Led by Conductor Anna Edwards and comprised of talented young musicians in the Puget Sound region, the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra is SYSO’s flagship orchestra and one of the premier youth orchestras in the United States. Repertoire includes a variety of styles from early music to world premieres. The orchestra performs three regular season concerts in Benaroya Hall, home of the Seattle Symphony, and regularly partners with the Pacific Northwest Ballet, the Seattle Opera, regional Broadway musical theater organizations, local choruses, and internationally acclaimed guest artists and conductors.
Anna Edwards
Interim Music Advisor and YSO Conductor
About the Orchestra
PAY TUITION
SUBMIT ABSENCE FORM
AUDITION
EMAIL SECRETARY
YSO 2018-2019 CALENDAR
YSO sectionals and rehearsals are held at the University of Washington’s School of Music, unless otherwise noted. Students will be given a 45-minute lunch break at each rehearsal.
September
9/8 SATURDAY: SHORECREST HS
9:00-11:00 Individual Coaching
9/15 SATURDAY: SHORECREST HS
8:00-9:25 Violin I, Cello, & Viola Coaching
9:00-1:30 FULL Orchestra
9/16 SUNDAY: BENAROYA HALL, Founder’s Room
9:00-12:00 SYSO Concerto Competition Finals
9/22 SATURDAY
8:00-9:25 Violin II & Bass Coaching
9:30-11:15 Percussion Coaching
9:30-11:15 String Coaching – Wind/Brass Sectional
12:00-1:30 WW/Brass Coaching – String Sectional
9/29 SATURDAY
8:00-9:25 Violin I, Cello, & Viola Coaching
9:30-1:30 FULL Orchestra
October
10/6 SATURDAY
8:00-9:25 Violin II & Bass Coaching
9:30-11:15 String Sectional – Wind/Brass Coaching
12:00-1:30 FULL Orchestra
10/13 SATURDAY: SHORECREST HS
9:30-1:30 Full Rehearsal
1:45-3:00 Percussion Coaching
10/20 SATURDAY
9:30-1:30 FULL Orchestra
8:00-11:30 Seating Auditions for Strings
10/27 SATURDAY
9:30-1:30 FULL Orchestra
November
11/3 SATURDAY
9:30-1:30 FULL Orchestra
11/7 WEDNESDAY: BENAROYA HALL
6:00-9:00PM Dress Rehearsal
11/10 SATURDAY: BENAROYA HALL
9:30-1:30 Dress Rehearsal
11/11 SUNDAY: BENAROYA HALL
3:00PM Concert
11/17 SATURDAY
8:00-9:25 Violin I, Cello, & Viola Coaching
9:30-11:15 Percussion Coaching
9:30-11:15 String Coaching – Wind/Brass Sectional
12:00-1:30 String Sectional – Wind/Brass Coaching
11/24 SATURDAY: NO REHEARSAL
December
12/1 SATURDAY
8:00-9:25 Violin II & Bass Coaching
9:30-1:30 FULL Orchestra
1:45-3:00 Percussion Coaching
12/8 SATURDAY
8:00-9:25 Violin I, Cello, & Viola Coaching
9:30-1:30 FULL Orchestra
12/15 SATURDAY
9:30-1:30 FULL Orchestra
12/22 SATURDAY: NO REHEARSAL
12/29 SATURDAY: NO REHEARSAL
January
1/5 SATURDAY
8:00-9:25 Violin I, Cello, & Viola Coaching
9:30-11:15 Percussion Coaching
9:30-11:15 String Sectionals -Wind/Brass Coaching
12:00-1:30 FULL Orchestra
1/12 SATURDAY
8:00-9:25 Violin II & Bass Coaching
9:30-1:30 FULL Orchestra
1/19 SATURDAY
9:30-11:15 Percussion Coaching
9:30-11:15 String Sectionals – Wind/Brass Coaching
12:00-1:30 String Coaching – Wind/Brass Sectionals
1/26 SATURDAY: SHOREWOOD HIGH SCHOOL
8:00-9:25 Violin II & Bass Coaching
9:30-1:30 FULL Orchestra
February
2/2 SATURDAY
8:00-9:25 Seating Audition for Strings
9:30-1:30 FULL Orchestra
2/9 SATURDAY: SHORECREST HS
9:30-1:30 FULL Orchestra
2/16 SATURDAY: NO REHEARSAL
2/23 SATURDAY: SHOREWOOD HS
9:30-11:15 Percussion Coaching
9:30-11:15 String Sectional – Wind/Brass Coaching
12:00-1:30 FULL Orchestra
March
3/2 SATURDAY
9:30-1:30 FULL Orchestra
3/6 WEDNESDAY: BENAROYA HALL
6:00-9:ooPM Dress Rehearsal
3/9 SATURDAY: BENAROYA HALL
1:30-5:30PM Dress Rehearsal
3/10 SUNDAY: BENAROYA HALL
3:00PM Concert
3/16 SATURDAY
8:00-9:25 Violin I, Viola, Cello, & Bass Coaching
9:30-11:15 String Sectionals – Wind/Brass Coaching
12:00-1:30 String Coaching – Wind/Brass Sectionals
3/23 SATURDAY
8:00-9:25 Violin II & Bass Coachings
9:30-1:30 FULL Orchestra
3/30 SATURDAY
8:00-9:25 Violin I, Viola, Cello Coaching
9:30-11:15 Woodwind & Brass Coaching – String Sectionals
12:00-1:30 FULL Orchestra
1:45-3:00 Percussion Coaching
April
4/6 SATURDAY
8:00-9:25 Violin II & Bass Coachings
9:30-1:30 FULL Orchestra
4/13 SATURDAY
8:00 Seating Auditions for Strings
9:30-1:30 FULL Orchestra
4/20 SATURDAY
9:30-1:30 FULL Orchestra
4/27 SATURDAY
9:30-1:30 FULL Orchestra
May
5/1 WEDNESDAY: BENAROYA HALL
6:00-9:00PM Dress Rehearsal
5/4 SATURDAY: BENAROYA HALL
2:00-5:00PM Alumni & YSO Dress Rehearsal
5/5 SUNDAY: BENAROYA HALL
9:00AM-1:00PM Dress Rehearsal
3:00PM Concert
Attendance Policy
Each participant will be allowed only two absences during the preparation time for each concert. If a third absence occurs, participation in the upcoming concert is at the discretion of the conductor and will require an audition of your part for the conductor. If a fourth absence occurs or your third absence is the Dress Rehearsal, the conductor will decide whether or not you will be allowed to play in the concert, with or without an audition.
If you are unable to attend a rehearsal or sectional for any reason you must submit an excuse with the reason for your absence and turn it into the orchestra secretary, two weeks prior to your anticipated absence.
For an Illness or Family Emergency
For an illness or family emergency: Notify your Orchestra Secretary before the scheduled rehearsal time, by email or calling your orchestra secretary or by leaving a message at the SYSO office (206.362.2300).
Absence from a Dress Rehearsal
Missing a scheduled dress rehearsal is unacceptable. Even if you have not missed any rehearsals for that concert period, missing a dress rehearsal puts your participation in the upcoming concert at the discretion of the conductor. If you are to miss a dress rehearsal, regardless of the issue, prior notification is required.
Absence from a Concert Performance
Giving less than a months’ notice of your absence from a concert puts your remaining participation in the SYSO program in jeopardy and at the discretion of the conductor and Music Director.
Tardiness
A late arrival to a rehearsal is disruptive. If you are late to rehearsal or sectional it will be counted as a half absence. Being late to rehearsal twice will be counted as one absence.
Concert Dress Code
Students can either wear concert tails or formal concert black ensemble.
Concert tails: black tuxedo, long-sleeve white dress shirt, black socks, black dress shoes, and black bow tie.
Concert black: black button-up or blouse style shirt. Sleeves must be to elbows or below. Black bottoms may either be black dress pants OR long black skirt with black tights/hose. Black dress shoes should be worn, open-toed shoes require black socks/tights/hose.
Please keep jewelry and hair adornments unobtrusive. No sweaters. No jeans. No spandex or athletic pants. No short skirts. No sandals. No tennis shoes.
2018-2019 Orchestra Handbook
YSO SECRETARY
The orchestra secretary aids the conductor in scheduling and coordinating rehearsal, taking attendance, and answering questions. The orchestra secretary is your primary resource for information.
Founded in 1942, Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra is the largest youth orchestra training program in the United States.
