Elgin Youth symphony holding auditions for 35th season

The Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra, an In-Residence Ensemble in the Arts Center at Elgin Community College, will be auditioning students for its 35th season from May 21-23.

Auditions will be held on the main campus of Elgin Community College. Students who will begin fourth grade in the fall through college-age students may audition for a seat in one of the five orchestras and Brass Choir. Applications and audition requirements may be found at eyso.org, or by calling the EYSO office at (847) 841-7700.

This year, an option to schedule auditions directly on the website has been added to make the scheduling process easier for parents and students alike. There is a $45 audition fee per instrument.

The 2010-11 season will be a yearlong celebration of EYSO achieving a significant milestone: 35 years of educating students and entertaining audiences. This is a great year to get involved with the orchestra as there are many activities being planned in addition to the regular season.

The EYSO regular season includes six concert performances at the Blizzard Theatre on the main campus of ECC.

In addition, the Chamber Music Institute performs each semester, the Brass Choir performs with a professional brass ensemble every spring, and the EYSO honors chamber ensembles - the Maud Powell String Quartet and the Sterling Brass Quintet perform throughout the year.

In addition to concerts, students interact and play with world-renown musicians, bands and groups. Last year, students played in Springfield as part of Abraham Lincoln's 200th Birthday celebration, and the year before students performed with the internationally known violinist Midori.

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 EYSO tuition.

Because it's an In-Residence Ensemble at the Elgin Community College Arts Center, EYSO members who are 16 years of age at the beginning of a semester are eligible to earn college credit while playing in the EYSO.

In past years, EYSO musicians have been coached by Yo Yo Ma, the Pacifica String Quartet, percussionist Ted Atkatz, and others of Chicago's finest professional musicians.

They have performed with NYCO, the Illinois Brass Quintet and mezzo-soprano opera performer Kitt Reuter-Foss.