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GTCYS News Notes April 2010

Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies

528 Hennepin Avenue, Suite 404

Minneapolis, MN 55403

tel  612-870-7611  fax 612-870-7613

web www.gtcys.org  email mail@gtcys.org

Absence Line: 612-767-7608

 

Greetings GTCYS Families,

Because there are many exciting activities in the final weeks of the season, this edition of News Notes is longer than usual. Thank you for reading thoroughly and noting important details!

 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS SCHEDULE

Concert Orchestra Concert at MN Landscape Arboretum

Sunday, April 11 at 2:00pm (call time is 12:15pm – note earlier time to allow for dress rehearsal)

3675 Arboretum Road, Chaska 

Admission: Free with arboretum gate admission ($9 adults; free for ages 15 and under; free for arboretum members)

 

GTCYS makes its first appearance at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. In addition to traditional works such as Bizet's Farandole from L'Arlessienne Suite, the concert features a unique collaboration with jazz and improvisational violinist Randy Sabien who performs as soloist on Sweet Georgia Brown and other jazz classics. Swing into spring at this special event!

 

Silent Auction Donation Delivery

April 12 – 13

All GTCYS rehearsals

 

If you plan to donate orchestra basket items or regular silent auction items, please bring them to your Parent Captains at rehearsals on these days. We need to have all items in hand by April 13.  See “More News” below for details. Thank you for your help!

 

Concertino Concert

Monday, April 19

Call time 6:15pm, Concert at 7:00pm

Wayzata Community Church

125 East Wayzata Blvd., Wayzata

Free and open to the public

 

Directions are printed in the orchestra handbook and final details will be emailed to students in mid-April.

 

Philharmonic Concert*

Tuesday, April 20

Call time 6:30pm, Concert at 7:00 pm

Friendship Village

8100 Highwood Drive, Bloomington

 

Final details will be emailed to students in mid-April. *This is a private event for the senior citizens who live at Friendship Village. Standing room for parents is extremely limited – please plan to carpool or drop off students. Thank you for understanding.

 

Symphony Young Soloists Concert

Sunday, April 25

Call time 12:00pm for rehearsal, Concert at 2:00pm

Ted Mann Concert Hall

2128 Fourth Street South, Minneapolis

Tickets $13 for adults, $7 for children & seniors; available through GTCYS’ office (612-870-7611) or at the door

Note: on April 19 and 20, students in Philharmonia through Philharmonic will receive a complimentary GTCYS student ticket to attend.

 

GTCYS wraps up its 2009 – 2010 Symphony series with an energetic concert packed with drama, mystery and excitement. Opening with Weber’s Freischutz Overture, the program includes the folkloric Marrosszek Dances by Kodaly and the effervescent Three-Cornered Hat by De Falla.

 

GTCYS Summer Orchestra Early Registration Deadline

Friday, April 30

 

Planning to participate in GTCYS’ summer orchestras? Register by April 30 and save $20 off tuition! Artistic Director Amir Kats and staff conductor Sarah Chelgren will co-conduct Summer Symphony (for more advanced players) and Summer Philharmonic (for developing students). Enrollment is open to string, woodwind, brass and percussion students of all ability levels. Weekly rehearsals are at Mayflower Church in south Minneapolis on Tuesday nights, June 1 – July 20. The program culminates with a free community concert at Como Park. No audition necessary. Financial aid is available. Download a summer orchestra registration form.

 

 

Spring Festival Dress Rehearsals

Saturday, May 1

Orchestra Hall

1111 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis

 

Times listed below include the individual orchestra rehearsal and the mandatory mass ensemble rehearsal.

 

Philharmonia call time    8:30am

Dismissed at                 11:25am

 

Sinfonia call time           9:05am

Dismissed at                 11:25am

 

Concertino call time       9:40am

Dismissed at                 11:25am

 

Concert Orch. call time  10:15am

Dismissed at                             12:05pm

 

Philharmonic call time    10:15am

Dismissed at                 12:40pm

 

Symphony call time       10:15am

Dismissed at                             1:20pm 

 

Spring Festival Silent Auction & Concert

Sunday, May 2

Orchestra Hall

1111 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis

Tickets $6 - $13 + fees; available through Orchestra Hall at 612-371-5656, online, or at the door. On sale now!

 

Silent auction opens in lobby      12:30pm

Call time for all students             1:15pm            

Concert starts & auction ends     2:00pm

 

2010 – 11 Auditions

May 14 – 16 and May 21 – 22

Mayflower Church, Minneapolis

 

We have an exciting season planned for next year, so register now to audition! Audition slots are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. Register online or download an audition form. Remember to review the scale requirements and audition tips!

 

 

STUDENT NEWS

 

Francesca Dawis (Symphony violin) will be seen as Princess Ying Yaowlak in “The King and I” at Bloomington Civic Theatre. The show runs from April 23-May 22, 2010.

 

Eli Ross (Concert Orchestra trumpet) was the 1^st prize winner for Junior High Winds at the Thursday Musical Solo Competition. He has also been awarded a merit scholarship from the Interlochen Center for the Arts, in Michigan, where he will study this summer.

 

We want to hear about what GTCYS students are doing, including non-musical activities and awards. Let us know if you have any news to share! Email denise@gtcys.org.

 

 

THANK YOU, VOLUNTEERS!

 

Office Volunteers for March: Julia Buller, Pat Camilleri, Micki Engeriser, Tarneka Harrison, Kim Wu

 

Concert Volunteers: David and Sara Bright

 

 

STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES

GTCYS STUDENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

We have opportunities for student volunteers to help with upcoming GTCYS events. If interested, contact Denise Culshaw (denise@gtcys.org).

 

Usher at upcoming concerts

2 students needed for each, any orchestra or age. This is a great opportunity for students who have a sibling performing! Dates:

Sunday, April 11 – 2pm Concert Orchestra concert at the Arboretum in Chaska

Monday, April 19 – 7pm Concertino concert at Wayzata Community Church

Tuesday, April 20 – 7pm Philharmonic concert at Friendship Village, Bloomington

 

Hand out silent auction programs at Spring Festival

8 smiling students needed, any orchestra or age

Sunday, May 2 – 12:30-1:30pm at Orchestra Hall

 

Greet students at spring auditions

9^th – 12^th grade students needed to greet and register auditionees. Students must be enthusiastic about GTCYS and interested interacting with other students. GTCYS staff will assist.

Various shifts, May 14-16 and May 21-22 at Mayflower Church, Minneapolis

 

NEW! GTCYS Northeast Metro Summer Orchestra Camp

A joint collaboration between the GTCYS, Mahtomedi Community Services, North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale Community Education, White Bear Lake Community Services, and White Bear Area YMCA, this new program provides elementary-level string students with an engaging week-long learning opportunity. Directed by GTCYS conductor Mary Sorlie, the camp is designed for 9 - 14 year-old violin, viola, cello, and bass players who have two to four years playing experience. The five-day camp runs June 21 - 25 from 8:00am to noon at Central Middle School in White Bear Lake. Activities include rehearsals, sectionals, music fundamentals (movement, theory, rhythm, and solfège), and social activities. The program culminates with a free public concert at 12:30pm on Friday, June 25. Submit registration form and fees by June 11. Scholarships available. For more info, call GTCYS at 612-870-7611 or visit www.gtcys.org.

 

 

Strings International Music Festival

at Bryn Mawr College in Bryn Mawr, PA is for strings, piano and winds players ages 10-19 and features members of the Philadelphia Orchestra on staff. Space in limited, so register today at www.stringscamp.com or call 856-875-6816.

 

NHSMI Summer String Program

Applications are now being accepted for Northwestern University's five week summer program for strings, The National High School Music Institute (NHSMI), in Evanston, IL June 27 - July 30, 2010. Please visit the NHSMI web page for full details including application and financial aid forms.

 

Brass Camp

Purtle.com Brass Camp - July 16-17, 2010 Anderson University in South Carolina

For information please visit http://www.purtle.com/brass-camp.html and/or watch this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ug9yfixbB-0

 

Concordia Language Villages Soiva Music Camp

is an international music adventure for youth ages 11-18, June 14-20, 2010 in Bemidji, MN. Open to piano, flute, violin, clarinet, trumpet.

For more information visit www.ConcordiaLanguageVillages.org, call 800-222-4750 or email clv@cord.edu. Scholarships available.

 

MN Sinfonia

Winter Concert Series, featuring cellist Soo Bae

Friday, April 9, 7pm , First Covenant Church, St. Paul

Saturday, April 10, 2 pm, Basilica of St. Mary, Minneapolis

Free admission, children welcome

www.mnsinfonia.org

 

 

MORE NEWS

GTCYS on YouTube

Check out GTCYS’ video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4JHGO4QgMU!

 

GTCYS Tuition Raffle!

Tickets for the second annual GTCYS Tuition Raffle are available at rehearsals! First Prize is FULL tuition for any 2010 - 11 GTCYS Orchestra!  Second Prize is half tuition for any 2010 - 11 GTCYS orchestra. Tickets will be available from Parent Captains and volunteers at concerts and rehearsals leading up to Spring Festival on May 2^nd at Orchestra Hall. Tickets are $10 each of 3-for-$20. Proceeds support GTCYS’ student scholarships.

 

Spring Festival Silent Auction

Thanks to the many parents who have already donated items to the Spring Festival Silent Auction. While we have many exciting items – conducting lesson with Amir Kats, golf packages, theater tickets, resort stays – we still need restaurant gift cards, sporting tickets or memorabilia, and retail gift cards. Interested parents can either 1) purchase items to donate and/or 2) request donated items from retailers. We also invite parents to bring small items for the orchestras’ themed baskets:

 

Philharmonia – Chocolate

Sinfonia – Movies

Concertino – Kitchen

Concert Orchestra – Golf

Philharmonic – Coffee & Tea

Symphony – Wine

 

Questions? Contact Jeffrey DeSutter at GTCYS (612-767-7602 or jeffrey@gtcys.org). Thank you!

 

 

ABSENCE LINE

GTCYS’ Absence Line (612-767-7608) is a voicemail with a mailbox for each orchestra. If you have an unexpected absence, be sure to leave a message in your orchestra's mailbox before your rehearsal is scheduled to begin. Remember to complete and submit an absence form to your RA for any absence. Do not email or fax the office with your absence message or form. The complete absence policy is in your orchestra handbook.