24-31 and 32-43
Winter Sky: mm. 18-28

Bass: 
Allegro Presto: mm. 17-23
Swing Low: mm. 17-30
Winter Sky: mm. 19-27

1/9/2022

Happy New Year, Debut Musicians!

Welcome back to our Winter session of BYSO. What a twist we have this week, with a loss of our venue and starting our first session virtually! That doesn’t mean we won’t be ready to dig into our music and get it started.

If you are new to us, “WELCOME!” This is a fun group of students; talented musicians and fun to get-to-know.

Everyone should refer to the following documents to help with each rehearsal:
Debut Practice Schedule Winter 2022
Debut Orchestra Expectations

Don’t forget to bring your instrument, music, pencil, and a stand each week.

Listening Examples for our Winter Program:
Allegro Presto: Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, I’m excited we get to play one of the first known classical composers of African ancestry and a contemporary of WA Mozart!
Under a Winter Sky: Yukiko Nishimura, a contemporary Japanese composer
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot: One of my favorite pieces to play and perform! Jazz variations of the traditional African-American spiritual arranged by Carrie Lane Gruselle.

Some helpful tools:

11/9/2021

Our concert is coming soon!

  • Sunday, 11/21 at Meydenbauer Theatre, Bellevue, WA
  • Students arrive at 12:50pm in concert attire
  • Musicians 12+ Present proof of vaccination or negative COVID test (within 72 hours)
  • Concert starts at 2:00pm (Cadet performs first, followed by Debut!)

10/13/2021

Mark your calendars! Our fall retreat will be Saturday, 10/23 at Lake Washington HS (12033 NE 80th St, Kirkland, WA 98033) from 12:30-3:30pm. Retreats are for rehearsing, but more importantly, for getting to know each other and having fun as an orchestra!

Seating Auditions: We will hold seating auditions at the retreat. Please let me know if your student will not be attending so we can make a plan for them to record and submit an audition. No prior noticed and/or no audition will result in being placed at the back of their section. Coaches will listen to students individually to help place them in the spot in their section that benefits the overall sound of the group. Students should make sure the spots listed below are well-prepared (posture/technique, bowing, tone, rhythmic accuracy, expression):

Violin 1:
Synergy, mm. 21-36
Variations on a Ground, mm. 33-37

Violin 2:
Synergy, mm. 13-21
Variations on a Ground, mm. 33-37

Viola:
Synergy, mm. 13-21
Variations on a Ground, Pick-up to m. 41-49 (Solo)

Cello:
Synergy, mm. 13-21
Variations on a Ground, Pick-up to m. 41-49 (Solo)
Spring, mm. 1-7

Bass:
Synergy, m. 95-end
Variations on a Ground, Pick-up to m. 9-17

10/3/2021

Thank you for participating in our Fall 2021 season. It’s so nice to be back rehearsing in person! Don’t forget to have your student bring their instrument, music, pencil, and a stand each week. They should also be practicing during the week and taking music to their private teachers for assistance.

Here are two important documents to help with each rehearsal:
Debut Practice Schedule Fall 2021
Debut Orchestra Expectations

Listening:
Variations on a Ground
Synergy

Some helpful tools:

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