NEC Preparatory School
Large Ensemble Descriptions
LARGE ORCHESTRAS
Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (YPO), Benjamin Zander, conductor
Rehearsals: Saturday, 3:10-6:00 pm. Touring ensemble Ð June 2009 tour.
While orchestral assignments are made by level, not age, most members of the YPO are in grades 10-12.
Technical requirements: for highly advanced string, woodwind, brass, and percussion players. Admission to YPO is extremely selective. Students placed in YPO generally play at a level which will guarantee them admission to selective conservatories. Younger college-age players are sometimes invited to fill vacancies due to the absence of qualified pre-college players.
Youth Symphony (YS), Steven Karidoyanes, conductor
Rehearsals: Saturday, 3:15-6:00 pm. Touring ensemble Ð June 2009 tour.
While orchestral assignments are made by level, not age, most members of the YS are in grades 9-12.
Technical requirements: for advanced string, woodwind, brass, and percussion players. Students must demonstrate by audition a high level of musicality and technical mastery in all facets of playing their instrument. Students placed in YS are generally comfortable playing complete concertos from all stylistic periods and have significant prior orchestral and chamber music experience.
Youth Repertory Orchestra (YRO), Jane Ezbicki, conductor
Rehearsals: Saturday, 1:00-3:00
While orchestral assignments are made by level, not age, most members of the YRO are in grades 8-11.
Technical requirements: for upper intermediate string, woodwind, brass, and tympani players. Students must demonstrate by audition good intonation, a variety of bow strokes and dynamics. Students placed in YRO are generally comfortable playing complete concertos from the baroque and classical periods.
Junior Repertory Orchestra (JRO), Adam Grossman, conductor
Rehearsals: Saturday, 8:30-10:00 am
While orchestral assignments are made by level, not age, most members of the JRO are in grades 8-9.
Technical requirements: for intermediate string players. Students must demonstrate by audition that they can play with fluidity and have a developed vibrato. Students placed in JRO are generally comfortable playing three-octave scales and arpeggios.
Preparatory String Orchestra (PSO), Joung Hoon Song, conductor
Rehearsals: Saturday, 8:30-10:00 am
While orchestral assignments are made by level, not age, most members of the PSO are in grades 6-8.
Technical requirements: for intermediate string players. Students must demonstrate by audition that they are comfortable shifting and playing fast passagework.
8:00 String Training Orchestra (STO), Peter Jarvis, conductor
Rehearsals: Saturday, 8:00-9:00 am
While orchestral assignments are made by level, not age, most members of the 8:00 STO are in grades 4-7.
Technical requirements: for advanced beginner to early intermediate string players. Students must demonstrate by audition that they have mastered basic technical aspects of playing the instrument and can read music proficiently. Most students placed in the 8:00 STO have had previous ensemble experience and are comfortable in some upper positions. The determination of which String Training Orchestra (8:00 or 9:00) a student is placed in will be made in September.
9:00 String Training Orchestra (STO), Peter Jarvis, conductor
Rehearsals: Saturday, 9:00-10:00 am
While orchestral assignments are made by level, not age, most members of the 9:00 STO are in grades 3-5.
Technical requirements: for beginning string players. Students must demonstrate by audition that they have mastered basic technical aspects of playing the instrument and can read music. The determination of which String Training Orchestra (8:00 or 9:00) a student is placed in will be made in September.
SMALLER ORCHESTRAS
String Chamber Orchestra (SCO), Peter Jarvis, conductor
Rehearsals: Saturday, 10:00 am -12:00 pm
While orchestral assignments are made by level, not age, most members of the SCO are in grades 9-11.
Technical requirements: for upper intermediate and advanced string players. Students must demonstrate by audition a high level of musicality and technical mastery. Students placed in SCO are generally comfortable playing complete concertos.
10:00 Baroque Chamber Orchestra (BCO10), Aldo Abreu, director
Rehearsals: Saturday, 10:00am - 12:00noon
While orchestral assignments are made by level, not age, most members of the 10:00 BCO are in grades 7-12.
Technical requirements: for advanced string and keyboard players. Students must demonstrate by audition a high level of musicality and technical mastery in all facets of playing their instrument. Students placed in BCO10 are generally comfortable playing complete concertos from all stylistic periods and have significant prior orchestral and chamber music experience.
8:00 Baroque Chamber Orchestra (BCO8), Aldo Abreu, director
Rehearsals: Saturday, 8:00-10:00am
While orchestral assignments are made by level, not age, most members of the 8:00 BCO are in grades 5-10.
Technical requirements: for upper intermediate string and keyboard players. Students must demonstrate by audition good intonation, a variety of bow strokes and dynamics. Students placed in BCO8 are generally comfortable playing complete concertos from the baroque and classical periods.
Recorder and String Orchestra (RSO), Aldo Abreu, director
Rehearsals: Saturday, 4:00-6:00pm
While orchestral assignments are made by level, not age, most members of the RSO are in grades 4-11.
Technical requirements: for intermediate string, recorder, and keyboard players. String players must demonstrate by audition that they are comfortable shifting and playing fast passagework.
Friday Baroque Ensemble (FBE), Aldo Abreu, director
Rehearsals: Friday, 6:30-8:30pm
While ensemble assignments are made by level, not age, most members of the FBE are in grades 3-11. Adult students also participate in the FBE.
Technical requirements: for intermediate string, wind, and keyboard players and singers. String players must demonstrate by audition that they are comfortable shifting and playing fast passagework.
Preparatory Baroque Ensemble (PBE), Aldo Abreu, director
Rehearsals: Saturday, 3:00-4:00pm
While orchestral assignments are made by level, not age, most members of the PBE are in grades 1-6.
Technical requirements: for beginning string, wind, and keyboard players. Students must demonstrate by audition that they have mastered basic technical aspects of playing the instrument and can read music.
WIND ENSEMBLES
Massachusetts Youth Wind Ensemble (MYWE),
Michael Mucci, conductor
RehearsalsÑFriday, 4:15Ð7:00 p.m. Touring ensemble Ð June 2008 tour.
Open to advanced high school-age (grades 10-12) woodwind, brass, and percussion players. Auditions are generally at the level of all-state auditions.
Junior Massachusetts Youth Wind Ensemble (Jr. MYWE),
David Samour, conductor
RehearsalsÑFriday, 4:15Ð7:00 p.m.
Open to junior high school-age (grades 7-9) woodwind, brass, and percussion players. Auditions are generally at the level of Jr. District auditions.
Renaissance and Baroque Wind Band (RBWB), Aldo Abreu, conductor
Rehearsals: Friday, 4:30-6:30pm
While RBWB ensemble assignments are made by level, not age, most members of the RBWB are in grades 8-12.
CHORUSES
Youth Chorale & Youth Camerata (YC), Ryan Murphy, conductor
RehearsalsÑSaturday, 3:00Ð4:30 p.m. full ensemble; 4:45-5:45 Youth Camerata only.
Open to advanced high school-age (grades 9-12) singers, Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Bass.
Chamber Chorus (ChC), Jean Meltaus, conductor
RehearsalsÑSaturday, 3:00Ð4:30 p.m.
Open to advanced (ages 14-18) treble voices.
Children's Chorus (CC), Jean Meltaus, conductor
RehearsalsÑSaturday, 10:00 a.m.Ð12:00 p.m.
Open to intermediate to advanced (ages 10-14) unchanged treble voices.
Preparatory Chorus (PC), Jean Meltaus, conductor
RehearsalsÑSaturday, 9:15Ð10:00 a.m.
Open to intermediate (ages 8-10) unchanged treble voices.
Singing Circle (SC), Jean Meltaus, conductor
RehearsalsÑSaturday, 8:30Ð9:15 a.m.
Open to beginning (ages 7-8) unchanged treble voices.