GCYO members:

• Are frequently high school sophomores through seniors, or are younger students with exceptional talent and ability on their instruments

• String players are skilled in the upper positions of their instruments and in the application of détaché, martelé, brush and spiccato, louré and other bow styles

• Winds & brass players have a comprehensive knowledge articulations and expression over their instrument's practical range

• Have been in school strings or band classes since the sixth grade.

• Have taken private studio lessons for three and often more years.

• Have auditioned successfully into Junior or Senior Region Orchestra or Band and often All- State Orchestra or Band.

• Many attend or have attended the Fine Arts Center.

Special Opportunities for GCYO Members:

SCHOLARSHIPS

You have several opportunities to earn scholarship money thanks to the generous efforts of the GCYO Association. 

What: scholarships to help pay for lessons with your private teacher

How to apply: fill out and turn in an online scholarship form by Tuesday, September 13, 2006

Audition requirements: prepare a brief (3-5 minute) selection of solo repertoire and perform it for a live or video taped audition

When: Tuesday September 19, 2006

What: scholarships to help pay for summer music camps or other summer music study

How to apply: fill out and turn in an online scholarship form by Tuesday, March 6, 2007

Audition requirements: prepare a brief (3-5 minute) selection of solo repertoire and perform it for a live or video taped audition

When: Tuesday, March 13, 2007

What: The Charley Bolt-Roxanne Spurgeon Award, given in the memory of former GCYO members Charley Bolt and Roxanne Spurgeon. The Charley Bolt-Roxanne Spurgeon Award was established in 1996 to reward outstanding participation by tenth grade students.

How to apply: GCYO members, staff, and parents nominate candidates in February and March. The GCYO Association Executive Committee selects recipients based on participation in rehearsals, performances, and “team spirit.”

Audition requirements: no audition is required

When: The scholarship award is made at the GCYO Awards Banquet, May 1, 2007

The Crescent Music Club and the Music Club of Greenville also offer scholarship opportunities for members of GCYO.  When we receive their scholarship forms in the mail (usually in March) we will post them on the orchestra’s announcement marquee. You can contact Crescent Music Club representative Dianne Aikenbush at eikenbush@bellwouth.net for specific information.

 
Date
Student Name
Instrument
Number of Years in Orchestra
Scholarship
Fall Summer
If Fall, name of private teacher or how you plan to use any scholarship received.
If Summer, name of summer music program and cost or name of private teacher.
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SOLO PERFORMANCE WITH GCYO OR CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

GCYO regularly features its members as soloists in its concerts throughout the year. Generally, three or four solo positions are available each concert season.  Soloists audition for the following season in March, and winners are announced at the GCYO Banquet held in May. General qualifications for a solo position include:

•        Mastery of the solo work performed

•        Appropriateness of the work as GCYO repertoire

•        Experience and musical maturity of candidate

•        Competing students must submit a score and a recording of their work and attain tentative approval by the Director in advance of the audition.

•        Students must perform an entire movement of their intended work in the audition, and must be accompanied by piano.

The awarding of a solo position is made based upon written and numerical evaluations of the judge(s) hearing the audition and upon the Director’s judgement concerning the appropriateness of the work being performed with respect to programming for the following season.  In the case where a soloist’s work is, for some reason, deemed by the Director to not compliment programming for the upcoming season, then that musician and the Director may discuss alternative works to perform.  A soloist family may be asked to assist (or to help locate a sponsor) if the work to be performed is unusually expensive to rent. 

Applications for Soloist Audition 2007-2008 will be made available on Tuesday, January 9, 2007, and must be turned in, completed, on January 23, 2007.

 

EXPECTATIONS

Rehearsal & Concert Attendance Policies:

  • You are allowed to miss a total of five (5) rehearsals per season (that is, from August to May).
  • You mustnotify the orchestra’s Personnel Manager, Mr. Jeff Purtle, before you intend to miss. 
  • If you miss because you become ill, your parent must call and notify us at 864-241-3557. 
  • If you miss a rehearsal and fail to call us about it, you must bring a note, signed by your parent, to the following rehearsal.
  • If missing rehearsals becomes an issue between you and GCYO, we’ll assume that you lack the necessary commitment to be a good member, and you will be dismissed from the orchestra.
  • Having too much homework is not considered a valid excuse for missing a rehearsal. We also are a class, and when you are absent, it is impossible to make up the work!  Plan ahead with regard to academic responsibilities.
  • You are not permitted to miss any dress rehearsals. These final rehearsals are geared toward pulling the elements of the orchestra together for the performance, and you are needed to in order to accomplish this.

For each rehearsal:

  • Arrive no later than 10 minutes before the start of any rehearsal, and no more than 30 minutes before the start of any concert.  (In music, being on time is LATE.  Being early is ON TIME!)
  • Bring your instrument, in good repair and ready to play
  • Bring YOUR music.  (String players: don’t think you can leave your music folder home because “my stand partner will bring it.”)

Bring a pencil TO EVERY REHEARSAL!

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Hospitality Committee

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GCYO Snack Schedule through October

August 15 GCYO Parent Association

 

August 22

Staci Willis

Corrinne Word

Melissa Youssef

 

August 29

Josh Wei

Chip Wiginton

Jared Williams

 

September 5

Kevin Tompkins

Jamey Trembley

John VanSteenburgh

 

September 12

Travis Smith

Alison Strawhorn

Ben Tomlinson

 

September 19

Seth Russell

Mark Sadka

Adam Shoun

 

September 26

Anna Owensby

Hilary Ranieri

Sarah Rogers

 

October 3

Laura Neubauer

Leslie Olsen

Julio Orihuela

 

October 10

Meredith Miller

Sergio Montes

Alison McKinney

 

October 24

Jenny Labadorf

Rebecca Mahaffey

Lydia Minnick

 

October 31

David Katilius

Hannah Kelly

Kristine Kruta

Questions & Answers...

What bow techniques can I expect to encounter as a GCYO string player? (Click here to learn more...)

...about aspects of membership in GCYO as an organization and as an honors level class.

DO I HAVE TO PAY A FEE TO BE A MEMBER OF GCYO? WHAT IF I DON’T ATTEND GREENVILLE COUNTY SCHOOLS?

WHEN AND WHERE ARE REHEARSALS? WHEN SHOULD I ARRIVE FOR REHEARSAL?

HOW MANY REHEARSALS ARE THERE FOR EACH CONCERT? WHAT IS MY ROLE IN THESE REHEARSALS?

WHAT ABOUT MY PARTICIPATION IN GCYO CONCERTS? WHAT IF I MISS ONE?

HOW AM I “PLACED” IN MY ORCHESTRA SECTION?

I WANT TO BE “FIRST CHAIR” IN MY SECTION.  HOW DO I DO THAT? WHAT ARE MY RESPONSIBILITIES AS “FIRST CHAIR?”

HOW SHOULD I DRESS FOR CONCERT EVENTS? DO I HAVE TO DRESS UP FOR “DRESS REHEARSAL?”

TELL ME ABOUT MY FOLDER OF MUSIC...

WHAT IS HONORS LEVEL CREDIT (HLC)? HOW DO I EARN MY GRADE IN GCYO?

HOW DO I MAINTAIN MY MEMBERSHIP IN GCYO?

NOW THAT I’M IN GCYO, SHOULD I CONTINUE MEMBERSHIP IN MY SCHOOL STRINGS AND BAND CLASSES, AND PRIVATE LESSONS?

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The GREENVILLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

 

GCYO's Shoulder-to-Shoulder concert is made possible by the outstanding support of the Greenville Symphony Orchestra.  During the 2006-2007 school year, the GSO will spend over $700,000 in grant money on music projects in our schools, particularly those considered disadvantaged, or exhibiting special needs. Shoulder-to-Shoulder is one of these projects, and is directed toward advanced student musicians who may be considering a career in music. Education Coordinator Ruth Berry is in charge of Shoulder-to-Shoulder, as well as the many other educational projects of the Greenville Symphony Orchestra.  The GCYO Association will fund rental of the Peace Center’s Dorothy Gunter Theater, and will work with GCYO Director Dr. Gary Auguste Robinson in the project’s many facets.

Show your support of Greenville County Youth Orchestra by attending the Shoulder-to-Shoulder concert on Thursday, January 4, 2007.  And please support the Greenville Symphony Orchestra in its 2006-2007 season.  For a complete listing of its masterworks concerts, chamber concerts, and other concert events, visit the Greenville Symphony Orchestra at www.greenvillesymphony.org.

METROPOLITAN ARTS COUNCIL

SOUTH CAROLINA ARTS COMMISSION

          Greenville County Youth Orchestra is proud to be a member of Greenville’s Metropolitan Arts Council. Supported by local businesses, MAC makes thousands of dollars available to community arts organizations through grants.  MAC also receives funding from the National Endowment for the Arts through the South Carolina Arts Commission. You can visit the Metropolitan Arts Council at www.greenvillearts.com.

DISCOUNT RECORDINGS FROM HORIZON RECORDS

          All orchestra members are encouraged to familiarize themselves with music they will be performing in GCYO by listening to good recordings.  Horizon Records (Gene Berger, Owner) is specially stocking recordings of our 2006-2007 concert literature and will offer it at a discount to members of GCYO.  We hope that members will take advantage of this special and unique offer.  Horizon Records  (864-235-7922) is located at the intersection of North Main Street and Stone Avenue in Greenville, and can be visited online at www.horizonrecords.net.

Performing Arts

Three outdoor amphitheatres will showcase local and regional groups and highlight international themes with an array of cultural programming. The Peace Center Amphitheatre, The Carolina First Amphitheatre in Falls Park, and The Bowater Amphitheatre in Falls Park will be filled with entertainment throughout the festival weekend. A bundling of the local arts will showcase events at The Peace Center Main Hall and Gunter Theatre, The Greenville Little Theatre, The Warehouse Theatre, and Center-Stage – SC! All of this providing a fun, entertaining atmosphere surrounding the other festival activities.

 
© 2006. GCYO, Greenville County Youth Orchestra. All rights reserved. Site by Imacomm.   The Fine Arts Center