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Time to start practicing

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Contributed by: Jenine Baines on 4/5/2007

Middle school-aged musicians seeking a unique - and invaluable - opportunity to learn, hone their craft, increase their musicianship, travel, and have a great time doing so may want to consider revving up their practice time. The Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra, an award-winning ensemble for musicians in grades 6 through 9 sponsored by The Pasadena Symphony, will hold auditions for its 2007-2008 35th Anniversary Season on May 19 and May 20 at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music in Pasadena.

"The PYSO program includes three separate ensembles," says Orchestra Manager Jean Severson. "Our young musicians can audition for the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra, the PYSO Chamber Orchestra, or the PYSO Wind Ensemble."

The Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra is a full symphonic honors orchestra performing the most challenging repertoire of the three ensembles. Long recognized for its excellence, the ensemble has been invited to appear at venues ranging from the International Youth and Music Festival in Vienna...to the Sydney Opera House in Australia...to Washington DC, where it received the Festival Honor Award for Best Concert Performance at the National Adjudicators Invitation. The Youth Symphony has also performed twice at New York City's renowned Carnegie Hall, most recently in July 2005, when it earned a prestigious Gold Rating.

In July 2008, the Youth Symphony Orchestra has been invited to return to Vienna, Austria.

"This is not only a great opportunity for our musicians, but it's a tremendous honor as well," says Jack Taylor, music director of the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra. "We will appear at the 37th International Youth and Music Festival and Competition by special invitation from General Secretary of the Association for International Cultural Exchange."

Those familiar with PYSO may be asking, but what happened to the all-strings ensemble, the Prelude Strings Orchestra?

"It's still with us," says Severson. "We've simply changed its name. Starting next season, the Prelude Strings Orchestra will become the PYSO Chamber Orchestra."

In other words, the Chamber Orchestra will indeed remain an all-string ensemble, under the direction of conductors Anna Lim and Ria Kubota. Like the Youth Symphony, the Chamber Orchestra will offer students regular coaching sessions with professional musicians at many rehearsals as well as several opportunities to perform at concerts throughout the year. Members of the Chamber Orchestra will also take part in a 3-day music retreat to the UCLA Conference Center in Lake Arrowhead, California.

While the Chamber Orchestra is an all-string ensemble, occasionally it will partner with PYSO's newest ensemble - the PYSO Wind Ensemble, says Taylor.

"This way, the kids have the best of both worlds," Taylor continues. "As members of the Chamber Orchestra, they experience what it's like to perform orchestral arrangements within a tight ensemble. But, with the Wind Ensemble, they enjoy a full symphonic experience, too."

Like their fellow PYSO musicians, members of the Wind Ensemble - which consists of woodwind, brass and percussion players under the direction of conductor Tony Castro - will receive regular coaching sessions, perform throughout the year, and attend the music retreat in Lake Arrowhead.

"We've made some exciting changes," says Severson. "But one thing remains the same. Our commitment to providing our talented young musicians with an exceptional and memorable musical experience."

Those interested in auditioning for PYSO should call (626) 793-7172, ext. 23 or ext. 14 to request an application. Applications can also be downloaded from the website, www.pasadenapyso.org. String players must obtain a music excerpt from the PYSO office.

Musicians should not audition for the Youth Symphony Orchestra if they anticipate being unable to attend the tour, in July 2008, to Vienna, Austria. Members of the Chamber Orchestra and Wind Ensemble will not take part, however, in the tour.

Established in 1928, The Pasadena Symphony is committed to providing orchestral performances of the highest quality and to benefiting the community through its music, education and outreach programs - providing a total of 82 concerts yearly throughout the San Gabriel Valley. These include 66 concerts at local schools, seven Musical Circus performances, five Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra performances and four "Clazzical Notes" jazz outreach events, all offered at no cost to the public.

To purchase tickets to The Pasadena Symphony's concert on April 14 at 8 p.m. at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, featuring Reznicek's Donna Diana: Overture, Khachaturian's Violin Concerto and Prokofiev's Symphony No. 6, or to attend the "Sneak Peek" open rehearsal that morning at 10 a.m., contact the box office at 626.584.8833. Tickets for the evening performance may also be purchased online at www.pasadenasymphony.org.

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