Amarillo Youth Orchestras

Auditions have been scheduled for the 2010-11 Amarillo Youth Symphony:

6-10 p.m. Aug. 31-Sept. 2 at the Amarillo Symphony Office.

Audition Requirements:
2 contrasting excerpts, 2 minutes in length
2 scales - as many octaves as you can play
Sight Reading

Call the Symphony office at 376-8782 to sign up for an audition time.

The Amarillo Youth Orchestras were founded in 1987 through the collaboration of the Amarillo Independent School District, Amarillo College Division of Fine Arts and the Amarillo College Suzuki String Program.  The Amarillo Symphony was involved in the program from the beginning, and a formal partnership began in 1990. Today, the Symphony considers the youth orchestra an integral part of its educational mission.

The Amarillo Youth Orchestras are a performance-based program for young instrumentalists from around the Texas Panhandle. The three orchestras offer a unique musical experience to young musicians ages 10 to 18 of different skill levels.

Amarillo Youth Symphony serves the most talented young musicians in the Panhandle. Admission for all musicians is by audition only. This prestigious group has performed at the Texas State Capitol and the Texas Association of Symphony Orchestras convention. This group is directed by Roger Edwards.  Member musicians are enrolled in their school’s orchestra or band program, if one exists. Rehearsals are held on Sunday afternoons.

Amarillo Youth Philharmonic is composed of younger, less experienced string students with emphasis on individual and small group instruction and ensemble skills. Admission to this orchestra is by audition only. Rehearsals are held on Mondays evenings. Rehearsals consist of small group coaching with professional musicians from the Amarillo Symphony and 45 minutes of orchestra with director Jill Bradford.

Amarillo Youth Sinfonia is made up of young string students with at least one year of experience in their public or private school orchestras. Rehearsals are held on Monday evenings, generally at Austin Middle School. The weekly rehearsals consist of 45 minutes of small group instruction with professional musicians from the Amarillo Symphony and 45 minutes of orchestral instruction with director Jill Bradford.

Amarillo Youth Preparatory Strings Class will focus on enhancing the music reading ability and basic instrumental technique. These young musicians will build the skills necessary to play in an ensemble in weekly, 45-minute rehearsals on Mondays.

Tune Up!

 Polish up your string skills and get a place in next year's Amarillo Youth Orchestras by attending Tune Up!

Hang out with your friends and get hands-on coaching from Amarillo Symphony musicians.

Attend one package of programs:

6-9 p.m.

Aug. 2-3

OR

9 a.m.-noon

Aug. 5-6

AND IT'S FREE! To register, call or email Sue White.

Young Performers Competition

This performance competition, held every January, is open to students who have not yet graduated from high school. The five areas of competition are piano, strings, vocal, winds, and percussion. The winner receives the honor of performing their concerto with the Amarillo Symphony during a subscription concert.

The 2010 Competition will be held on Saturday, January 30, 2010, in the Recital Hall inside the new Fine Arts Complex at West Texas A&M University.

Click here to download the 2010 Repertoire List.
Click here to download the 2010 Registration Form.

For more information or to obtain registration information, call 376-8782.  The Young Performers Competition is a program of the Amarillo Symphony Guild.

Instrument Express

Do you have instruments lying around the house? Donate them to our Instrument Express program. Instrument Express gives donated instruments to the Amarillo Independent School District. The District then repairs and maintains the instruments for children who could not otherwise afford an instrument of their own. Call 376-8782 for information on how to donate instruments to this program.  Instrument Express is a program of the Amarillo Symphony Guild.

Masterclasses & Informances

The Amarillo Symphony is committed to encouraging today’s students of music to become the artists of tomorrow. How better to achieve this than introducing them to the guest artists featured in the Amarillo Symphony Season concerts?

Informances are held at Amarillo College with an intimate class of music majors.  The students have the opportunity to hear the guest artist discuss their musical training, practice techniques and professional career, as well as listen to a musical demonstration.

Masterclasses are held at WTAMU with a group of music students. Several pre-selected students perform a short piece or excerpt for those assembled. The guest artist then critiques the performance and provides suggestions.