ISSUED: 18 August 2014
MEDIA CONTACT: Valerie Owens
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — Members of the Shepherd University Preparatory Orchestras will have the opportunity this year to play with the professional musicians from the Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra.
The Prepatory Orchestras, led by Dr. Scott Hippensteel and Kari Edge, assistant conductor, are made up of more than 70 string and wind students in elementary through high school. They come from Washington County, Maryland, Berkeley and Jefferson counties in West Virginia, as well as Shepherd University. Younger students are in the Junior Youth Orchestra and older students in the Senior Youth Orchestra.
This year all youth orchestra members will have the opportunity to play in side-by-side concerts with the professionals during Two Rivers’ fall and spring concerts. This partnership will include rehearsals with the Jed Gaylin, the orchestra’s music director, and the opportunity for the students to interact with the professional string players on a one-on-one basis.
The Preparatory Orchestras are looking for young musicians and will hold auditions for its 16th season on Wednesday, August 27, beginning at 6 p.m. Auditions will take place at the Frank Center. Positions are open in all string sections in both orchestras.
Students auditioning for the Junior Youth Orchestra are asked to prepare a solo and scale of their choice to perform at the audition, and should be able to sight-read music at a beginner to early intermediate level. Students auditioning for the Senior Youth Orchestra are asked to prepare a solo of their choice and will be asked to play scales and sight-read.
Violin and viola players will audition from 6-8 p.m. and students playing cello and bass will audition 8-9 p.m. All auditions will take place on a first-come, first-served basis during the scheduled time for the instrument. Other audition times may be scheduled with the consent of the orchestra director.
The Shepherd Preparatory Orchestras meet Wednesday evenings for rehearsals throughout the school year. The junior ensemble rehearses from 6-7 p.m. and the senior orchestra rehearses from 7:30-9 p.m. Each group also presents two concerts during the school year.
The tuition fee for the Shepherd Youth Orchestras is $150 per semester and includes two complimentary family member admissions to each concert. For more information contact Kari Edge at 304-876-5555 or by email at kedge@shepherd.edu. Visit the website at www.shepherd.edu/musicweb/preparatory.html.
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