Premiere Orchestra

  • Scroll down for concert details!
  • Spring Quarter music links were emailed to all enrolled students at 4:00 pm on March 19, 2026 in the weekly newsletter. Email admin@byso.org with any questions.
  • Click here for Conductor’s Messages

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

SPRING QUARTER 2026 DETAILS

Rehearsals Spring Quarter Dates
Mondays from 6:30 – 8:30 pm 3/23, 3/30, 4/13, 4/20, 4/27, 5/4, and 5/11
There is no rehearsal on 4/6 on Spring Break.
Rehearsal Location Drop Off/ Pick Up
Overlake Christian Church Plan on prompt drop off and pick up to avoid
9900 Willows Rd NE congestion.
Redmond, WA 98052
Retreat Location Time & Date
Retreats take place in Fall & No retreat in Spring quarter.
Winter Quarter.
Concert Time & Date
Bastyr University Chapel Sunday, May 17 @ 3:00 pm
14500 Juanita Dr NE, Call time: 2:00 pm
Kenmore, WA 98028 Scroll down 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 absent from rehearsal on the last Monday rehearsal before the concert are required to send Mr. Drassal a link to an unlisted YouTube video demonstrating their performance of their part. Mr. Drassal will email them measure numbers and tempo markings. This video is due no later than Thursday at 3pm. Students will receive the results of this music test by end of day Thursday.

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


CONCERT DETAILS | Sunday, May 17 @ 3:00 pm

CALL TIME | 2:00 pm
All musicians should arrive promptly 2:00 pm.

DROP OFF
Musicians can be dropped off via the parking lot next to Bastyr University Chapel.

PARKING
Parking is free in the lot next to the Bastyr University Chapel.

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 Bastyr 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!

BASTYR CONCERT TICKETS
Families of enrolled BYSO students get priority access to concert tickets at Bastyr from April 16 – April 30. On April 30, 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

Premiere Orchestra is an intermediate orchestra in the Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra organization. The typical Premiere Orchestra student has had some private instruction and school ensemble experience and is working to improve technical proficiency.

Premiere Orchestra introduces young musicians to full orchestral instrumentation (strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion) with repertoire that appropriately challenges their experience level. Past works performed include Brahms’s Hungarian Dances 5 & 6, Vaughan Williams’s Rhosymedre, and Mendelssohn’s Sinfonia No. 7 in D minor.

Recent Premiere Orchestra Performance

Conductor: David Drassal

David Drassal is a Tri-Cities area native, where he attended Southridge High School, playing trumpet in the bands and violin in the orchestra. He began Suzuki violin lessons at age 7 with Melvina Romanelli in Richland, WA and went on to receive a B.M. and M.A. in Music Education from Central Washington University. Mr. Drassal started with BYSO in 2007 as a violin coach for Premiere and has been the director for the Premiere Orchestra since 2013. Mr. Drassal also teaches orchestra at Tyee Middle School in Bellevue. Learn more.

Contact David Drassal at premiere@byso.org

Messages from the Conductor

Congratulations on a fantastic performing season!

We are excited to see you all at your auditions and again in the fall! Thank you for being in BYSO this season!

Have a great summer break!

 

David Drassal- Conductor

Hannah Ogden- Assistant Conductor

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