Youth Symphony

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 SPRING QUARTER 2023

SPRING QUARTER 2023 DETAILS

Rehearsals Spring Quarter Dates
Mondays from 6:15 – 8:45 pm March 27 – May 22, 2023 (No rehearsal on 4/10)
Rehearsal Location Drop Off/ Pick Up
Bellevue Children’s Academy Please plan on prompt drop off and pick up to
14640 NE 24th St avoid congestion, as the parking lot is small. No
Bellevue, WA 98007 idling or parking in front of the entrance.
Retreat Fall & Winter Quarters Only
The next BYSO retreats will be
held in the 2023-24 Season.
Spring Concert | Masterworks Sunday, May 21 at 7:30 pm
Meydenbauer Theatre Call times and more will be posted as we get
11100 NE 6th St closer to the concert.
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!

For a full list of BYSO’s 22-23 Season dates, including Spring rehearsals and concerts, visit our calendar.


VOLUNTEERS – WE NEED YOU!
Volunteers will be a vital part of a successful Spring Quarter for all of our students. We need volunteers to help with attendance, setting up/tearing down, and supporting our students during their rehearsals. Click here to sign up now!


ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES 

Music Director Finalists’ Guest Conducting Sessions
BYSO is in the process of hiring its next Music Director and students are invited to be a part of the selection process! Each Music Director finalist will conduct the Youth Symphony for 45 minutes and then student musicians will be given the chance to offer feedback to the Music Director Search Committee. This is an incredible opportunity for Orchestra members to play an invaluable part in the selection process and have a say in the future of BYSO! The event will be on Saturday, April 1, from 9:15 am – 12:30 pm. Sign up HERE to participate. 

4th of July Orchestra
BYSO has been invited back to be the live orchestra at Bellevue’s 4th of July Fireworks Celebration. Youth Symphony Orchestra students are encouraged to sign up for an experience they will always remember! Perform for a crowd of 50,000+ people while fireworks illuminate the sky. More details can be found by clicking on the link. Sign up HERE to be a part of this fantastic opportunity.


About

Youth Symphony is the most advanced ensemble in the Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra organization. The typical student in Youth Symphony has had significant private instruction as well as school and extra-curricular ensemble experience. Youth Symphony members must have a high degree of technical proficiency and must enjoy challenge.

Youth Symphony provides a chance for advanced students to tackle the works of the great masters as well as new music composed especially for them. Past works performed include Sibelius’s Symphony No. 2, Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9, and Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique.


Conductor: Dr. Teresa Metzger Howe

Dr. Teresa Metzger Howe is Music Director of the Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra and conductor of BYSO's top tier ensemble, the Youth Symphony. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in orchestral conducting from the University of Washington, a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from Butler University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Theory from Manchester College. Dr. Metzger Howe is also the conductor of Rain City Symphony, a community orchestra in Seattle, Washington. Learn more.

Contact Dr. Teresa Metzger Howe at youth@byso.org

Messages from the Conductor

Dear Youth Symphony members,

String seating auditions will be held next Monday, April 3.

Cello seating audition excerpts:

Dvorak, 1st movt, 13 measures after Rehearsal 7 thru 9th measure after Rehearsal 8, quarter note = 126

Dvorak, 2nd movt, measures 10 thru 13 after Rehearsal 5, eighth note = 72

Viola seating audition excerpts:

Dvorak, 1st movt, 3 measures before Rehearsal 6 through 9th measure after Rehearsal 6, quarter note = 126

Dvorak, 4th movt, 11 measures after Rehearsal 6 through 9th measure after Rehearsal 7, quarter note = 144

Violin seating audition excerpts:

Dvorak, 1st movt, last 29 measures, quarter note = 126

Dvorak, 4th movt, 8 measures before Rehearsal 12 through 7 measures after Rehearsal 12, quarter note = 144

Ungar, measures 1-16, quarter note = 92 (This will be a solo.)

Rehearsal Schedule for 4/3:

All strings do seating auditions.

Full orchestra rehearsal will be approximately the first half of each movement of the Dvorak, plus rehearsing Ashokan Farewell.

Thank you!

Dr. Metzger Howe

Here is a recording of the Dvorak with Toscanni conducting the NBC Symphony Orchestra.  It is a favorite of mine.

 

 

I am excited to present our season’s theme for 2022-23, “Favorites and Farewells.”

The repertoire will feature compositions that are favorites of mine, plus music that is based on farewells of different kinds – the subject of death, music that was created at the end of a composer’s life, etc.  The season’s music is listed below.

Enjoy!

Dr. Metzger Howe

 


BYSO Youth Symphony Season 2022-23

Favorites and Farewells

FALL QUARTER

November 20, 2022

Jean Sibelius Karelia Overture, Op. 10

Richard Wagner Tristan und Isolde: Prelude and Liebestod

Alexander Borodin Prince Igor: Polovetsian Dances, No. 17

WINTER QUARTER

March 19, 2023

Edward Elgar Cello Concerto, 4th movement, Edward Yu, soloist

Peter Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6 (Pathetique)

SPRING QUARTER

May 21, 2023

Antonin Dvorak Symphony No. 9 (From the New World)

Jay Unger, arr. Bob Cerulli Ashokan Farewell

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