What's New at GTCYS

GTCYS News Notes January 2010

 

Happy New Year, GTCYS Families!

We hope you enjoyed a restful break and we look forward to seeing you at rehearsals which resume January 4 and 5. We extend a special welcome to the 47 students who join GTCYS this semester. Please read News Notes (emailed monthly) for important updates, news, and opportunities.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS SCHEDULE

Second Semester Begins

Monday and Tuesday, January 4 and 5, 2010

Rehearsals for all orchestras resume at regular times and locations

 

Saturday Special Rehearsal

Saturday, January 23

9:00 – 11:45am

SPCO Center, 408 St. Peter Street, St. Paul

This is the first session for participants (registration closed)

 

Sinfonia Rehearsal Change

Tuesday, January 26

7:00 – 8:30pm

Rehearsal location change: Good Samaritan Church, 5730 Grove Street, Edina (instead of FAIR School for this one night); directions will be emailed separately

 

Symphony Side-by-Side Rehearsal with Minnesota Orchestra

Monday, February 15, 2010             

1:00* - 3:30pm (*call time 12:45pm)

Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall

 

Parent Meetings

Philharmonia:  Monday, February 8, 6:30 – 7:30pm                      

Sinfonia:  Tuesday, February 9, 7:00 – 8:00pm                

Concertino:  Monday, February 15, 7:00 – 8:00pm                       

Concert Orchestra:  Tuesday, February 2, 7:00 – 8:00pm             

Philharmonic: Tuesday, February 16, 7:00 – 8:00pm

Symphony:  Monday, February 1, 7:00 – 8:00pm             

 

Spring Festival Schedule

It is not too early to make sure that the Spring Festival dress rehearsal and concert schedule are on your calendars. Students should make appropriate arrangements now to ensure that they attend these mandatory events at Orchestra Hall.

 

Dress Rehearsals – Saturday, May 1 at Orchestra Hall

Times listed below include the individual orchestra rehearsal plus the mandatory mass ensemble rehearsal for all students.

 

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

 

Concert – Sunday, May 2 at Orchestra Hall

Call time for all students 1:15pm            

Concert start time          2:00pm

 

STUDENT NEWS

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.

 

 

STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES

SPCO Tickets are $5 for GTCYS Students and Parents!

The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra is thrilled to partner with GTCYS to make professional chamber orchestra music even more accessible.  We know how expensive it can be to take the whole family to a concert, but we also know how important it is for orchestra students to see the pros in action.  That’s why we’re excited to announce that now current GTCYS students and their parents can get best available seats for $5 per ticket* to SPCO performances at the Ordway Center and Ted Mann Concert Hall.  Go to www.thespco.org and enter promotional code GTCYS at checkout to redeem this offer any time throughout the 09/10 season. *Offer subject to availability.  Limit 4 tickets per order. Offer does not apply to January 23^rd or May 27-29^th performances.  Other restrictions may apply.

 

Music Scholarship Opportunity

The Chester E. and Marion D. Groth Scholarship at Richfield United Methodist Church. A total of $25,000 will be awarded for tuition for the 2010-2011 school year. To be eligible, an applicant must: be a graduating high school senior from a Minnesota high school; be entering college as a freshman. Application deadline is noon, Friday, February 26, 2010. Applicants will be notified if invited to a finalist audition on April 10, 2010. For more info and an application form, contact the church office (612)861-6086 or check the church website at www.richfieldumc.org.

 

Boston University Tanglewood Institute

BUTI is an intensive summer music program for gifted high school aged classical musicians (14 to 18 years old) that provides an immersive and unparalleled music education experience. The application deadline for the 2010 season is February 9^th, 2010. Full and partial scholarships will be awarded to qualified minority students who are accepted into the 4, 6, and 8 week programs.  Any qualified and interested candidates should visit our website (www.bu.edu/tanglewood) to learn more about the audition requirements, audition tour locations and dates, and to sign-up for a live audition. Recorded auditions are also equally acceptable.

 

Call for Auditions for String Players

The Minnetonka Symphony Orchestra is looking for string players to perform Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 (choral) on Sunday nights, May 2 and 9. Rehearsals in Minnetonka are at 7:30 pm on Sundays March 7, 14, 21 and 28, April 11, 18 and 25. Adult and excellent high school musicians are encouraged to audition. Visit www.musicassociation.org for more info or call Ann Cossette at 763-420-4249 (after 6:30) pm to schedule an audition.

 

BRASSCHIX

would like to invite any female high school brass students from the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies to their first invitational workshop, January 8, 2010. The cost for each participant is $10 to cover expenses for lunch and guest speakers including Lynn Erickson, trumpet, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra --Ellen Smith, horn, Minnesota Orchestra --Sue Roberts, trombone, formerly with Minnesota Orchestra. For more information please contact Sarah Schmalenberger, Assistant Professor of Music, University of St. Thomas http://www.stthomas.edu/music

Email:  scschmalenbe@stthomas.edu  Phone:  651-962-5851

 

Purtle.com Brass Camp

July 16-17, 2010 at Anderson University, South Carolina. Those unable to come in person will be able to subscribe and watch live steamed video and replay the sessions for at least 14 days after the event in HD quality video. The price is $200 for in person and $100 for online viewers. Register Now: http://www.purtle.com/brass-camp-event.html  Phone:  864.292.3532

 

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

We’re looking for photos! If you’re an avid photographer at GTCYS events, please share your results by uploading photos to our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Minneapolis-MN/GTCYS/44649913214. Or contact megen@gtcys.org if you prefer to submit a cd. We use photos for electronic and printed publicity materials and welcome your additions. Thank you!

 

THANK YOU, VOLUNTEERS!

Office volunteers for December: Pat Camilleri, Martha Lips, Kim Wu. Box office volunteers for the Symphony concert: Sara and David Bright. Special project volunteer: the Becker family. Concert photographer: Curt Godfrey. Thank you! If you are interested in volunteering, contact denise@gtcys.org.

 

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.

 

INCLEMENT WEATHER

In the event of inclement weather which might result in dangerous conditions, announcements will be made on WCCO Radio 830 AM; TV Channel 4; and web at www.wcco.com. We may also send an email to GTCYS families for whom we have valid email addresses and will post the

cancellation on www.gtcys.org. Decisions regarding cancellations will be made by 3:00pm. Parents and others are asked to stay tuned to these broadcast systems for the announcement. Cancellations are very rare—assume a GTCYS activity will continue unless you hear otherwise.