JUNIOR STRINGS PROGRAMAre you an enthusiastic violin, viola, cello or double bass player? Do you want to enhance your string playing, creating beautiful music while being surrounded by enthusiastic fun musicians like yourself? If your answer is yes, then the SYO Junior Strings program is for you! SYO Junior Strings offers fun motivated and highly skilled conductors who work with you every week combined with regular sectional tutorials taken by professional string players, as well as many concerts, an annual music camp and so much more.

With a structured program and great music, the junior strings program offers a place to hone ensemble skills, sight reading, aural awareness as well as general string technique, all presented within a fun environment. Kids from Year 2 to Year 10 are welcome in the Junior Strings Program, we can find an ensemble that is right for you.

JUNIOR STRINGS PROGRAMCONDUCTOR: NICHOLAS TESTER

Having been through the junior string program and senior orchestras of Sydney Youth Orchestras as a student, Nicholas Tester returns as Junior Strings Coordinator and Conductor to give back to the organisation which gave him so much. Nicholas is an enthusiastic and prolific Sydney string teacher and conductor with a great love of building and maintaining string programs. He teaches at Sydney Grammar, and is Director of Strings at Lindfield P.S., Middle Harbour P.S. and Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College. He also conducts the week long Performing Arts Unit Strings Festival at the Opera House. Nicholas has a great love of music and can’t help but spend every waking moment spreading this same joy to all his students.

SPEER is the first orchestra in the Junior Strings Program and concentrates on the fundamentals of ensemble playing: playing in tune, playing together with the same rhythm and learning to create a great ensemble sound.

SKILL DEVELOPMENT

Sight reading at AMEB Grade 1; first position playing in keys of up to 2 sharps and 1 flat; maintain constant pulse/tempo, retaining rhythm and intonation; detach and legato bow strokes developing; use of whole bow; confidence slurring two notes to a bow, with ability to slur up to 4 notes to a bow; staccato, hook stroke at a slow tempo; clear dynamic variation (loud versus soft).

CAMERATA is the second orchestra in the Junior Strings Program, and further develops the ensemble fundamentals with a better focus on bow technique.

SKILL DEVELOPMENT

Fluent first position playing in keys of up to 3 sharps and 2 flats; maintain constant pulse/tempo, and recognition of rit. and accel. in whole bows and segments of the bow; bow strokes including confident legato slurring of 4 notes to a bow, detache, staccato, hook stroke, marcato and developing spiccato.

JUNIOR STRINGS PROGRAM

SINFONIETTA is the final of the four Junior Strings Program and focuses on a different musical period every term.

SKILL DEVELOPMENT

Intonation at a very high standard; first to fifth position in major and minor scales up to 5 sharps and 4 flats; stable vibrato; knowledge of both natural and artificial harmonics; bow strokes including detache, legato, staccato, confident slurs up to 12 notes in a bow, marcato, martele, spiccato, sautille and up-bow staccato; clear and pure tone with an understanding of ‘point of contact’; a sense of how phrase can create different colours (timbre) on their instrument.

CHAMBER STRINGS will continue to perfect the fundamental techniques of intonation, rhythm and sound quality (tone), perfecting position work and bow techniques learnt in Camerata, and will now start focusing on stylistic periods of music (e.g. Renaissance, Baroque and Classical), and the bow techniques associated within a period style.

SKILL DEVELOPMENT

Further development of intonation, vibrato and bow control; first to third position in major and minor keys up to 4 sharps and 3 flats; use whole bow and any segment with detache, legato, staccato, marcato, martele, spiccato and confident slurs of up to 8 notes in a bow; project a confident, warm, clear sound at a much higher standard to Speer and Camerata; clear and more subtle dynamic variation; rubato developing.

ORCHESTRA MEMBERSHIP: $980

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT: $30

AUDITION FEE: $45

MUSIC CAMP FEE: $250 Senior (excluding Flagship)$170 Junior

TERTIARY STUDENT DISCOUNT $100

MULTIPLE FAMILY MEMBER DISCOUNT $100

Fees may be paid by instalments, including camp fees.

The Sydney Youth Orchestras offers an education program aimed at fostering a love of music and excellence in music performance. The SYO program is heavily subsidised, with membership fees making up only 33% of the total costs of the program. We believe every child with a passion and talent for music should have access to our program, and we thank our generous sponsors and donors who help make this happen.

Some of our brightest and most talented players have been assisted by the SYO Scholarship Program. Successful applicants demonstrate musical potential, commitment to their art and the SYO, and need. For further information, contact the SYO on info@syo.com.au or 02 951 2422.

A Start in Life, Talent Sprout program

SYO CONCERTMASTER SCHOLARSHIPSYO Concertmaster Scholarship Hon Jane Mathews AO

SYO SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMBob and Alison Carr ScholarshipFieberg Family ScholarshipJames Dack ScholarshipGuy Ross Community ScholarshipThe Ross Family Scholarship

1 Every new applicant or existing SYO member must audition. Auditions are an essential part of the process of learning to play in an orchestra, even for the youngest musician.

2 Applicants must be aged between 6 and 24 years old, and have regular lessons with a professional music teacher.

3 New applicants must include a teacher reference, or evidence of performance standard.

4 Renewed enrolment is based on the audition, combined with their conductor’s appraisal of achievement during the year, including skill, commitment and attendance record.

5 An audition fee of $45 applies to all applications.

6 Completed online or printed application forms must be received by SYO no later than Monday 19 September. An additional late fee of $45 will be charged.

7 Detailed audition requirements will be forwarded to you after your application has been received and processed.

8 Auditions will take place over the final three weekends in October, including Friday afternoons. In most cases:

• auditions will be 5 - 7 minutes in length

• include several minutes of a favourite piece

• orchestral excerpts and scales will be forwarded to applicants in advance of the auditions

• there will be short sight- reading test

• auditions will take please over the last three weekends in October and may include Friday afternoons.

Applicants will be notified of their audition details.

AUDITION INFORMATION