So your child is in an orchestra...

Last month's blog post was catered towards new orchestra students who may be a little overwhelmed by or confused about their first time in an orchestra. May's blog post is for the parents and will include quite a bit of information regarding volunteer expectations, ensemble information, and more. This includes information for another new ensemble! While the logistical and practical information of this blog post can be quite helpful, it may not answer all questions new orchestra parents may have. Executive Director Carolyn Borgen, along with veteran parents or students, can help with unanswered questions or concerns. The website, mayso.net, can also help answer questions.


I will start off with information about the Mankato Area Youth Symphony Ensembles, which began nearly 50 years ago to enhance the opportunities for young musicians through performance of symphonic music. This organisation exists to advance the skills of youth in music. Starting with just one ensemble, the Mankato Area Youth Ensemble, we have expanded to four ensembles, serving strings and winds/brass groups. 

North Star Strings (NSS)

This ensemble is an introductory orchestra for students that prepares members for Youth Philharmonic. The goal of this ensemble is to introduce students to playing in an ensemble and help develop note-reading. Students in this orchestra will have been playing for 1-3 years, and they will typically be in the end of Suzuki book 1, Suzuki book 2, or their equivalent. Piece difficulty will be in the 1-2 range. NSS is open to all students interested in playing a string instrument in an ensemble, and any student interested is encouraged to audition. All students are accepted into this program. NSS is directed by Mark Wamma and meets in the Performing Arts Center on the campus of MSU.

Rehearsal goes for one hour, and tuition is $160 for the year.

Youth Philharmonic (YP) - NEW!

Youth Philharmonic (YP) is the preparatory orchestra for the Symphony Orchestra. YP students should expect to see challenging key signatures (up to 4 flats/sharps), challenging rhythms, and shift into higher positions. These students will typically be in Suzuki books 3-5, or their equivalent, and have been playing for 3-6 years. Piece difficulty will be in the 2-4 range. YP is directed by Mark Wamma and meets in the Performing Arts Center on the campus of MSU.

Rehearsal goes for 1.75 hours, and tuition is $260 for the year. 

Youth Symphony Orchestra (YSO)

The Youth Symphony Orchestra is our most advanced orchestra ensemble. These students will typically be in Suzuki books 5 and above, and piece difficulty will be in the 4 and above range - typically college-level music. The Youth Symphony Orchestra is directed by Dr. Joseph Rodgers and meets in the Performing Arts Center on the campus of MSU.

Rehearsal goes for two hours, and tuition is $360 for the year.

Youth Wind Ensemble (YWE)

The Youth Wind Ensemble (YWE) is designed to provide an additional offering for brass, woodwinds, string bass, piano, harp, and percussion players ages 14 and up.  YWE is directed by Dr. Amy Rosium-Foley and meets in the Performing Arts Center on the campus of MSU.

Rehearsal goes for two hours, and tuition is $250 for the year for non-MAYSO members, $100 for current members

Summer Pops Program

The Summer Pops Program featured both a brass/wind ensemble and a string ensemble, along with a
Symphony Orchestra made up of the two smaller ensembles. This program is open to all instruments and all ages, both adult and child. New this year was an "Orchestra Introduction" program, which is a beginner program for students who are note-reading, but who are not ready to be in a large ensemble. Lehi G. worked with beginner students.

Rehearsal are two hours long for the chamber ensembles and the Symphony orchestra and one hour for the beginner program. Tuition is $25. 

Scholarships and Fundraising

Concerning the costs, we recognize that not all families are able to afford sticker prices, and we offer scholarships to those who need them. Although fundraising is no longer required, families who do receive the scholarship are asked to fundraise, as it helps cover the scholarships. Fundraising opportunities, in general, are offered to all families, and funds raised go directly towards tuition, making it flexible for each family to fundraise however much they want to reduce their tuition cost(s).

Volunteering 

We do ask that all families volunteer at least four hours for the year, which can be done all in one semester or over the year. Families may buyout of volunteering at $25/hour and $100 for the year. Families who receive scholarships are asked to volunteer an additional 2 hours. 

To help with these expectations, there will be coordinators this year, which will be semester-long positions. This will give parents the opportunity to get all four hours completed in one semester. We recognize that students may be involved in other extra- or co-curricular activities, so this allows families to volunteer when they have extra time. The positions and their descriptions are as follows:

• Snack Coordinator - Email group to make sure families can bring snacks. Also, if family prefers to donate money to snack, this person will shop for snacks.
• Marketing Coordinator - Create posters for events (if have skills), get posters out to community
• Chocolate & Chamber Music Coordinator - Lead meetings for C&C event
• Rehearsal Coordinator - Help setup chairs for group practices
• Concert Coordinator - In charge of loading and unload truck, setup at concert
• Trip/Fundraising Coordinator - Help with Chicago trip and fundraising efforts for that
• Fudge Coordinator - Drive to pickup fudge and then distribute to group. Will need to sort fudge.

Lastly, thank you to all orchestra parents! This organization would not run as well as it does, nor would it grow, without your help!