GYSO Ensembles:
Symphony Camerata String Symposium Flute Choir Concertino Jazz
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Jazz Ensemble
Jazz
The Jazz Ensemble performs both educational works and well-known arrangements by jazz legends in a wide variety of jazz styles.
Members also have opportunities to perform in a combo setting. The instrumentation is a standard big band (saxes, trumpets, trombones, guitar, piano, bass, and drums).
• GYSO Jazz Ensemble performs 2-3 concerts per season.
• Standard rehearsals are Wednesdays, 5:30-7:00 PM at KSU Brandsmart Building
Beginning Strings Ensembles
Concertino
Concertino is GYSO’s beginning strings-only orchestra. Concertino performs at least two concerts per season of repertoire that corresponds to GMEA’s (Georgia Music Educators Association) difficulty grades of .5-1.
Concertino members should be able to play G and D major scales and be fluent in reading notes in first position on all four strings. Prior orchestra experience is not required as this group is often a student’s first ensemble experience.
•Concertino performs 2-3 concerts per season.
• Standard rehearsals are Sundays, 4:15-5:15 PM at Marietta High School
Harmonia
Harmonia is GYSO’s intermediate strings-only orchestra. Harmonia performs at least two concerts per season of repertoire that corresponds to GMEA’s (Georgia Music Educators Association) difficulty grades 2-3.
Harmonia members should be proficient in one octave major and minor scales in key signatures from two sharps to one flat. Prior experience in an orchestra ensemble is encouraged, but not required.
•Concertino performs 2-3 concerts per season.
• Standard rehearsals are Sundays, 4:15-5:15 PM at Marietta High School
Full Orchestras
Camerata
The Camerata is GYSO’s introductory symphonic orchestra: an orchestral ensemble that includes strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion instruments. While this may be their first time playing in a symphony orchestra, Camerata members should have multiple years of experience on their instrument.
The Camerata performs at least two concerts per season of repertoire that corresponds to GMEA’s (Georgia Music Educators Association) difficulty grades of 3-4. Camerata members should be comfortable performing major, harmonic minor, and melodic minor scales in one or two octaves—depending on instrument range—in key signatures from three sharps to three flats, concert pitch.
• Camerata performs 2-3 concerts per season.
• Standard rehearsals are Sundays, 1:30-3:30 PM at Marietta High School
Philharmonic
The Philharmonic is GYSO’s intermediate symphonic orchestra: an orchestral ensemble that includes strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion instruments.
The Philharmonic performs at least three concerts per season of repertoire that corresponds to GMEA’s (Georgia Music Educators Association) difficulty grades of 4-5. Philharmonic members should be comfortable performing major, harmonic minor, and melodic minor scales in two octaves in key signatures from four sharps to four flats, concert pitch.
• Philharmonic performs 3-4 concerts per season.
• Standard rehearsals are Sundays, 3:00-5:30 PM at KSU
Symphony
The Symphony is GYSO’s premier, advanced symphonic orchestra: an orchestral ensemble that includes strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion instruments.
The Symphony performs at least three concerts per season of repertoire that corresponds to GMEA’s (Georgia Music Educators Association) difficulty grades of 5-6+. Symphony members should be comfortable performing major, harmonic minor, and melodic minor scales in two or three octaves—depending on instrument range—in key signatures from four sharps to four flats, concert pitch.
• Symphony members are eligible for the GYSO Concerto Competition, Honors String Quartet, Honors Brass Quintet, String Symposium.
• Symphony performs 3-4 concerts per season.
• Standard rehearsals are Sundays, 2:30-5:00 PM at KSU
Chamber Ensembles
Flute Choir
Flute Choir is a chamber ensemble that focuses on mastery of both technical and performance skills.
The ensemble often performs in concert and at other events in the community.
• Flute Choir performs 2-3 concerts per season.
• Flute Choir is subject to a minimum enrollment.
String Symposium
String Symposium is a chamber ensemble that focuses on mastery of both technical and performance skills.
This program specifically targets our advanced string players and utilizes rich repertoire to challenge even the most proficient players.
• String Symposium performs 2-3 concerts per season.
• String Symposium is subject to a minimum enrollment.
• Standard rehearsals are Sundays, 5:30-6:30 PM at KSU
Honors String Quartet
Students are selected for honors ensembles based on audition scores from a successful Symphony audition and often possess character traits such as: leadership qualities, dependability, and perseverance.
Placement for these ensembles occurs twice a year: following GYSO’s initial auditions in May, and then a second round of auditions follows in December. Students in honors ensembles are not guaranteed a spot for the entire year.
Honors ensembles allow students to work closely with coaches to perform artistically challenging works and develop precise rehearsal and performance techniques in a small group setting.
• Symphony members are eligible for the GYSO Concerto Competition, Honors String Quartet, Honors Brass Quintet, String Symposium.
• Symphony performs 3-4 concerts per season.
• Standard rehearsals are Sundays, 2:30-5:00 PM at KSU
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