Norwalk Youth Symphony Auditions Announced

NORWALK — The Norwalk Youth Symphony will hold its annual auditions from August 31 to September 7 at Norwalk Concert Hall, 125 East Avenue. All students from grades 4 through 12 are eligible. Orchestra members are selected and placed by ability rather than age.

The Norwalk Youth Symphony, now entering its 45th season, was established for the purpose of providing the finest possible orchestral training and performance opportunities for the young people of this area. Members come from over 30 local towns and communities.

Successful candidates will join one of four orchestras: the Principal Orchestra, conducted by Eckart Preu, which is an advanced, full orchestra; the Concert Orchestra, led by Richard Brooks, an intermediate, full orchestra; or one of the two Chamber Orchestras, with James Andrews as conductor, which are beginning string ensembles.

Three concerts are held each year at Norwalk Concert Hall. Members of NYS this season will also have the opportunity to participate in music-oriented retreats, attend a program on performance anxiety led by Janet Esposito, an expert in the field, and perform special outreach concerts at the Plaza at Lincoln Center in New York City, schools in Connecticut that have no orchestral programs, nursing and retirement homes and hopefully the new facility at Norwalk’s Heritage park. In addition, sections of the orchestra will be coached on a regular basis by members of New Haven Symphony and other professional musicians and to participate in a chamber music group under the auspices of the NYS’s Small Ensembles Program.

The Norwalk Youth Symphony does not wish to deny any child membership because of financial need. It therefore grants substantial scholarships for tuition and private lessons. Last year, the amount distributed was over $16,500.

Auditions are heard by the conductors of the orchestras and run approximately ten minutes. Each musician is asked to play a two-octave scale plus a solo that demonstrates his or her level of ability. In addition, the student is also asked to sight-read. All members of the symphony re-audition each year.

Because of the increased interest in the NYS and the limited amount of spaces available in each orchestra, the auditions for some instruments, particularly those in the beginning chamber groups, are already completely booked. There is, however, a waiting list and NYS is still looking for intermediate and advanced players of all instruments, especially the bassoon, oboe, trumpet, trombone and tuba.

For further information or an audition appointment, call 203/254-7196 or 203/866-4100.