youth playing in concert

Intermezzo String Orchestra

  • Fall Concert call times are available! Scroll to see details below.
  • Fall Quarter music will be posted on our website in PDF format by mid-September. All enrolled students will receive instructions via email on how to access and print these PDFs in September. In the meantime, email admin@byso.org with any questions.
  • Click here for Conductor’s Messages

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.

FALL QUARTER 2026 DETAILS

Rehearsals Fall Quarter Dates
Tuesdays from 5:30 – 7:00 pm 9/29, 10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/10, 11/17
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, October 17
502 143rd Ave NE 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Bellevue, WA 98007
Concert Time & Date
Meydenbauer Theatre Sunday, November 22 @ 2:30 pm
11100 NE 6th St Call times and more are below.
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. This also may apply to students who miss more than 20 minutes of the final Tuesday night rehearsal (by arriving late or leaving early). 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 | Sunday, November 22 @ 2:30 pm

CALL TIME | 1:30 pm
All musicians should arrive promptly 1:30 pm.

DRESS REHEARSAL | 1:45 pm – 2:15 pm
This is when students rehearse on stage for a soundcheck. If students arrive at this time, they are late.

DROP OFF
Musicians can be dropped off via the Meydenbauer Parking Garage. The first 30 minutes are free.

PARKING
Parking is available in the Meydenbauer Parking Garage. Parking cannot be reserved ahead of time.

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 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!

CONCERT TICKETS
Families of enrolled BYSO students get priority access to concert tickets from October 15 – November 4. On November 5, 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

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.

Recent Intermezzo String Orchestra Performance:

Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra's Intermezzo String Orchestra

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

We are in the final stretch before our first concert. Please make sure to check concert clothing requirements and that everything fits. I look forward to seeing you all and sharing our music with you on Sunday, November 22nd.

I encourage the students to be polishing their songs, since notes and rhythms should be learned by now. This looks like ALL dynamics played, ALL bowings played correctly, phrasing, and making sure that at all tempo changes they have their music memorized and can practice them at different speeds and looking up. Often playing in different rooms around the home can help with this.

See you Tuesday!

Ms. Stephanie

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