Percussion Ensemble

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

FALL QUARTER 2025 DETAILS

Percussion students assigned to perform with other ensembles have scheduled times to rehearse with those ensembles at other venues. This generally takes place the last three rehearsals of the quarter. Full times, dates, and locations will be posted here after the quarter starts.

Rehearsals Fall Quarter Dates
Mondays from 6:30 – 8:30 pm 9/22, 9/29, 10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/17
There is no rehearsal on 11/10 (Veteran’s Day).
Rehearsal Location Drop Off/ Pick Up
Bellevue Children’s Academy, South Campus Plan on prompt drop off and pick up to avoid
14640 NE 24th St, Bellevue, WA 98007 congestion.
Retreat Time & Date
Location TBD Saturday, October 11
Time TBD
Concert  Time & Date
Benaroya Hall Sunday, November 23
200 University St. ALL DAY. Exact details will be posted here
Seattle, WA 98101 at a later date.

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

When BYSO musicians miss a dress rehearsal, it creates challenges for the larger ensemble that may compromise the performance. At the conductor’s discretion, if a percussionist is not present at a dress rehearsal (including Percussion Ensemble and the orchestras), their assigned part may be given to another percussionist who is present at the dress rehearsal.

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


About

Percussion Ensemble is an ensemble for percussionists in the Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra organization. The typical Percussion Ensemble student has had some private instruction and school ensemble experience, has good snare drum and mallet technique, and reads music well.

Percussion Ensemble consists of all BYSO percussionists who were placed at the Philharmonia or Youth Symphony level after auditioning. Percussion Ensemble students provide percussion as needed for these two orchestras in addition to practicing and performing in their own ensemble, where they focus on interesting and challenging percussion-only pieces. Past ensemble works performed include Cirone’s 4/4 for Four, Spears’s Polyphonies, and an arrangement of Rossini’s William Tell Overture.

Recent Percussion Ensemble Performance


Conductor: Denali Williams

Denali Williams is an in-demand performing and teaching percussionist in a wide-variety of musical styles. Mr. Williams serves as a percussion coach/consultant to several area school districts including Bellevue, Seattle, and Snoqualmie Valley. In addition to these duties he frequently adjudicates band/solo & ensemble festivals throughout the region. Mr. Williams maintains teaching studios in Seattle and Tacoma for both remote and in-person lessons. Learn more.

Contact Denali Williams at percussion@byso.org

Messages from the Conductor

Philharmonia, Youth Symphony, Flute Orchestra, and Percussion Ensemble

Students with black blouses playing in concert.Religious head coverings:  plain black

Concert Attire

  • Black mask
  • Black shirt
  • Black pants/skirt
  • Black shoes
  • Black tie optional
  • Black suit jacket optional

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