Shenandoah Valley Youth Symphony
Mission Statement:
Shenandoah Valley Youth Ensembles provide a home to learn and grow together through friendship, music and creativity. Musicians learn to develop a confident voice in performance and audience engagement. Ensembles meet for concert cycles each semester to hone repertoire and present concerts with educational outreach.
About the Youth Symphony
The Shenandoah Valley Youth Symphony, conducted by Rhonda Stees, provides a unique, high-level orchestral experience for advanced wind, brass, strings, and percussion students of the greater central Shenandoah Valley area.
The purpose of the Youth Symphony is:
- to experience a broad range of symphonic literature
- to broaden training in an orchestral setting
- to experience a high level of music-making
- to express individual creativity through concerto performances and performances of student compositions
- to provide an orchestral forum not otherwise available for most wind and percussion players
Youth Symphony Ensembles:
SVYS is composed of three ensembles that rehearse and perform at different times throughout the year.
-
Shenandoah Valley Youth Symphony is our premiere ensemble. This group performs at least once per school year and is composed of full winds, brass, percussion, and strings. This ensemble is led by Rhonda Stees.
- Shenandoah Valley Chamber Orchestra is our newest ensemble. This smaller group allows for musicians to develop their leadership and musical independence. This group is typically composed of strings, but occasionally other instruments may be needed depending on the programmed repertoire for the season. This ensemble is led by Rhonda Stees.
-
Sinfonia Strings is our introductory ensemble, giving late elementary/early middle school string players an opportunity to develop their instrumental proficiency in an orchestral environment. This ensemble is just for string players and is led by Dr. Philip Ledgerwood.
About the Music Director
Mrs. Rhonda Stees is a passionate music educator with a broad and varied experience
in
instrumental music education which includes public school teaching, college teaching,
leading youth community music and a private studio.
Mrs. Stees currently teaches as an adjunct faculty at both James Madison University
(JMU)
and Bridgewater College (BC) in the areas of instrumental music education. Mrs. Stees
has
served as a JMU University Supervisor for Music Education student teachers for nearly
20
years. Additionally, her teaching at JMU has included music appreciation, coaching
chamber groups, and currently teaching Instrumental Techniques classes. At BC, Mrs.
Stees
has taught a variety of music education courses, leads the Chamber Strings, and has
taught
within the oboe and string studios.
Prior to coming to Virginia Mrs. Stees taught music in the public schools in Phoenix,
Arizona. Upon coming to Virginia, Mrs. Stees taught middle school and high school
orchestra, and served as the Orchestra Chair for the VA Music Educators Association
and
the VA Band & Orchestra Directors Association. She served for nearly 20 years as the
Wind
and Percussion Coach for the Shenandoah Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra and served
as
interim conductor for the group numerous times in conjunction with her college teaching.
As a private teacher Mrs. Stees’ students have regularly earned college scholarships,
won
solo competitions, placed in top seats in the All State Orchestra, and been chosen
to
participate in events such as the Sewanee, Interlochen and Brevard summer festivals.
Mrs. Stees earned her Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Illinois and a Master
of Music
from Arizona State University. She is delighted to be a part of community music for
youth,
and is the Director and Co-Founder of the Massanutten Youth Brass Band, a regional
group
founded in 2010.
Mrs. Stees loves living in Harrisonburg with her family, and having her grown son
and his
family now close by in Charlottesville. She is thrilled to begin this new season with
the
Shenandoah Youth Symphony Orchestra and looks forward to getting started!
SVYS 2024-25 Season Rehearsal and Performance Calendar
Rehearsal locations: Tuesdays in Martin Chapel, Sundays in Lehman Auditorium
String Auditions:
Chamber Orchestra Rehearsals:
Wind Auditions:
SVYS Spring Schedule Rehearsals:
SINFONIA STRINGS SPRING SCHEDULE
Audition Information
Auditions are required to participate in any SVYS ensemble.
Audition Requirements:
- Scales: Musicians should play two scales of different keys. Play them in any format you wish and play them with as many octaves as you are comfortable.
- Solo: A short (1-2 min) piece, etude, or excerpt of a solo work that demonstrates the musicians technical and musical abilities.
- Excerpt: Before the audition, musicians will be supplied with a short orchestral excerpt. Musicians should prepare this excerpt paying close attention to dynamics and other musical markings supplied in the score.
- Sight Reading: A very brief excerpt of instrument specific sight reading may be supplied at the audition.
Registration Information:
String Students: All interested string players should audition this fall! Placement and seating in each ensemble is determined by the director at the audition.If your audition results place you into both Chamber Orchestra and Youth Symphony, you will be automatically registered for the entire year.
If your audition results place you into just Sinfonia Strings, you will be placed on a waitlist and alerted when registration for the spring concert cycle goes live.
Sign up for an audition here!
Winds, Brass, Percussion:
Interested winds, Brass, and percussion students should fill out the intent to participate form here. They will be alerted when registration for the spring concert cycle goes live.
All winds, brass, and percussion students will be required to participate in an audition, following the same structure as outlined above.
Billing Information:
Tuition for the entire year (for string players placed into both Chamber Orchestra and SVYS ONLY):
- $50 registration fee (Due by October 31st, 2024, non-refundable)
- $280 Tuition for the year (Options for payment include payment in full upfront or in four $70 monthly installments, due in November-February)
Tuition for just the Spring Concert Cycle (for winds, brass, percussion, and Sinfonia Strings members ONLY):
- $50 registration fee (Due by January 31, 2025, non refundable)
- $140 tuition for the Spring Semester (Options for payment include payment in full upfront or in two monthly installments, due in January and February)
All billing for the Youth Symphony is through EMU’s business office. For information about your account, please contact Erin Weldon at 540-432-4650 or erin.weldon@emu.edu.
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