WILMINGTON SYMPHONY
YOUTH ORCHESTRA
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Our Mission:
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. Applications are currently closed. They will be available again June 2023.
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. Facts at a Glance:
Wilmington Symphony Youth Orchestra
Questions about the Youth Orchestra? Send Linda Estep an email! If you are in one of the youth orchestras but aren't currently receiving emails, click here. |
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.
Auditions and Application: Audition date, music download and online application are here. Membership is for a year for those accepted in fall auditions and for a semester for those accepted at January auditions.
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. (pay tuition here)
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.
Seating: Seating will be assigned at the time of 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.
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.
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:
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.
Auditions and Application: Audition date, music download and online application are here. Membership is for a year for those accepted in fall auditions and for a semester for those accepted at January auditions.
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. (pay tuition here)
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.
Seating: Seating will be assigned at the time of 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.
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.
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.
All rehearsals are mandatory. Two or more missed rehearsals exclude you from the concert.
Rockestra 7:00-8:15 |
Junior Strings 7:15-8:15 Youth Orchestra 7:30-8:45 |
Event |
Location |
Mar. 8 - No rehearsal Mar. 15 Mar. 22 Mar. 29 Apr. 5 Apr. 12 - No rehearsal Apr. 19 Apr. 26 |
Mar. 9 - No rehearsal Mar. 16 Mar. 23 Mar. 30 Apr. 6 Apr. 13 - No rehearsal Apr. 20 Apr. 27 |
Rehearsal |
Rockestra - CFCC Orch. Room Junior Strings - Roland-Grise MS Youth Orchestra - UNCW CAB |
Apr. 30 |
Apr. 30 |
Dress Rehearsal Rockestra - 1:45 Youth Orchestra - 2:30 Junior Strings - 3:00 Concert - 4:00 |
Kenan Auditorium |
Wilmington Symphony Concert - Wilson Center
Saturday, April 15- WSO Concert @ 7:30
Saturday, May 13- WSO Concert @ 7:30
*Be aware that on the weeks of WSO concerts there might be masterclasses held on those weekends for WSYO students to attend.
YOUTH ORCHESTRA CONDUCTOR
LINDA ESTEP
Linda Estep is an accomplished violinist, active performer, teacher, and the Artistic Director of the Brooklyn Arts Music Academy. Her love of music is evident to those around her, and her belief that music can make the world a better place inspires her students and those who hear her play. Ms. Estep is a Wilmington Symphony Orchestra violinist and performs regularly with the Tallis Chamber Orchestra with whom she was recently featured as a soloist on “Summer” from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. She has also performed with the Fayetteville Symphony, Opera Wilmington Orchestra and served as concertmaster of the Maranatha Symphony. In 2016, she became co-founder of and regular performer with the Brierwood Ensemble.
Ms. Estep has over 15 years of experience teaching private lessons, group lessons, and general music classes. Beginning in high school she realized her love of teaching and her desire to share this love with others around her. She earned her Bachelor's degree in String Pedagogy and became the Assistant Director of the String Pedagogy Program at Maranatha Baptist University in Wisconsin.
Ms. Estep then moved to Wilmington, North Carolina and became the Elementary Music Director for Wilmington Christian Academy where she created an engaging and safe environment for students to experience and excel in music. Her student programs are always creative and executed with excellence and precision leaving the audience in awe of the performers and giving students a sense of accomplishment for all of their hard work.
During her free time, Ms. Estep enjoys watching movies, going to art galleries (her favorite gallery is the Milwaukee Art Museum), and traveling (she has visited England, Ukraine, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and India).
Linda Estep is an accomplished violinist, active performer, teacher, and the Artistic Director of the Brooklyn Arts Music Academy. Her love of music is evident to those around her, and her belief that music can make the world a better place inspires her students and those who hear her play. Ms. Estep is a Wilmington Symphony Orchestra violinist and performs regularly with the Tallis Chamber Orchestra with whom she was recently featured as a soloist on “Summer” from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. She has also performed with the Fayetteville Symphony, Opera Wilmington Orchestra and served as concertmaster of the Maranatha Symphony. In 2016, she became co-founder of and regular performer with the Brierwood Ensemble.
Ms. Estep has over 15 years of experience teaching private lessons, group lessons, and general music classes. Beginning in high school she realized her love of teaching and her desire to share this love with others around her. She earned her Bachelor's degree in String Pedagogy and became the Assistant Director of the String Pedagogy Program at Maranatha Baptist University in Wisconsin.
Ms. Estep then moved to Wilmington, North Carolina and became the Elementary Music Director for Wilmington Christian Academy where she created an engaging and safe environment for students to experience and excel in music. Her student programs are always creative and executed with excellence and precision leaving the audience in awe of the performers and giving students a sense of accomplishment for all of their hard work.
During her free time, Ms. Estep enjoys watching movies, going to art galleries (her favorite gallery is the Milwaukee Art Museum), and traveling (she has visited England, Ukraine, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and India).
WSYO Handbook
| wsyo_handbook_-_rev._9-9-22.pdf |
WSYO Calendar
| wsyo_calendar_-_spring.pdf |
YOUTH ORCHESTRA STUDENT TESTIMONIALS
Camden Stohl and Olivia Kingman, 2018.
"I remember being a freshman, never having played in a full symphonic ensemble, and being overwhelmed by everything that goes into this form of performance. I can now look back upon these memories and know that this program gave me so much discipline to learn an abundance of high-level repertoire and operate at a professional standard, and for that, I am forever grateful." Camden Stohl, WSYO alumna (2015-2019) |
"Without this group, Alyssa would not have been able to play her viola, because our school system has no orchestra. Thank you and thank you to Dr. Errante." |
Playing in the youth symphony was something I looked forward to every week. The sense of community and friendship made the symphony feel like a big family because everyone bonded over their common love of music. The WYSO was so important to me because it was a source of stress relief and a time where I could socialize with friends, but also strengthen my musical skills, technique, and expand my repertoire.” -Olivia Kingman, WSYO Alumna (2015-2019) |
Being a part of WSYO was amazing. I got to express myself through music with people who also enjoyed doing that. I met some really great friends as we grew as musicians together.” -Meg Puett, WSYO Alumna (2014-2018) The WSYO rejuvenated my appreciation and love for the violin and orchestral music. Practicing by myself was tiring but when I met so many like-minded peers, performing became so much more enjoyable” -Daniel Oh, WSYO Alumnus (2015-2019) |
Playing with others who work hard and love what they do pushes yourself to do things you never thought possible. Each year the WSYO audition pieces would come out and every student I knew worked hard to do better than the previous year. We got to watch ourselves and each other grow as we’d meet at that first rehearsal and see where we were seated. It was a really wonderful feeling to see if you moved up. The musicians playing in WSYO are all very dedicated and determined with their musicianship which created a very comforting community for players.” -Forrest Britt, WSYO Alumnus (2015-2019) |
Youth Symphony created a fantastic community of young musicians who tirelessly supported and worked with each other and Dr. Errante to create beautiful music and lasting memories. I greatly enjoyed my time in this program and learned so much about teamwork, professionalism, commitment, stage presence, and the art of playing in a symphony for the first time!” -Emma Graf, WSYO alumna (2016-2020)
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WILMINGTON SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA SEASON SPONSORED BY:
Ronald Sachs Violins
