Latest
Bulletins
07-29-08
Email: info@hillcountry
youthorchestras.com
———
•HCYO Home
•Orchestra Facts
•Orchestra Assignments
Policy
•HCYO String Camp
•Personnel
•Links
———
UPCOMING EVENTS
•HCYO 2007-2008 Events
•Concert Going Opportunities
———
PHOTO GALLERY
•Fall 2003 HCYO Fiddle
Clinic and Contest
•December 2003 Concert
•February 2004 Mimi Zweig
Masterclass
•2004 String Olympics
•Chamber Orchestra Kremlin
Master Class
•2005 San Angelo Concert
Tour
•First Rehearsals of the
 2005-06 Season
•First Rehearsals of the
 2006-07 Season
———
HCYO FAMILY
HANDBOOK
•Welcome to HCYO
•HCYO Facts
•Orchestra Assignment Policy
•Attendance Policy
•Rehearsal Responsibilities
and Professionalism
•Student Decorum
•Family Decorum
•Orchestra Uniforms
•Ways to Support Your Young
Musician
•String Instrument Care
•Notes on Practicing
———


Omni Multimedia
Network
International, LLC
http://www.omniglobal.net
———
Bringing the joy of the orchestra experience to the youth of the Hill Country!
The Hill Country Youth Orchestras consist of four ensembles allowing students to
progress from a very beginning ensemble experience to advanced orchestra repertoire.
The ensembles rehearse on Monday evening from September to May at the
First United Methodist Church of Kerrville, Texas.
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Hill Country Youth Orchestras
321 Thompson Drive - Kerrville, TX 78028 - Phone (830) 257-0809 - FAX (830) 257-0835
Email info@hillcountryyouthorchestras.com
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
072605
 
Monday, August 11:  Auditions:  KFUMC rehearsal hall, 9:00-11:00 am & 1:00-2:00 pm, first come,first serve:  Auditions are for current members of all orchestras (except Mrs. Lee's HCYO) and if you are new to our program.  Auditions include scales, sight reading and a prepared piece of your choice from your top level.  For ConMoto: Scale: One octave Dmaj; solo should be at least "Lightly Row" or higher.  For Cavatina: Scale: 2 octaves Amaj.  For HCYO: Scale: 3 octaves: violin - Gmaj, Cmaj, A melodic min; viola & cello - C maj, A melodic min; bass - 2 octaves, G maj, A melodic min.  All auditions are for orchestra placement only.  We always strive to match a student's ability to the orchestra plus have a good balance for the orchestra.
 
Tuesday-Friday, August 12-15: String Camp at KFUMC: 9:00 am-Noon. $50 per child/$30 per second + children in the family.  This camp is an important part of the HCYO experience as new music is introduced and rehearsed.  Consider it like football two-a-days when the team works together and prepares for their new season.  All orchestra students are expected to attend.  Please let us know if there are extenuating circumstances that prevent your child from attending. I will need registration, snack and room/hall monitor volunteers.  [Twinkle/Vivace students do not attend this camp]
Mrs. Lee's HCYO will have chair auditions Friday after camp is over.
 
**GOOD NEWS!**
We have two new string teachers willing to come to Kerrville & teach beginning August 1!  Please let me know if you are interested in private lessons.  Don't forget to ask about our scholarship program which helps pay for private lessons.  If you have a KISD student and need an instrument until school starts, we have instruments available.
 
**CELLO FOR SALE**
This cello is from the workshop of William Harris Lee and is in good condition: $6200 with case.  The bow is a W. H. Lee bow: $500
Call 830-456-1668 (mobile) or 830-997-7695 (home) or inquire by email: gari@wildblue.net
 
I

From: "Laura Shrader" <lshrader@kfumc.org>
Subject: HCYOrchestra Notes
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2008

Monday, March 17, Spring Break, No Orchestra!

6 more rehearsals until our Spring Concert.

Notes from the Conductors:
Twinkle w/ Ms. Lydon: Work on Monkey Song & Twinkle Theme.
Vivace w/ Ms. Lydon: Work on new handout, Happy Days. Polish up Go Tell Aunt Rhody (key of D). Review your songs, especially Fiddlers First March. We will begin O Come Little Children on 3/24.
Con Moto w/ Ms. Plaxico: Work on the melody and harmony for William Tell. Learn the melody for La Cucuracha. Happy Spring Break!
Allegro w/ Ms. Plaxico: Good reading! Learn the first line of Buffalo Girls. Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Cavatina w/ Ms. Jacobi: Practice your new packet. Please practice counting long notes and rests. And please stop noodling during rehearsal.
Cello class w/ Ms. Jacobi & Mr. Basel: Practice your new packet. Please practice counting long notes and rests.
HCYO w/ Mrs. Lee: Good rehearsal. Look at key signatures carefully for all pieces. Experiment with brush strokes and lighter, softer spicatto. Be prepared to work on Dvorak Symphony next rehearsal.

Congratulations Blake Turner who was accecpted into this summer's Texas Music Festival. We know the competition was stiff & are so proud of you!!

For Sale:
3/4 size 2004 Klaus Mueller violin. $200. 830-285-0316

Looking ahead:
Thursday, March 27, Camarata, a chamber orchestra from San Antonio, is presenting a concert at First Presbyterian Church at 7:30 pm. They are offering their normaly $15 ticket free to our students and their families. Let me know if you are interested. Again, this will be wonderful exposure for our students.
Saturday, April 26, Spring Concert rehearsal in the Cailloux Theater; 9:00am - 2:00pm with details later.
Monday, April 28, Spring Concert in the Cailloux Theater; warm-ups starting at 5:00pm; concert 7:00pm

Enjoy your break, but don't forget to practice, practice, practice. Besides Spring Break, we will also be celebrating Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. Blessings,
Laura Shrader

BACK TO BULLETINS LIST

BACK TO TOP

From: "Laura Shrader" <lshrader@kfumc.org>
Subject: HCYOrchestra Notes
Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2008 16:51:00 -0500

We had our usual topsy-turvy Monday night. Thank you to Cavatina & HCYO for making the shift so smoothly. We will stay like this until concert.

4 more rehearsals until our Spring Concert.

Notes from the Conductors:
Twinkle w/ Ms. Lydon: Work on Hot Cross Buns & Flower Song. Check your outfit for our concert & practice walking in line.
Vivace w/ Ms. Lydon: Work on Fiddler's First March, WigWam & Go Tell Aunt Rhody. Think about playing together. Check your outfit for our concert.

Con Moto w/ Ms. Plaxico: Concert's Coming! Remember everyone plays a solo on measures 20 & 21 in the melody of Minuet next week. Know melody & harmony on Minuet, William Tell and on LaCucaracha---watch that rhythm!
Allegro w/ Ms. Plaxico: Good work. Keep those wrists straight!! :) Learn all of Buffalo Gals & have the first two lines of Lightly Row really good.

***Cavatina will continue meeting in the rehearsal hall***
Cavatina w/ Ms. Jacobi: Practice Highridge Overture with double stops.

***HYCO will continue meeting in the Fellowship Hall; WBP sectionals will also stay the same***
HCYO w/ Mrs. Lee: Thank you for your hard work. Good first rehearsal! Now practice slowly & carefully. Do not build up tempo until you have accurate pitches. Then go for it!!!

Uniforms for the April Concert: Vivace & Twinkle wear white shirts & long black pants & black socks & shoes or white blouses & long black skirts with black shoes. Everyone else: You should have a uniform from us - a tux for the boys & a long dress for the girls. If you do not have one yet, please see me next week to get one.

Looking ahead:
Saturday, April 26, Spring Concert rehearsal in the Cailloux Theater; more details later. Basic time frames: HCYO, 9:00am-11:00am; Cavatina, 11:00am-Noon; Con Moto, Noon-1:00pm; Vivace & Twinkle, 1:00-2:00pm.
Monday, April 28, Spring Concert in the Cailloux Theater; warm-ups starting at 5:00pm; concert 7:00pm

Practice, practice, practice. Blessings,
Laura Shrader

BACK TO BULLETINS LIST

BACK TO TOP

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Attention Brass, Woodwind and Percussion Players

The Hill Country Youth Orchestra invites area brass, woodwind and percussion players to audition for a place in the orchestra. Auditions are held in the Fall each year at the end of September or in early October. The music used for auditions is the high shool, All-Region Band Music and may be obtained from area band directors. Area band directors also assist with the auditions. Selected musicians will be required to attend the last four Monday evening rehearsal before the Christmas Concert held each year the second Sunday in December at 3:00 PM in the Cailloux Theater in Kerrville. They will also be required to attend the four Monday rehearsals prior to the Spring Concert held the last Sunday in April each year at 3:00 PM in the Cailloux Theater.

There is no charge to participate in the Hill Country Youth Orchestras. In addition to the honor of being chosen to play, brass, woodwind and percussion players are eligible for a scholarship of $250.00, to be used toward weekly private lessons during the year or summer band camp.

Students wishing to audition may email the HCYO Staff Assistant, Laura Shrader at lshrader@kfumc.org

BACK TO BULLETINS LIST

BACK TO TOP

HCYOrchestra Notes
Tuesday, April 22, 2008 3:01 PM
From: "Laura Shrader" <lshrader@kfumc.org>

LAST SATURDAY rehearsal until our Spring Concert which is on MONDAY.

Notes from the Conductors:

Twinkle & Vivace w/ Ms. Lydon: Learn your concert pieces. Practice walking in line with your instrument and bowing before and after the song.

Con Moto w/ Ms. Plaxico: Practice Your part on the concert pieces: William Tell Overture, Minuet & La Cucaracha. Thank you to Blake Turner who worked with you while I was stuck in Houston.

Allegro w/ Ms. Plaxico: Concert's coming! Lightly Row & Buffalo Gal. Thank you to Mrs. Lee who worked with you last night.

Cavatina w/ Ms. Jacobi: Please practice incidentals. Congratulations on the chair auditions: 1st violin: Kate Lydon & Luke Hoffman; 2nd violin: Sarah Hayes & Erin Mabry; viola: Rieley Matthews & Bailey Baethge; cello: Alicia Gargrove & Henry Rodriguez; bass: Stafano Rodriguez

HCYO w/ Mrs. Lee: Concerto pieces: [from Basel - observe the silence, enjoy the silence, milk the silence] Pay close attention to all rests. Remember to phrase, always playing softer on the last note. Dvorak: Be prepared to adjust the balance in the Cailloux theater. Good Work! This has been a wonderful year. I am very proud of you.

Turning in uniforms after the concert: Please bring a change of clothes and $10 to the Cailloux Theater, so you can turn in your uniform after the concert. The $10 is for the cost of cleaning. All uniforms must be turned in at that time. There will be a table in the lobby with Mrs. Toll & volunteers (need 3 please).

Be prepared to turn in your music: Please take all personal music out of your folders. We will be collecting your music as you go off stage.

Concert reception: Debbie Cullen will be phoning for volunteers for food and drinks for the reception after the concert. Thank you for helping her.

CONCERT!!

Saturday, April 26: Spring Concert Rehearsal: Cailloux Theater on Main Street, Kerrville: We will work the program backwards - from the end to the beginning. [These are start times; please arrive 15 minutes early to unload & get to your seats] Mrs. Lee's full HCYOrchestra: 9:00am - 11:00am; Ms. Jacobi's Cavatina: 11:00am - 12:00pm; Ms. Plaxico's Con Moto & Allegro: Noon - 1:00pm; Mrs. Lydon's Twinkle & Vivace: 1:00 - 1:30. Please come to the stage door in back of the auditorium. We may use the dressing room restrooms & we may unload instrument cases and sit in the first few rows of the theater. We may not use the rest of the theater or the lobby area. No food or drinks are allowed inside the theater.

Monday, April 28: Spring Concert: 7:00 pm: Cailloux Theater: [Again, these are start times...] Warm-up schedule: HCYO: 5:00 pm; Cavatina: 5:45 pm; Con Moto & Allegro: 6:05 pm; Vivace & Twinkle:6:25 pm. Doors open for concert 6:40pm. Concert begins 7:00pm. Reception & uniform turn-in following the concert.

The Cailloux Theater seats 800, so please invite all family, friends and neighbors to join us.

Mr. Tom Spurlock, will be making a DVD of the concert for us. You may order one in the lobby at the concert for $10. It is a special DVD. We appreciate Mr. Spurlock for doing this for us. Regular Monday night rehearsals stop until August.

Have a great week & don't forget to practice, practice, practice. See you Saturday!

Laura Shrader

BACK TO BULLETINS LIST

BACK TO TOP

Our dear Webmaster, Marilyn Monts, died suddenly of a heart attack. Marilyn designed and maintained our website since its beginning. She loved the HCYO and rejoiced in all the accomplishments of the students. Our prayers go to her family including her sister Cathy Learoyd. We will miss our dear friend and remember her everytime we use this site.