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           Pinellas Youth Symphony, Inc.

           P.O. Box 4106, Seminole, FL 33775

          Voicemail: 727-438-3149

           pysdirector@yahoo.com

                                    www.pysmusic.org

 

 

 

Dear Student Musicians, Parents, and Friends of PYS,                                    June 30, 2008 

              

We hope this letter finds you enjoying your summer. This past season has certainly been a special year as we celebrated our 50th Anniversary. We have just returned from a successful, first-ever, overseas tour with 52 student musicians, who performed outstanding concerts in Italy and Austria.  It was an enlightening, lifetime experience for us all, and we have returned, re-energized for the upcoming season.

 

Please find below plans for next season’s program.

 

PYS 2008-2009 Rehearsal Season:

Rehearsals for all orchestras will take place on Sunday afternoons, beginning September 14, 2008, between the hours of 2:30-7:00 p.m. at the Marcia P. Hoffman Education Institute of Ruth Eckerd Hall.  Classes for beginning strings will begin September 21, 2008.  Tentative times for orchestra rehearsals and string classes are listed below and also will be posted on our website.

 

Audition Dates and Process:

Auditions for orchestra membership will be offered over Labor Day weekend, August 30, 31st, and if needed on Sept 1st at the Education Institute of Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen Booth Road, Clearwater. You will be notified of your audition date/time by mail, approximately a week in advance of your assigned audition date.

 

You are invited to register online for auditions by going to our website (pysmusic.org) and clicking on the Membership icon.  If needed a paper copy of the audition registration form can be obtained by calling the PYS voicemail: (727) 438-3149 or contacting us by email at pysdirector@yahoo.com.  A $25 nonrefundable registration fee will be due at the time of your audition.

 

Audition Requirements

Please note: a list of the audition requirements is enclosed. As with previous years, students will be required to perform appropriate excerpt(s) as part of the audition requirements. Excerpts for 08-09 will be posted soon on the website and can be downloaded for practice purposes. If you are unable to download the excerpts, notify us by email and a  copy of the excerpt(s) will be mailed to you.

 

PYS Tentative Rehearsal Schedule

2008-2009 Season

Education Institute at Ruth Eckerd Hall

 

Beginning Strings                                               3:00-4:00 PM

Beginning Strings                                               4:00-5:00 PM

String Consort                                                   5:00-6:00 PM

Beginning Cello                                                  5:00-6:00 PM

Cello Consort                                                     5:00-6:00 PM

Beginning Bass                                                 5:00-6:00 PM

 

Chamber Ensembles (hour rehearsals)                 1:25-2:25 PM

Pinellas Youth Philharmonic (PYP)                      2:30-4:30 PM

Serenade Strings                                               2:30-4:30 PM

Chamber Ensembles (hour rehearsals)                 3:00-4:45 PM

Symphonic Strings                                             5:00-6:30 PM

Pinellas Youth Symphony (PYS)                         5:00-7:00 PM

 

                                          Please note: the above schedule is subject to change

 

Beginning String Classes

 

Beginning string classes in violin, cello and bass are offered to students from 5-14 years of age with no prior strings knowledge. PYS also offers advanced beginner instructional string classes for students who have had at least 6 months prior experience. Although there are no audition requirements for acceptance into a string class, a young student must have an attention level which will allow him/her to take part in a one-hour class, without becoming bored or disruptive. Classes may be offered at alternative south or mid-county sites, provided enough students register for the class.

 

Pre-registration for Beginning String Classes:

Please go to our website and complete the pre-registration form (click on “Membership” link). Submitting a registration form will place your child in line for classes, which will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis.

 

Final Registration:

Final registration for string students in PYS will take place the first day of class, tentatively scheduled for Sunday, September 21, 2008 (note: this date coincides with the 2nd week of orchestra rehearsals) at the Education Institute of Ruth Eckerd Hall. Those pre-registered for classes will receive notification in late August, confirming a student’s acceptance into a class and the student’s class time assignment.

 

Obtaining String Instruments:

Violins may be purchased or rented at reasonable monthly rates from local area music stores. If you have difficulty obtaining a string instrument, you may contact the Operations Director, Wayne Raymond, at pysoperations@yahoo.com for assistance.

 

If you have any questions feel free to contact me at my email address (pysdirector@yahoo.com) or the PYS voicemail (727) 438-3149. Have an enjoyable remainder of the summer and we look forward to seeing you in the fall.

 

Warmest regards,

 

 

 

Jane T. Hine

Director