Flute Choir

  • Scroll down for concert details!
  • Spring Quarter music links were emailed to all enrolled students at 4:00 pm on March 19, 2026 in the weekly newsletter. Email admin@byso.org with any questions.
  • Click here for Conductor’s Messages

Rehearsals will be held on Monday evenings from 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Musicians are expected to arrive and be prepared to rehearse 15 minutes prior to start time.

SPRING QUARTER 2026 DETAILS

Rehearsals Spring Quarter Dates
Mondays from 6:30 – 8:30 pm 3/23, 3/30, 4/13, 4/20, 4/27, 5/4, and 5/11
There is no rehearsal on 4/6 on Spring Break.
Rehearsal Location Drop Off/ Pick Up
Odle Middle School Plan on prompt drop off and pick up to
502 143rd Ave NE avoid congestion.
Bellevue, WA 98007
Retreat Location Time & Date
Retreats take place in Fall & No retreat in Spring quarter.
Winter Quarter.
Concert Time & Date
Bastyr University Chapel Sunday, May 17 @ 7:00 pm
14500 Juanita Dr NE, Call time: 5:25 pm
Kenmore, WA 98028 Scroll down for more details.

Student Checklist

  • Bring a music stand
  • Bring a pencil
  • 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!

ATTENDANCE POLICY FOR LAST REHEARSAL BEFORE THE CONCERT

If a Flute Choir student misses the final Monday rehearsal before a concert, their participation in the upcoming concert will be contingent on a music test. They will be required to submit a video of their performance of excerpts (details provided by the conductor) no later than Wednesday at midnight. The conductor will then make a decision whether the student can participate in the upcoming concert. This decision will be communicated by Thursday.

For more details about the absence policy, please see the BYSO Student Handbook.


CONCERT DETAILS | Sunday, May 17 @ 7:00 pm

CALL TIME | 5:25 pm
All musicians should arrive promptly 5:25 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.

VOLUNTEERS – WE NEED YOU!
Volunteers will be a vital part of a successful day at Bastyr for all of our students. We need volunteers to help the check in process and supporting ensembles during their dress rehearsals. Volunteers have early access to reserve their seats in the hall. Click here to sign up!

BASTYR CONCERT TICKETS
Families of enrolled BYSO students get priority access to concert tickets at Bastyr from April 16 – April 30. On April 30, tickets will be open to the general public on our website, here.

STAY THE WHOLE CONCERT
Performing students are expected to stay from their call time to the end of the concert. Listening to other musicians perform is an important part of each student’s music education, and it’s also important to support fellow BYSO musicians in this way.  Students who must leave early due to unavoidable schedule conflicts must get permission from their conductor and the BYSO office prior to the concert.


About

Flute Choir is an advanced intermediate ensemble for flutes. This BYSO ensemble consists of flutists who were placed at the Sinfonia level after auditioning. Because orchestras need only a few flutes at a time, some of these students may take turns playing in Sinfonia during the year while also practicing and performing in the Flute Choir ensemble. The typical Flute Choir student has had some private instruction and school ensemble experience and is developing solid technical skills and musical understanding.

Flute Choir students develop orchestral playing skills in an enriching and unique chamber group setting, learning to produce rhythmic accuracy and clear dynamic contrasts while maintaining appropriate blend, balance and intonation. Since there are usually only one or two players per part in Flute Choir, these flutists gain valuable independence in playing. Past works performed include Castérède’s Flûtes Joyeuses, Adler’s Madrigals for Six Flutes, and the folksong Scarborough Fair.

Recent Flute Choir Performance

Conductor: Dr. Merrie Siegel Parmley

Dr. Merrie Siegel Parmley holds a Bachelor’s degree from the Eastman School of Music and Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from Rice University. She won the New York Flute Club’s Young Artist Competition at age 19 and since then has performed with the Houston Symphony, Charleston Symphony, Spokane Symphony, and Mozart Society of Philadelphia, among others. Learn more.

Contact Dr. Merrie Siegel Parmley at flutechoir@byso.org

Messages from the Conductor

Greetings, Flutists and Families —

What an incredible season we’ve shared together.  It’s been a fabulous musical journey and wonderful to see all of your technical and artistic growth.  Flute Choir is truly better than the sum of its parts!

If you haven’t signed up for an audition time, please be sure to do so.  I look forward to seeing you at auditions and hopefully at BYSO’s Summer Music Institute, where I’ll be having a fabulous week 🙂

I wish you a relaxing summer and GO, FLUTE CHOIR!!!!

Flutistically yours,

Dr. Merrie

 

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