Seven performing groups have been created for the purpose of offering serious music students an opportunity to play stimulating and challenging music with other young people of similar ability. It is our belief that through this association, students can be motivated to achieve a high level of musical excellence. The benefits derived from this experience are an increased musical awareness and ability, and exposure to the value and importance of cooperation with peers toward a common goal.

Criteria for Admission to the Orchestras:
The first group of the Stamford Young Artists organization is the Young String Ensemble ,composed of elementary and middle school level students. Members of this string groups are expected to be able to play material up to three sharps and three flats. A minimum amount of position work is required. A knowledge of rhythms should include dotted halves, dotted quarters and dotted eighths. Students should be familiar with the following meters as well: 2/2, 4/4, 3/4, 2/4, and 6/8 time.

The second group is the Young People's Symphony .
This is a full symphony orchestra composed of students who are able to play in keys up to four sharps and four flats. String players should have knowledge of the first five positions. They should be able to use vibrato, have a sense of phrasing and tone production, and have a familiarity with all the basic rhythms and meters. Wind and brass players must be able to demonstrate endurance and flexibility, as well as good tone production, as there is an emphasis on solo passage work.

The third group is the Young Artists Philharmonic.
This orchestra performs advanced orchestral literature. Students are expected to be able to play in all keys, have much technical facility and demonstrate mature musicianship. Violinists should be able to play in five to seven positions. Violists should be familiar with treble clef as well as alto clef. Cellists should know some thumb positions and have familiarity with the tenor clef. Transposition may be necessary for winds. Trombonists will need to be able to play in tenor clef.

The fourth and fifth groups are the Young Artists Flute Choirs and Young People's Flute Choir .
Contact conductor Sharon Levin(201-798-9151) for specifics related to admission criteria.

Young Artists Jazz Ensembles:
Meeting in three 8-week sessions under the direction of Joyce DiCamillo, the ensembles are highly selective comprised of jazz instrumentalists (piano, guitar, bass, drums, saxophone, trumpet, and trombone) with experience in improvisation and sight-reading. Players may contact Joyce DiCamillo for audition appointment and criteria (203-532-1278, yapjdt@worldnet.att.net

Auditions:
Admission to all the orchestras is by audition only. Auditions are held in September for all instruments and May for strings, and throughout the season by appointment. Orchestra members advance within the Young Artists organization as proficiency on their instrument develops. It is not necessary to re-audition every year to remain in his/her group. Auditions are required, however, to advance to the next orchestra. For further information, please call (203 532-1278). Concerto auditions for students wishing to solo with Young Artists Philharmonic are open to all instrumentalists including pianists, and are held in early September. Music must be memorized; for information contact Mr. Princiotti, (203) 637-9522.

Weekly Rehearsal Schedule:

Weekly rehearsals will be held Monday evenings at Union Baptist Church in Stamford :

YAP_____Mr. Salvatore Princiotti____7:15-9:45
YPS_____Mr. Mark Gunderman________5:30-7:15
YSE_____Ms. Barbara DiFranco______5:30-7:00
YPFC____Ms. Sharon Levin_________5:30-6:30
YAFC____Ms. Sharon Levin_________6:45-7:45
YPJE I___Ms. Joyce DiCamillo_______5:30-6:30
YAJE II__Ms. Joyce DiCamillo_______ 7:00-8:00

Rehearsals will begin promptly.
Members are expected to arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of rehearsals.

Attendance:
Members are required to attend all rehearsals . In the event of illness, or other unavoidable circumstance, members must notify their conductor prior to the rehearsal. ( Please find conductor's contact numbers on upcoming page .) Attendance will be taken at all rehearsals . Phone calls or e-mails to the Manager are unacceptable for excusal. For excusal based on observance of religious holidays, contact conductor in advance .

Two unexcused absences will result in dismissal from the upcoming concert.

Music:
Each member is responsible for the music assigned to him/her. In the case of shared music, the same rule applies jointly. Members are responsible for delivering the music to rehearsal if they are absent. All markings must be made in pencil; ink is not permitted.

Inclement Weather:
In the case of snow or treacherous driving, a decision to cancel rehearsal will be made by 4:00 pm. Definitive notice of cancellation will be given on Stamford radio station WSTC-AM 1400 and on the SYAP web site - www.syap.org . If at all possible, each member will be notified of cancellation through the use of the Telephone Tree. Please do not call the conductors.

Practice:
Every member is expected to set aside personal time on a weekly basis to practice his or her orchestral part. Orchestra rehearsals are not intended to be for the practicing of individual parts, but for the overall musical development of the entire group. Members are expected to have achieved music preparedness at home.

Conduct:
Members are expected to respect the property of the schools and theaters in which they rehearse and perform. Students may not leave school premises. Proper conduct is imperative at all times. Members will adhere to a Code of Conduct signed at time of registration. Improper conducts mandates dismissal from the upcoming concert or from the organization.

Membership Fees:	1st Child	Ea. add'l. Child	Due Dates	Late Fees
Option #1 Single Payment	$550.00	$520.00	9/10/07	$15.00 after 9/10/07
Option #2 Installment Plan	$285.00	$270.00	9/10/07	$15.00 after 9/10/07
	$285.00	$270.00	1/7/08	$15.00 after 1/7/08
Jazz Ensembles	$200.00 per 8 week session (YAP members free)

 

Scholarships:
No one will be refused membership in Stamford Young Artists Philharmonic because of his or her inability to pay the membership fee. Please provide documentation of student's inclusion in School Lunch Program to Joyce DiCamillo (203) 532-1278. All students should pay a portion of their tuition fee. All information will be held confidential.

School Music Program Requirement:
We wish to emphasize that the Stamford Young Artists Philharmonic organization is a supplement to school music programs and not a substitute for them. Youth orchestras and music programs in the school are mutually beneficial and complement one another. On the one hand, school music programs are the backbone of a student's music education; on the other hand, the opportunity for serious music students to strive for quality in the youth orchestra should inspire them to go back to their schools with leadership potential and with increased enthusiasm for music. It is for these reasons that we require orchestra members to participate in their school groups.

Board Meetings:
Board meetings are held at 4 – 6 week intervals throughout the concert season . While Board members (including officers and committee heads) are expected to attend, all parents are heartily invited to attend board meetings. Information concerning exact dates and times of Board meetings may be acquired by calling Board Secretary Leah Rumbough (203-661-0788

Newsletters:
Three newsletters will be sent to all families over the course of the 2007-08 season. Each newsletter will be mailed approximately two weeks prior to the concert and will contain important information concerning dress rehearsal schedule, concerts, upcoming events, and topics of general interest. Please call Manager Joyce DiCamillo, (203) 532-1278, if you do not receive a newsletter prior to a concert or if you have a change of address.

Volunteer Help:
As a non-profit organization, Stamford Young Artists Philharmonic depends on the time and talents of the parents of its members. It is the philosophy of the organization that every parent should contribute a small amount of time to the organization so that no one person is overwhelmed by any volunteer task. You must designate your area of Volunteer Preference at the time of registration.

E-Mail and Web Site Information:
Stamford Young Artists Philharmonic sponsors a web site at www.syap.org featuring basic information concerning the organization. It is important to register your e-mail addresses with Manager Joyce DiCamillo at yapjdt@worldnet.att.net . Please check your e-mail frequently, as it is our hope that important information can be efficiently disseminated through the use of e-mail as well as postal mail.