WILMINGTON SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA
Founded in 2001, the mission of the Wilmington Symphony Youth Orchestra is to enrich the lives of Cape Fear area youth by providing talented young musicians with unique orchestral training and performing opportunities. The Youth Orchestra is intended as a complement to school music programs and we strongly encourage our members to participate in their school ensembles.
Auditions for the 2024-2025 Season TBD
FACTS
Wilmington Symphony Youth Orchestra
Open to 9th – 12th grade youth (strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion).
Rehearsals are 7:30 – 8:45 p.m. Thursday evenings during the school year.
Rehearsals are in UNCW’s Cultural Arts Building (5270 Randall Pkwy, Wilmington, NC 28403).
Students in WSYO must fill out this Opt Out Release Form if they DO NOT wish to have their photographs taken.
Performs three concerts each year!
TUITION
Participation in the Wilmington Symphony Youth Orchestras is a season-long commitment (September through May). We encourage you to talk as a family about this commitment as refunds are not available to students who choose to not complete the year.
Please evaluate your yearly schedule in order to be sure that you will be able to fulfill this time commitment and have no conflicts with the rehearsal and concert schedule.
In very rare cases will a refund of tuition paid be granted to families withdrawing from the program due to extenuating circumstances. Pro-rated tuition may be offered to students who enroll after the season has started based on concerts completed.
Tuition for a Full Year (September - May)
Before Oct. 1 = $300
After Oct. 1 = $350
Payment Plans & Scholarships available!
Families have the option to create automatic credit card payments during the school year (September through May).
The WSO offers scholarships to students based on financial need. To be considered for a scholarship, please complete and return this scholarship application form.
MEMBERSHIP GUIDELINES
The Wilmington Symphony Youth Orchestra is an educational program of the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra and is intended to compliment the important educational experience of the individual’s school music programs. Participation in both the Youth Orchestra and school ensemble is this program’s cornerstone and helps ensures maximum music ensemble benefit and practical performance experience for students. Membership is for a full year (September through May) for those accepted in fall auditions and for a semester for those accepted at January auditions.
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Tuition: Tuition is $150.00 per member per semester and is payable at the start of each semester upon notification of acceptance in the Youth Orchestra, following a successful audition.
Music Deposit: No music deposit is required for each student before receiving a music folder. However, Youth Orchestra members are financially responsible for the music issued to them that is lost or defaced. Any marking in the music must be made lightly in soft pencil only. Music must be turned in: a) when requested by the conductor or youth orchestra manager; b) if you leave the orchestra, or c) at the end of the concert season.
Scholarships: Scholarships may be granted to qualifying students and are awarded on the basis of need. Working scholarships, in exchange for partial deferred tuition amounts, may be arranged by the Orchestra Operations Coordinator. Scholarships must be applied for in writing immediately following notification of acceptance and prior to the first rehearsal.
Thank you to the following Donors for funding a scholarship: The Honorable and Mrs. Richard Russell Davis, Gwendolyn Stinson Gray Scholarship Fund, and Ronna and Herbert Zimmer Scholarship Fund.
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Rehearsals: Musicians are expected to prepare rehearsal material at home. Rehearsals begin promptly at the announced time. Musicians need to be there at least 15 minutes before the rehearsal begins so they can warm up and tune. During rehearsals, you are expected to follow the directions of the music director, conducting staff, general manager and other volunteer coordinators. Musicians are also expected to help maintain a wholesome atmosphere while focusing on the orchestral training.
Rehearsal Schedule: Thursdays 7:30-9:00 p.m.
Seating: Seating will be assigned at the time of audition.
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Attendance: 100 percent attendance is important to make a rehearsal worthwhile for the orchestra as a whole. Attendance is taken. Excused absence is permitted in cases of illness, emergency, or special circumstances pre-arranged with the general manager. Three (3) tardies are considered equal to one absence. To be considered on time, musicians need to be in their seats with instruments ready when the concertmaster begins the tuning process. Musicians with more than two absences before a concert may be asked not to perform in that concert.
Concert Dress:
Ladies: Floor length black dress; or black dress pants or floor length black skirt (no slits) with black dress shirt with sleeves (and no open midriff); black shoes - no sandals.
Gentlemen: Black suit; black shirt; black bow tie; black shoes and black socks.