Rhythms is WYSO's monthly electronic newsletter, sent on Tuesday before the first rehearsal of each month. Rhythms is an essential communication link containing important news, updates, volunteer opportunities and the monthly schedule. A paper version of this issue is available at rehearsals! You may also view current and archived issues on our website: wyso.music.wisc.edu/rhythms.html.

Please help keep our e-mail list updated! Inform the WYSO office directly of any address changes. wyso@wyso.music.wisc.edu

INTERNATIONAL TOUR ANNOUNCED

WYSO is pleased to announce a July 2009 tour to China! 

The Youth Orchestra will travel at the invitation of the Chinese-American Cultural Bridge Center and perform five or six concerts in Beijing and Tianjin. The orchestra will perform in the Golden Sail Concert Hall as part of the Beijing Band and Orchestra Festival. The group will also perform at the Great Wall of China, the Beijing Workers' Palace, in a joint concert with Chinese youth, and in Tianjin. The Youth Orchestra will meet with Chinese youth and take advantage of cultural and sight-seeing opportunities at Tiananmen Square, the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and a variety of other places.

The tour is open to 2008-09 Youth Orchestra members and the cost for the 10-day tour is $2,995 per person. The first payment (non-refundable) of $1,000 will be due no later than August 15, 2008.  

In order for WYSO to undertake this tour, it is essential to have a minimum of 75 participants, including instrumentation such that WYSO will not need to engage more than a few substitute musicians to achieve a fully satisfactory instrumental balance. If on August 15, 2008 there are not 75 member participants (including a full orchestral instrumentation) having paid the $1,000 deposit, the tour will have to be immediately cancelled. Under such circumstances, the $1,000 will be refunded to those who have made a payment.

Anyone accepted into the 2008-09 Youth Orchestra will find a full information guide in membership packets mailed in April and May.  Please read this information carefully, give it careful consideration and then return the Pre-Tour form, indicating your likelihood of participation, by June 7, 2008.  If you have questions you need answered prior to the first family tour meeting in June, please call Marie at (608) 263-3320 x14.

Best wishes for a terrific trip to China!

PERCUSSION EXTRAVAGANZA:
"RHYTHM ODYSSEY"

Maggie Schenk, a 14-year-old home schooled flutist in Youth Orchestra, has been named the winner of the 2008 Murphy Family Interlochen Arts Camp Scholarship. Upon acceptance to the camp, Maggie will receive $1,000 toward her camp tuition. The family of Stephen Murphy has endowed this scholarship for over ten years providing an opportunity for many Youth Orchestra members to attend the camp on reduced tuition. Any Youth Orchestra member may compete for the scholarship by performing a 10-minute solo before a panel of three judges.

Tony Oliva, a 16-year old violinist who attends James Madison Memorial High School, is the winner of the 2008 Philharmonia Orchestra Concerto Competition. Tony has been invited to perform Concerto No. 1 in A minor by Jean Batiste Accolay accompanied by the Philharmonia Orchestra at the Bolz Family Spring Concert on Saturday, May 10, 2008 at 4:00 p.m.

Congratulations to these winners and all WYSO members who prepared solos for the competitions!  The judges were very impressed with the performers' level of musicianship.

MUSICAL NOTES TURN-IN DAY

WYSO members should bring in their packets BEFORE rehearsal or during BREAK. The orchestras will each have a designated classroom for submitting their packets on the street level of the Humanities Building.  Refer to the signs near the announcement board to find your classroom.  A receipt will be written for each packet turned in. Thank you cards will be written to each donor listed on the outside of the packet. Please be sure to write neatly and include all the necessary information to mail the cards.

A very warm thank you to all the families who participated in this WYSO Family Fundraiser. We will share the results of the campaign along with the prize winners at the upcoming Winterfest concerts and in the next Rhythms.

**We are still seeking Parent Volunteers. Please contact your Orchestra Chairs directly.

Joseph Koykkar, composer of the Youth Orchestra's newly commissioned work Beyond Circumstance, will present a 1-hour lecture-style class for all WYSO members at 12:00 p.m. on February 16.  Members of all orchestras are encouraged to attend.  We are asking interested Philharmonia Orchestra, Concert Orchestra and Sinfonietta members to sign up in advance so the conductors will know how many people will be leaving rehearsal at 12:00 to go to the class.  Sign-up sheets will be posted on the rehearsal room doors.  This is a wonderful opportunity for students to learn about the creative process of composition from a distinguished local composer!

MEET-THE-COMPOSER
PRE CONCERT TALK & RECEPTION

IN-STATE TOURS

Philharmonia Orchestra, Concert Orchestra, and Sinfonietta will all be touring to area schools in March.  Members of these orchestras will miss a day of school to participate in their tour. A tour schedule and permission slip will be mailed to all members' home addresses on Feb. 7. Permission slips must be returned by February 23 to ensure participation in the tour. If you do not receive tour information in the mail, please contact the WYSO office right away!

• Tuesday, March 4: Philharmonia Orchestra 
  • 9:00 a.m. Badger HS, Lake Geneva
  • 1:00 p.m. Delavan-Darien HS
  • 7:00 p.m. Delavan-Darien HS (Artist Series)
    
• Thursday, March 6: Concert Orchestra
  • 8:30 a.m. Oregon MS
  • 10:00 a.m. Rome Corners Intermediate School
  • 1:30 p.m. Muir Elementary
    
• Wednesday, March 12: Sinfonietta
  • 8:45 a.m. Monona - Nichols School
  • 10:15 a.m. Cottage Grove Elementary
  • 1:15 p.m. Stoughton - Sandhill Elementary

The tours project is supported by the Kikkoman Corporation Foundation as well as the Walworth County Arts Council.

 **Two chaperones are still needed for the Sinfonietta tour. Contact Mark in the office to sign on.

Sinfonietta has been invited to perform as part of the 2008 Children's Arts Festival at Overture Center on April 12, 2008.  On this day, Sinfonietta members will need to be dropped off at OVERTURE CENTER, not at the Humanities Building.  Students will need to arrive at 9:30 a.m. for a sound check.  The event is free and open to the public, and parents and siblings are encouraged to attend.  More details will be shared in coming weeks.

SOLO/ENSEMBLE SCHEDULING

BAD WEATHER POLICY

February

2 SAT   Regular rehearsals
            DUE: Musical Notes Packets

9 SAT   Regular rehearsals
            1:30 p.m. Percussion EXTRAVAGANZA, Mills Hall

16 SAT  Regular rehearsals
             12:00 p.m. Composition Master Class with Joe Koykkar
             Audition Materials live on web site

23 SAT  SPECIAL REHEARSAL SCHEDULE (no Brass Choir or Percussion Ens.)
             YO: 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
             Phil: 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
             CO: 8:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
             Sinf: 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
             Violin Preliminary Auditions (sign up with Casey by Feb. 12)

March

1 SAT   Regular rehearsals
            Audition excerpts available online

March
1 SAT Regular Rehearsal