The Front Range Youth Symphony recognized Ms. Kelly Watts as the 2019 Teacher of the Year at the May 6 concert.
Front Range Youth Symphony
FRYS Orchestra at the Center
The Front Range Youth Symphony Orchestras bring together talented young musicians from across the Front Range for a unique study and training in Orchestral repertoire. Developed from a merger of the former Golden Youth and Arvada Center Youth Symphonies in 1990, the program offers four levels of participation: Academy Strings, Concert Strings, Chamber Strings, and Youth Symphony.
The group has toured on both coasts of the United States, the Bahamas, and Europe including a Walt Disney World performance tour in June of 2016. They have performed with National and guests artists such as the Lehnert Duo, Skip DeVol, Charles Langley, and Colcannon. The Youth Symphony has enjoyed many years of cooperation and educational collaborations with the National Repertory Orchestra, the Breckenridge Music Institute, Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra and the Colorado Chamber Orchestra.
Students who are members of any FRYS group are also required to participate in their school's instrumental music program. It is our belief that public school music programs offer students, among other things, valuable ensemble training and necessary repetition. The Front Range Youth Symphony Orchestras seek to enhance, not replace, school music programs.
Annual auditions are held May 15 from 4:00 - 8:00pm and May 16 1:00 - 7:00pm. These auditions will be held at the date and times scheduled, but will be conducted by Zoom. Please contact the Box Office at 720-898-7200 to schedule a Zoom audition.
Auditions for openings that may exist are held throughout the year by appointment.
About our Orchestras
Front Range Youth Symphony
Conducted by Danielle Johnson, this orchestra provides unique training in orchestral repertoire for advanced high school and college-age musicians up to the age of 21. All orchestral string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments are welcome. All instrumentalists should have commanding facility on their instrument.
*Rehearsals on Tuesday evenings from 6:30-9:00
Youth Symphony participants:
- are advanced players with solid instrumental technique and good intonation
- are familiar with all key signatures and time signatures
- have had several years of ensemble experience
- are a member of their school’s instrumental music program
Orchestra music: Grade 5+
Suzuki level (strings): Book 7 - 10
Ages: 9th grade-age 21
Audition Requirements for Youth Symphony Strings:
- a 3-octave scale based on the key of your solo
- a solo of your choice (about 2-3 minutes) that shows your highest level of technique on your instrument
- at the audition you will be given a short excerpt to sight-read
Woodwind and Brass:
- a 2-octave scale based on the key of your solo
- a chromatic 2-octave scale
- be prepared to articulate your scales in various ways
- a solo of your choice (about 2-3 minutes) that shows your highest level of technique on your instrument
- at the audition you will be given a short excerpt to sight-read
Percussion:
- a solo on any 2 of the 3 following areas: timpani, keyboard percussion, or snare drum. Timpani and xylophone will be provided.
- timpanists should be able to tune the timpani using relative pitch and demonstrate a proper forte-piano roll
- keyboard percussionists need to play a major and minor scale of the adjudicator’s choice
Snare drum percussionists will be asked to demonstrate 2 of the 26 rudiments of the adjudicator’s choice, slow to fast to slow
The season begins with a required three-day summer music camp, starting at the Arvada Center and concluding with an overnight retreat in Breckenridge, CO with the Breckenridge Music Institute.
Tuition: $500 for the Season
Summer Camp Tuition: $130
Audition Fee: $20
Rehearsals: Tuesdays, 6:30 to 9:00 PM
August, 2019 through April, 2020
Chamber Orchestra
Conducted by Javan Carson, this orchestra was formed to create a high-level string ensemble, to perform advanced chamber literature. This is a program for students who have played for several years and have had private lessons. The Chamber Orchestra concentrates on refining students’ orchestral playing techniques by focusing on ensemble skills, sight-reading, advanced playing positions, and advanced bowing techniques. Students must audition to participate in the program.
*Rehearsals on Wednesday evenings from 7:40-9:10
Chamber Orchestra participants:
- can tune their own instrument
- can sight-read in 1st through 3rd positions (violins/violas), 1st through 4th (cellos)
- are familiar with keys up to 4 sharps and 3 flats
- are able to play spiccato at different speeds and have started working on more advanced bow techniques
- violins and violas can play fluently in 1st through 3rd positions and can play in 4th and 5th positions (Violas should have basic knowledge of treble clef). Cellos can play fluently in 1st through 4th positions and have basic knowledge of tenor clef
- can play with fluent vibrato
- have a few years of ensemble experience
- are a member of their school’s instrumental music program
Orchestra music: Grade 3.5 - 5
Suzuki level: late Book 4 - Book 7 (violin), late Book 4 - 6 (viola and cello)
Ages: 11-Senior in high school
Audition Requirements for Chamber Orchestra
- a 3-octave major and a 3-octave minor scale
- a solo of your choice (about 2-3 minutes) that shows your highest level of technique on your instrument
- at the audition you will be given a short excerpt to sight-read
The season begins with a required three-day summer music camp at the Arvada Center.
Tuition: $400 for the Season
Summer Camp Tuition: $100
Audition Fee: $20
Rehearsals: Wednesdays, 7:40 to 9:10 PM
August, 2019 through April, 2020
Concert Strings Orchestra
Conducted by Javan Carson, this is a program for students who have played for two to three years and have had private lessons for at least one year. This group emphasizes ensemble and music reading skills, and the development of orchestral playing techniques. Students must audition to participate in the program.
*Rehearsals on Wednesday evenings from 6:40-7:40
Concert Strings participants:
- can sight-read all notes in 1st position
- are familiar with keys up to 3 sharps and 2 flats
- are able to use their whole bow, and have started working on spiccato
- have started working on shifting (violins/violas), can shift (cellos)
- have started working on vibrato
- have some ensemble experience
- are a member of their school’s instrumental music program
Orchestra music: Grade 2 - 3
Suzuki level: Book 3 - 5
Ages: 8 - 14
Audition Requirements for Concert Strings
- a 2-octave major and a 2-octave minor scale
- a solo of your choice (about 2-3 minutes) that shows your highest level of technique on your instrument
- at the audition you will be given a short excerpt to sight-read
The season begins with a required three-day summer music camp at the Arvada Center .
Tuition: $375 for the Season
Summer Camp Tuition: $100
Audition Fee: $20
Rehearsals: Wednesdays, 6:40 to 7:40 PM
August, 2019 through April, 2020
Academy Strings
Conducted by Michelle Ewer, this is a preparatory group intended for students with between one and three years of experience. This group will help students with their school music programs using a curriculum that supports and augments their musical endeavors. Focus is on technique and creating a quality string tone while having fun learning. This class is perfect for those students who may need a smaller ensemble opportunity or for those who have switched instruments and need some extra help.
*Rehearsals on Wednesday evenings from 5:45-6:30
Academy Strings participants:
- can read all notes in 1st position
- have had 1 - 3 years of playing experience
- are a member of their school’s instrumental music program
Orchestra music: Grade 1 - 2
Suzuki level: Book 1 - 3
Ages: 8 - 8th grade
Audition Requirements for Academy Strings
- a 1-octave major scale, two octaves if capable
- a solo of your choice (about 2-3 minutes) that shows your highest level of technique on your instrument (no school sheet music please)
- at the audition, you will be given a short excerpt to sight-read
The season begins with a required three-day summer music camp at the Arvada Center.
Tuition: $275 for the Season
Summer Camp Tuition: $60
Rehearsals: Wednesdays, 5:45-6:30
August, 2019 through April, 2020
Conductors
Danielle Johnson
Roles:
Front Range Youth Symphony Conductor
Javan Carson
Roles:
Chamber & Concert Strings Orchestra Conductor
Michelle Ewer
Roles:
Academy Strings Conductor
Rehearsals
Youth Symphony, begins Tuesday, August 27, 6:30-9:00
Academy Strings, begins Wednesday, August 28, 5:45-6:30
Concert Strings, begins Wednesday, August 28, 6:40-7:40
Chamber Orchestra, begins Wednesday, August 28, 7:40-9:10
Scholarships
The Arvada Center offers classes in four sessions per year and accept scholarship applications prior to each session of classes. Scholarship awards are given for either full or partial tuition.
Scholarships are available for all ages, children through adults, and are awarded in recognition of financial need and talent. Selections for scholarship awards are made through review of applications and submitted letters of recommendation.
