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.

WINTER QUARTER 2026 DETAILS

Rehearsals Winter Quarter Dates
Tuesdays from 5:30 – 7:00 pm 1/6, 1/13, 1/27, 2/3, 2/10, 2/24, 3/3, 3/10
There is no rehearsal on 1/20 for MLK Day
or on 2/17 for Presidents’ Day.
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 Location  Time & Date
Odle Middle School Saturday, January 31
502 143rd Ave NE 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Bellevue, WA 98007
Concert Time & Date
Meydenbauer Center Theatre Monday, March 16 @ 7:00 pm
11100 NE 6th St Call time TBD.
Bellevue, WA 98004

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.

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

Intermezzo

Happy Holidays!

I hope everyone is enjoying a well deserved break away from school and doing all the things you love!

I am looking forward to rehearsals starting back up on January 6th for our new music.  Make sure you’ve looked it over and practiced the tricky spots before our first rehearsal. I’ll see you around 5:15 for our 5:30 rehearsal on Tuesday, Jan 6.   Please remember to be on-time but not *too* early, we don’t have staff before 5:15 to manage all the students.

Don’t forget to print out your music and have it in a folder or binder (NO PLASTIC SLEEVES please, we need to mark our music and it is difficult for students to pull it out and put it in).  Bring a pencil and a stand – some of you will have new seats until seating auditions, which is Feb 3rd.

All my best,

Ms. Stephanie

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