youth playing in concert

Debut Orchestra Messages

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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