Thank you to all who came out to support our youth in their musical pursues.
Check back in the summer for our 2019-2020 schedule.
Play on!
Read what HYSOC has meant to our graduating seniors
Of the organized groups I participated in throughout middle and high school, none influenced me so much as the youth string orchestra. Playing chamber and orchestral music not only opened my eyes to a variety of classic composers and their styles, it also allowed me to apply these styles of playing and learning to other endeavors. Through my experience in the orchestra, I learned to appreciate the contributions that new and old orchestral music has made on the world. My advice to the beginning musician would be to explore what each piece has to offer, and use what you find in the next piece you play. Always learn something from each piece, and try to retain what you learn for the next piece. From the youth string orchestra I learned to value more than just performance, but the delicate and time-tested designs of the instruments that produce the sounds themselves, which has lead me to pursue lutherie at Gibson Guitars in Montana. Orchestral playing is a fine craft, and it opens many unforeseen doors in life, offering much more opportunity than meets the eye.
Sammy Walker
1) What has playing orchestral music meant to you?
Avram Salzman
Playing orchestral music has given me a chance to work with others to create beautiful music. Solo playing is fun, but pales in comparison to playing alongside other eager musicians.
2) What would you say to a beginning musician about playing in an orchestra?
Be patient. Playing in an orchestra takes immense patience, and you will consistently be called upon to exercise it. Whether it be patience in waiting to move up chairs, or patience whilst waiting your turn to play, it is an invaluable trait to begin refining. Music does not happen fast. In fact, the faster the tempo, the more time it will take to master. So, be patient.
3) What is the next step on your musical journey?
I hope to find a small group of musicians to continue playing with in college. Even if it’s only for fun, I would very much like to continue working through pieces, and make new friends along the way.
I also intend to continue taking private lessons.
1) What has playing orchestral music meant to you?
Ethan Benedetti
Orchestral music has served as a time for me to make art with a great community and group of people that share a want to create high quality art. I’ve met some of my best friends through music and I think that music is really a positive way for me to apply myself to something I want to achieve rather than a goal set out for me.
2) What would you say to a beginning musician about playing in an orchestra?
Set goals for yourself and focus on achieving them. If you’re without something to accomplish nothing will get done so ensure that you can capitalize upon the time you have. It seems so cliche to say that time goes by fast but it really does. Focus your efforts to accomplish what you want in music whether to play an excellent solo or to go to All-State, keep a sense of purpose during everything you do and when you’re my age you’ll have no regrets about anything. Also keep playing, even if it seems tough now remember that that the only difference between you and someone else is the hours spent practicing.
3) What is the next step on your musical journey?
Next for me is probably playing horn or Saxophone in a band at wherever college I end up going to and hopefully making money while doing so.