In-Person Rehearsals:
In-person rehearsals follow WA State DOH guidelines for schools. We are watching evolving School District and State COVID guidelines and will make changes accordingly. Click here for complete BYSO COVID Policy and Procedures.
BYSO 2022-23 SEASON
Fall Quarter Dates | September 26, 2022 through November 22, 2022
There are 7-8 rehearsals per quarter, which are held on Monday evenings and one Saturday retreat for each ensemble during Fall and Winter Quarters. Specific dates will be posted here as the Fall quarter approaches.
Philharmonia is an advanced orchestra in the Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra organization. The typical Philharmonia student has had several years of private instruction and substantial ensemble experience and is highly skilled on his or her instrument.
Philharmonia prepares high-level musicians for possible entry into Youth Symphony with challenging full orchestra pieces. Past works performed include Brahms’s AcademicFestival Overture, Tchaikovsky’s Slavonic March in Bb Minor, and Mozart’s Symphony No. 35.
Conductor: Joseph Kempisty
Joseph Kempisty holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from The Ohio State University and a Master of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies degree from the University of Washington. He has taught elementary, middle, and high school orchestras in the Midwest as well as in the Bellevue School District, where he was also a school administrator for fourteen years. Learn more.
Critical Musician Skill: Think and Count Subdivisions! Practice with a metronome on Newbold’s 7/8 and 6/8 sections (metronome set to eighth note = 304).
There is no rehearsal on April 11th. Practice!!!
Seating Auditions will be Monday, April 18th. Details below. Newbold tempos as marked in the part. For this Seating Audition: Massenet Mvmt 2 quarter = 130. Massenet Mvmt 4 quarter = 110, and at the Piu Mosso quarter = 120.
NOTE: If you have an unmovable conflict on April 18th, you can do your Seating Audition early. Send Mr. Kempisty an email to let him know before 3pm on April 4th, and plan on doing your Seating Audition at our Monday, April 4th rehearsal.
Flute
Massenet Mvmt 2: B to C & 5 after I to J
Massenet Mvmt 2: 7 after C to D
Massenet Mvmt 4: 6 before K to End
Oboe
Massenet Mvmt 2: 5 after I to J
Massenet Mvmt 2: 7 after C to D
Massenet Mvmt 4: 6 before K to End
Clarinet
Massenet Mvmt 2: B to 7 after C
Massenet Mvmt 2: 5 before I to 6 after I
Massenet Mvmt 2: 7 after C to D
Massenet Mvmt 4: 6 before K to End
French Horn
Newbold: 114 to 122 & 158 to 176
Massenet Mvmt 2: 3 before K to K
Massenet Mvmt 2: 7 after C to D
Massenet Mvmt 4: 6 before K to End
Trumpet
Newbold: 111 to 127 & 187 – 193
Massenet Mvmt 2: 7 after C to D
Massenet Mvmt 4: 6 before K to End
Trombone
Massenet Mvmt 2: 7 after C to D
Massenet Mvmt 4: 6 before K to End
Violin 1
Massenet Mvmt 2: 7 after C to D
Massenet Mvmt 4: 6 before K to End
Massenet Mvmt 4: H to 8 after J
Violin 2
Massenet Mvmt 2: 7 after C to D
Massenet Mvmt 4: 6 before K to End
Viola
Massenet Mvmt 2: 7 after C to D
Massenet Mvmt 4: 6 before K to End
Cello
Massenet Mvmt 2: One beat before C to 7 after C
Massenet Mvmt 2: 5 before I to 6 after I
Massenet Mvmt 2: 7 after C to D
Massenet Mvmt 4: 6 before K to End
Double Bass
Massenet Mvmt 2: 7 after C to D
Massenet Mvmt 4: 6 before K to End
Winter 2022
Congratulations on our Winter Concert!!!
Below is a video of the Singapore National Youth Orchestra performing Bizet’s Carmen Suite No. 1 (Prelude at beginning. Aragonaise follows at 1:15. Les Toreadors starts at 10:25.). Our tempos will be very similar to what is in this video recording.
Below is a video with score for Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 26. The fourth movement Finale starts at 33:27. Our starting tempo will be at quarter = 120 for now (start slower than this to get the correct notes and articulations then gradually notch up the tempo each week in your individual practice time). Our goal will be to get the fast opening section to quarter = 130 (the video recording below is faster than this).
This Houston Symphony website has some great information about this symphony including quotes from Tchaikovsky’s letter to his patron Nadezhda von Meck.
Fall 2021
For Glinka’s “Russlan and Ludmilla Overture,” use a metronome at a slower tempo and then gradually increase your tempo. Our goal is to reach half note = 136.
For the sections from Miranda’s “Hamilton,” definitely listen to recordings for the two opening swing sections to get the right style and feel (“You’ll Be Back” and “Helpless”). For the other rhythmic sections, break it down to 16th notes and start at a slower tempo to get every rhythm correct before moving up to a slightly faster tempo (metronome also very helpful!).
If you are interested in exploring other pieces or want to see the full score to Glinka’s “Russlan and Ludmilla Overture“, you can find a lot of music there (scores and parts) that is now in the public domain (copyright restrictions have expired). Check out imslp.org
Below is a video of Glinka’s “Russlan and Ludmilla Overture” performed by the National Youth Orchestra of the USA. The tempo is a bit faster than our target tempo, but they do a great job of conveying the excitement and musicality in this piece.
From the video’s details: Each summer, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute brings together the brightest young players from across the country to form the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA). Following a comprehensive audition process and a three-week training residency with leading professional orchestra musicians, these remarkable teenagers embark on a tour to some of the great music capitals of the world while serving as dynamic music ambassadors.
