youth playing in concert

Intermezzo String Orchestra

Rehearsals will be held on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 – 7:00 pm. Musicians are expected to arrive and be prepared to rehearse 15 minutes prior to start time.

SPRING QUARTER 2025 DETAILS

Rehearsals Spring Quarter Dates
Tuesdays from 5:30 – 7:00 pm 3/25, 4/1, 4/15, 4/22, 4/29, 5/6, and 5/13
There is no rehearsal on April 8 (Spring Break).
Rehearsal Location Drop Off/ Pick Up
Overlake Christian Church Plan on prompt drop off and pick up to
9900 Willows Rd NE avoid congestion.
Redmond, WA 98052
Retreat  Time & Date
Retreats take place in TBD
Fall and Winter quarters only.
Concert Time & Date
Meydenbauer Theater Monday, May 19 at 7:00 pm
11100 NE 6th St Call time: 6:00 pm
Bellevue, WA 98004 See below 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

Students who miss the final Tuesday night rehearsal before a concert (regardless of the first or second absence) may be required to submit a video recording of the seating audition excerpts (posted on the Intermezzo page of the BYSO website) in order to be deemed eligible to participate in the concert. If a test is required, the student must submit it no later than 11:59 PM Thursday evening. Mrs. Hellekson will review the submissions Friday morning and notify the student and parents of the results. Failure to submit a video may result in the student being disqualified from playing in the concert.
For more details about the absence policy, please see the BYSO Student Handbook.

CONCERT DETAILS | Monday, May 19 @ 7:00 pm

CALL TIME | 6:00 PM
All musicians should arrive promptly 6:00 pm.

DROP OFF & PARKING
Musicians can be dropped off via the garage below the Meydenbauer Center. Parking cannot be reserved ahead of time. Rates are $7.00 for 1 hour, $11.00 for 1-3 hours, and $13 for 3-5 hours. For more details, click HERE to view parking information on the Meydenbauer website.

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.

REQUIRED MATERIALS
Reminder to bring your instrument, music, a pencil, and any instrument accessories (i.e. reeds, resin, etc.). You do not need to bring a music stand.

STAY THE WHOLE TIME
It is expected that all students playing in the concert stay for the entire concert. Please do not request that BYSO staff retrieve your student from backstage so that you can leave early.

VOLUNTEERS – WE NEED YOU!
Volunteers will be a vital part of a successful day at Meydenbauer 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 now! 

MEYDENBAUER CONCERT TICKETS
Families of enrolled BYSO students may find the concert ticket link in the weekly newsletter. Community members will be able to purchase tickets on May 1. Reminder: BYSO musicians performing in the concert do not need their own ticket.

About

Intermezzo String Orchestra is an intermediate entry-level ensemble for strings. This ensemble is designed for progressing students who have 2-3 years of experience on their instrument and some prior orchestra experience.

Conductor: Stephanie Hellekson

Stephanie Hellekson holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree and a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Puget Sound. She has taught in Tacoma Public Schools, Bethel School District, Peninsula Youth Symphony, private violin in the Seattle area and is currently the orchestra director at TOPS K-8 in the Seattle Public Schools, where she has taught and grown the program over the last 10 years. Learn more.

Contact Stephanie Hellekson at intermezzo@byso.org

Messages from the Conductor

Spring Quarter 2025!!!

Update

Welcome to Spring Quarter!  We only have 7 rehearsals (and no retreat) and then our final concert so I hope everyone has been practicing hard to prepare for our first rehearsal this evening.

A few housekeeping notes:

  • Same seating as last concert until after seating auditions
  • Violins are going to be adding Violin III on Jupiter, Echoes of Bartok, and Swashbuckers Saga because those parts are the viola part and needed.  Dance the Night away doesn’t need Violin III. Assignments on who is playing what at rehearsal tonight.  You should have printed the part you have been playing AND all the violin III music.
  • Seating Auditions are going to be on April 15th, below are the audition spots.  Violins, only play the violin III audition if you are assigned that part on that particular song.
Violin I Violin II Violin III Cello
Jupiter m.1-16 m. 1-16 m. 59-72 m. 35-41
Echoes of Bartok Rehearsal B-E Rehearsal B-E m. 17-31 Rehearsal N-m.150
Swashbuckers Saga m. 82-92 and 100-110 m. 82-92 and 100-110 m. 41-57 and74-9 0 m.41-57 and 90-97

See you soon and CONGRATULATIONS on such a well played concert!

Ms. Stephanie

Sponsors & Partners