Handbook
Austin Youth Orchestra Handbook
The Austin Youth Orchestra (AYO) program was established to enhance orchestral music education in the metropolitan Austin and central Texas area. The various orchestras accommodate different levels of experience, and playing ability.
Academy Orchestras:
Prelude Orchestra (students have one semester of orchestral experience) Spring Semester Only
Canzonetta Orchestra is a String Orchestra (Fall and Spring Semesters) for students who have mastered the basic skills of right and left hand posture, accurate and reliable intonation, internalization of rhythmic pulse and tempo, mastery of fingerboard geography in first position, and a working knowledge of musical notation. All of these are skills are perquisite to a successful ensemble/orchestral experience, Canzonetta Students should be able to play pieces in late Suzuki one and Suzuki 2 and should be able to sight read level .5 to level 1 UIL repertoire in order to be accepted into Canzonetta Orchestra
Serenata Orchestra is a String Orchestra (Fall and Spring Semesters) for students who have mastered all the required skills of the Canzonetta Orchestra. Goals of Serenata Students are to master the major technical skills of playing in positions, shifting, vibrato, stylistic bow articulations, and interpretative skills. Serenata students should be able to play pieces in late Suzuki book 2 and Suzuki book 3. should be able to sight read level 2 UIL repertoire to earned a chair in Serenata Orchestra.
Membership in the Austin Youth Orchestra Academy (AYOA) program is open to all orchestra students through an audition process. It provides an enriching, rewarding experience with comprehensive technique instruction, intensive orchestral instruction, and regular performances.
Austin Youth Orchestras:
Sinfonietta Orchestra is a String Orchestra (Fall and Spring Semesters) designed to provide an accelerated orchestral experience for advanced intermediate string players. Repertoire for the AYO Sinfonietta includes complete performances of Baroque Concerti Grossi, challenging selections from the UIL String Orchestra Prescribed Music List grade 4, and new music from contemporary and modern composers. Sinfonietta Members should be able to play pieces Suzuki book 4 and sight read UIL level 3 repertoire in order to earn a chair in the Sinfonietta Orchestra.
Philharmonic Orchestra is a String/Full Orchestra (Fall and Spring Semester) designed to polish and refine the technique of advancing student performers. musical, technical, and reading challenges are presented to AYO Philharmonic players through the performance of advanced orchestral repertoire. A major goal of the AYO Philharmonic Orchestra is to prepare players for advancement to the AYO Symphony. In order to earned a chair in the Philharmonic Orchestra Philharmonic members should be able to play pieces in Suzuki book 5 and 6 and sight read UIL level 4 repertoire,
Symphony Orchestra is a String/Full Orchestra (Fall and Spring Semesters) designed for advanced players whose technic has reached an interpretive level capable of artistic performance of standard orchestral literature. The Symphony is the top level of the AYO’s curriculum. Membership in the AYO Symphony is highly competitive and strives to provide the best possible training for student musicians living and refining their skills in the Austin area. Students wishing to become Symphony Members should be able to play UIL Solos class 1 and sight read UIL level 5 and 0),
Membership in the AYO program is open to all orchestra students through an audition process. It provides an enriching, rewarding experience with comprehensive and intensive orchestral instruction, and regular performances of the highest quality of literature at various venues.
Membership Requirements
Membership in the AYO and AYOA is open to all interested orchestra students who qualify through the audition process. A string student from a school with an orchestra program must be a member in good standing in his/her/their school orchestra. Similarly, a wind or percussion student must be a member in good standing in his/her/their school band program. To show evidence of membership in a school orchestra, scan or take a good picture of your class schedule and upload it into the assignment "School Orchestra Membership" in your Google Classroom. This is a private upload only visible to teacher and administration of AYO. Directors may be contacted to verify enrollment. Students with no school orchestra program must have a private instructor, and upload a private teacher note in lieu of course schedule. All AYO/AYOA members are encouraged to pursue private lessons.
Membership Tuition Fees
There is a yearly tuition fee for each participating member. The tuition payment is due by the first rehearsal. All AYO members are committing to the entire year of performance if a student drops out at the second semester, no refund will be given. Membership in the AYO program is contingent upon payment of the tuition fee. Tuition fees may be paid by credit (on AYO website) by check or cash before the first rehearsal. A late fee of $25 will be assessed if payment is not received by September 30th, and arrangements for payment have not been made with administration.
Students may not participate in the AYO program if tuition payment is not received by the second practice session following the late tuition due date. Contact the AYO administrative staff if you need to arrange a financial payment plan.
In the event a student decides they are unable to participate in the AYO program after the membership tuition fee has been paid, partial reimbursements will be allowed through the month of October. There will be no reimbursement of the membership tuition fee after October 30th. Proof of payment is necessary.
AYO offers a limited number of student scholarships. Those in need may apply using this application and process.
Rehearsals and Performances
Prompt attendance is expected of students at all rehearsals. If the student is unable to make a rehearsal from an illness, family/personal emergency, or an unavoidable conflict, please fill out the Report Absence form. If the student is unable to fill out the Report Absence form, they may contact Mr.Solis@austinyouthorchestra.org to report their absence.
Students are expected to be attentive and to behave appropriately at all rehearsals and performances. No cell phone usage, eating or drinking other than water is allowed. Organizers will occasionally bring snacks and treats for students for break time, and all students must be sure to clean up all food and trash before leaving the practice location. Inappropriate behavior by students will result in removal from rehearsals and performances or dismissal from the AYO program.
Students should be in their seats five minutes before rehearsals begin. Arriving to rehearsal more than ten minutes after the published starting time will be counted as "tardy". More than three "tardies" will be considered excessive.
Prompt attendance is expected of students at all rehearsals: More than two absences prior to each concert will not be allowed, and the two absences may not be in succession. More than two absences or two successive absences prior to a concert or excessive tardiness will result in the student's dismissal from the AYO program for the remainder of the academic school year.
Prompt attendance is expected of students at all concerts. Absences from a concert will be excused only for the reasons of illness or family/personal emergency – not conflicts with other activities – and if the Organizer and Conductor are notified in advance. An absence from a concert for a reason other than illness or family/personal emergency will result in the student's dismissal from the AYO program for the remainder of the season.
Orchestra Concert Attire
Each orchestra member is required to perform concerts in proper attire. The concert attire for each orchestra is as follows:
Symphony
Black tuxedo with black cummerbund; white long-sleeved shirt; black bow tie; black socks; black dress shoes (no sneakers).
Floor-length modestly-cut black dress or black floor-length skirt/black full-length dress slacks (no black jeans) with black sleeved blouse; black dress shoes (no sneakers or flip flops). Dresses or blouses may not be sleeveless, shoulderless, or have spaghetti straps.
Philharmonic
Black dress pants (no jeans); black long-sleeved shirt; black long tie; black socks; black dress shoes (no sneakers).
Below the knee black skirt or dress; black sleeved blouse; black full-length dress pants (no jeans). Dresses or blouses may not be sleeveless, shoulderless or have spaghetti straps; black dress shoes (no sneakers or flip flops)
Sinfonietta
Black dress slacks (no black jeans); black long-sleeved shirt; black long tie; black socks; black dress shoes (no sneakers)
Below the knee black skirt or dress; black sleeved blouse; black full-length dress pants (no jeans). Dresses or blouses may not be sleeveless, shoulder-less or have spaghetti straps; black dress shoes (no sneakers or flip flops)
Canzonetta, Serenata, Prelude
Black dress slacks (no black jeans); white long-sleeved shirt; black long tie; black socks; black dress shoes (no sneakers)
Below the knee black skirt or dress; white sleeved blouse; black full-length dress pants (no jeans). Dresses or blouses may not be sleeveless, shoulderless or have spaghetti straps; black dress shoes (no sneakers or flip flops)
Failure to comply with the concert attire requirements will result in the student not being allowed to perform in the concert.
AYO Chair Test
Symphony, Philharmonic and Sinfonietta
Chair test auditions are a necessary and helpful part of the Austin Youth Orchestra experience:
Students will encounter these auditions throughout their musical journey.
The chair test are the basis for seating the members of the orchestra in an order that produces the strongest possible ensemble.
Chair test chair test will happen at the beginning of each semester. No more than one evaluation per semester.
These chair test auditions are not optional.
Members of these orchestras will submit their chair test auditions via video recordings according to the instruction on the AYO website.
Students who fail to submit a video chair test audition will be placed at the back of the instrumental section.
Students who do not fulfill two consecutive chair test audition requirements will be dismissed from the AYO program without refund of the tuition paid.
Canzonetta, Serenata and Prelude
Concertante and Prelude will not have formal evaluation. Formal evaluations means students are ranked in in numerical order based on skill level.
The conductors of these formative orchestras will determine, from observation during the rehearsals and/or sectionals, how to best seat the students to achieve the strongest possible ensemble.
The conductor of each orchestra may ask for checkpoint playing events during the semester to evaluate individual progress, encourage practice, and to form plans for future rehearsals.
The conductor will decide which player will sit in the Concertmaster and Principal chair in each section.
The conductor will also designate Section Anchors. Section Anchors will be strong players seated throughout the section to produce the strongest possible ensemble.
The Participation Agreement is part of the registration process when you enroll to pay tuition on the AYO Website.