Debut Orchestra Messages – Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra

1/11/2026

Are you ready for our 2nd rehearsal?!

Our first sectionals happen at our rehearsal on 1/12.
We will meet all together to tune and warm-up and then you will join your coach to work through your music.
Please bring a pencil and make sure you have reviewed your music so you are not sight-reading.

1/3/2026

Hello Debut Musicians and Families!

Welcome to the Winter Quarter of BYSO! New to us? Learn “About Me” HERE!

Remember to bring your PRINTED music and a PENCIL to the first rehearsal and label everything (no stands are necessary). We’re a big group, so there will be assigned seats. Please see the seating chart when you arrive. 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.

Want to hear what we’re playing?! Here are the links:

Recordings: Declarations, Divertimento No. 3, River Valley Waltz

Stand partner question of the week: What’s your name and what was the best part of your break?

Names of our Fabulous Coaches:

Assistant Conductor: Mrs. Marianna Vail
1st Violins: Coach Caroline Faflak
2nd Violins: Mrs. Megan Jancola
Violas: Mrs. Marianna Vail
Cellos: Ms. Janice Lee
Bass: Coach Moe Weisner

Mark your calendar:

January 5 – First Rehearsal!
January 26 – Seating Audition Spots Given at Rehearsal (posted online by January 30)
February 7 – Fall Retreat (time to meet your peers, do some fun activities, and practice for your seating auditions)
February 9 – Seating Auditions at our Monday Rehearsal (no make-up auditions/videos accepted)
March 14 – Concert at Meydenbauer Theatre at 3:00pm (student call time will be earlier)

Don’t forget your…

11/5/2025 (no rehearsal on Monday, 11/10 in observance of Veteran’s Day)

One rehearsal to go until we perform! Are you ready?! **Note: Students who miss our rehearsal on 11/17 might be asked to record a video to participate in the concert. Please make sure you’re there for our final rehearsal!

CONCERT DETAILS | Saturday, November 22 @ 7:00 pm

CALL TIME | 5:15 pm
All musicians should arrive promptly 5:15 pm. The dress rehearsal is from 5:30 pm to 6:00 pm.

DROP OFF
Musicians can be dropped off via the parking lot next to Bastyr University Chapel.

PARKING
Parking is free in the lot next to the Bastyr University Chapel.

CONCERT ATTIRE
Be sure to check your ensemble’s concert attire requirements. Students must arrive wearing their concert clothing. They will not have a place to change later.

10/24/2025

Thank you for your preparation for seating auditions! Our group has made leaps and bounds in our rehearsals since the retreat.

Seating on Monday: A new seating chart will be ready at Monday’s rehearsal. Remember, every player contributes to our sound as a group. If you don’t get the chair you wanted this time, remember there are more opportunities throughout the year to change seating. I will meet with section leaders at the beginning of rehearsal on Monday to go over your role with the orchestra.

Costumes on Monday (from the BYSO newsletter):

In keeping with what’s becoming a fun tradition, you’re invited to come dressed in your Halloween costume and get ready for some early trick-or-treat fun — yes, there will be candy!

Costumes are totally optional, it is just a lighthearted way to add some extra spirit and fun to our rehearsal time together. If you do choose to dress up, please remember to keep costumes respectful of all cultures and backgrounds. A good rule of thumb: if it’s something you’d be allowed to wear to school, it’s perfect for rehearsal.

10/8/2025

Mark your calendars:

October 18 – Fall Retreat (time to meet your peers, do some fun activities, and practice for your seating auditions). Our retreat will be at Odle Middle School on Saturday, 10/18 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.
October 20 – Seating Auditions at our Monday Rehearsal (no make-up auditions/videos accepted). Seating auditions are NOT optional. If you miss the auditions, you will be placed at the end of your section.

This week: PRACTICE and LISTEN to your music! Many people were sight-reading at rehearsal on Monday (after 3 weeks!). Next rehearsal will be the half-way point to our concert.

Songs for Fall 2025: A Musical Journey

Seating Audition Information:
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:
Hansel and Gretel, mm. 16-20
Drinking Gourd, mm. 44-61 (downbeat)
Mythos, mm. 3-17
Violin 2:
Hansel and Gretel, mm. 75-end
Drinking Gourd, mm. 44-52
Mythos (none)
Viola:
Hansel and Gretel, mm. 42-52
Drinking Gourd, mm. 44-61
Mythos, mm. 35-64 (make sure to show bowing at the lower half)
Cello:
Hansel and Gretel, mm. 11-24
Drinking Gourd, mm. 28-44
Mythos (none)

10/2/2025

This week: Seating audition spots will be given at sectionals on 10/6

Challenge: Learn someone’s name from each section in the orchestra (Vln1, Vln2, Vla, Cello)

Practice: Have you used a metronome to practice your piece? Try it! Look for the metronome markings at the beginning of each piece (or section). Don’t see one? Ask me or your coach!

Songs for Fall 2025: A Musical Journey

Mark your calendar:

October 6 – Seating Audition Spots Given at Rehearsal (posted online by October 8)
October 18 – Fall Retreat (time to meet your peers, do some fun activities, and practice for your seating auditions)
October 20 – Seating Auditions at our Monday Rehearsal (no make-up auditions/videos accepted)

9/26/2025

This week: Bring your pencils!

Sectionals start this week and you’ll want to mark all the special information your coaches give you. This is a way to start strong and be prepared for seating auditions on October 18th.

Challenge: Learn the name of your sectional coach! No, “Hey, you!” or “That one guy/girl”

Mark your calendar:

October 6 – Seating Audition Spots Given at Rehearsal (posted online by October 8)
October 18 – Fall Retreat (time to meet your peers, do some fun activities, and practice for your seating auditions)
October 20 – Seating Auditions at our Monday Rehearsal (no make-up auditions/videos accepted)

8/18/2025, Updated 9/15/2025

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!

This is where you’ll look for recordings of the songs that we’ll be playing and important rehearsal notes. Links to print your music will be sent to your parent’s email. Don’t forget to print your music before our first rehearsal, put it in a folder, and write your name on it. Also, bring a pencil to mark your music.

Songs for Fall 2025: A Musical Journey

Things to think about: Have you ever been on a trip or a “journey”? What kind of journey do Hansel and Gretel go on? See if you can discover what kind of a journey Follow the Drinking Gourd is about (hint: the “drinking gourd” is another name for the Big Dipper). Have you ever read any Greek or Roman Mythology? Does Percy Jackson come to mind? Think about those journeys as we play Mythos by the one and only, Soon Hee Newbold!

Mark your calendar:

September 22 – First Rehearsal!
October 6 – Seating Audition Spots Given at Rehearsal (posted online by October 8)
October 18 – Fall Retreat (time to meet your peers, do some fun activities, and practice for your seating auditions)
October 20 – Seating Auditions at our Monday Rehearsal (no make-up auditions/videos accepted)

See you on Monday, 9/22/25!

Mrs. Ewing (You-ing)

Some helpful tools: