EYSO to audition for its 6 ensembles

Introduce your student musician to the EYSO and reap benefits for years to come.

From May 29 to June 1, the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra, an In-Residence Ensemble in the Arts Center at Elgin Community College, will be auditioning students for its 39th season.

Auditions will be at the Elgin Community College Arts Center, Building H, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. Students who will begin fourth grade through college in the fall may audition for a seat in one of the five orchestras and brass choir. Applications, audition requirements, and scheduling may be found at www.eyso.org.

The EYSO is committed to making participation accessible to any qualified student regardless of financial need. Students have opportunities each year to earn part or all of their tuition. Since the orchestra is an In-Residence Ensemble at the ECC Arts Center, students who are 16 years of age at the beginning of a semester are eligible to earn college credit while playing in the EYSO.

There is a $45 audition fee per audition per instrument for students new to the EYSO. The fee for returning students is $35.

This season, the EYSO has 350 students from over 60 area communities. The students participate in one or more of the EYSO's five orchestras, brass choir and the Chamber Music Institute, and each has its own performance requirements:

• Primo Orchestra: string ensemble for beginning players with little orchestral experience

• Prelude Orchestra: string orchestra for early intermediate level students

• Sinfonia: full orchestra for intermediate level students

• Philharmonia: full orchestra for advanced students

• Youth Symphony: full orchestra for advanced students grades 9 through college age.

• Brass Choir: includes brass musicians in Youth Symphony, Philharmonia, and additional strong brass students by invitation.

• Chamber Music Institute (open to both members and nonmembers of the EYSO at Prelude Orchestra level and up) provides an opportunity to work closely with professional coaches in groups of 3-5 students. An audition for the CMI is required if not auditioning for a large ensemble. Chamber Group assignments will be made in the fall.

The EYSO offers focused comprehensive learning environment with concert programs created around a central season theme; and conductors/teachers who are committed to the entire musical/educational experience.

Alumni have studied at internationally recognized institutions and have successful music careers.

This is an opportunity to work and perform with world-renown musicians, and form friends with musicians from communities throughout the Chicago area.