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AYLUS Info Sharing Session

Orchestra

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Presented by: Kylee Guo (CRHS-S)

April 11, 2025

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What is Orchestra?

An orchestra is a large musical ensemble typically comprising string, woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments, often playing classical music, and led by a conductor.

Composition of an Orchestra

Strings: violins, violas, cellos, and double basses
Woodwinds: flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons, piccolos, and other less common instruments
Brass: horns, trumpets, trombones, and tubas
Percussion: Timpani, snare drums, bass drums, cymbals, and other percussion instruments

Type of Orchestra

String orchestra
Symphony orchestra
Chamber orchestra
Pit orchestra

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Music Programs in CRSD

Elementary Schools

Lessons on string starts at third (3^rd) grade
Lessons on woodwinds/brass/percussion starts at fourth (4^th) grade
String instruments has different sizes, while other instruments are standard size
Elementary school orchestra and band

Middle Schools

Orchestra: string orchestra, chamber orchestra
Band: concert band, jazz band

High Schools

Orchestra: string orchestra, symphony orchestra, chamber orchestra, pit orchestra (occasionally)
Band: concert band, jazz band, marching band

Private teachers in local area

https://www.crsd.org/parents/cr-music-program-information/private-tutors

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Orchestra Programs in PA Public School Districts

Bucks County Music Educators Association (BCMEA)

Annual BCMEA Festival
2025 BCMEA Festival, hosted by Bensalem High School

Audition for admission
3 days of rigorous rehearsal and concerts on March 21, 2025 and March 22, 2025

Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA)

There are 6 Regions and 12 Districts, Bucks County/Chester County/ Delaware County/Montgomery County/Philadelphia County belongs to Region 6 District 11
District 11 Orchestra: by audition
Regional 6 Orchestra: by the seating audition in District Orchestra
All-State Orchestra: by the seating audition in the Regional Orchestra, concert scheduled on April 11^th and 12^th

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Youth Orchestra Outside the School

Youth orchestra opportunities in the local area

Youth Orchestra of Bucks County (YOBC), https://yobc.org
Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO Music Institute), https://pyomusic.org
Philadelphia Sinfonia (PS), https://philadelphiasinfornia.com
Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra (GPYO), https://www.gpyo.org
There are other orchestra or music groups in the local area

Admission by audition:

Scales, solo piece meeting ensemble’s requirement, excerpts (i.e. PYO), sight-reading (i.e. PS, YOBC)

Students are expected to attend school music programs and have private lessons

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Youth Orchestra of Bucks County (YOBC)

Rehearsal location: Bucks County Community College, Music Education Building
Concert location for 2025-26 season: Holland Middle School Auditorium
Ensembles

Full Orchestra

Symphony Orchestra (mainly HS students)
Philharmonia (mainly HS students and MS students)

String Orchestra

Ripieno (mainly MS students and some HS students)
Concertino (mainly MS students)
Prima Strings (MS and ES students)

Band

Concert winds (mainly HS students)
Wind Symphony (MS, junior high)

Audition: https://yobc.org/audition-new/, in-person audition on May 17 & 18, 2025
Tuition: https://yobc.org/tuition/

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Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO)

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Ensemble	Level	Age or grade band	Rehearsal Day/Time	Rehearsal Location	Tuition (2024-25 season)
Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO)	Most advanced symphonic orchestra	Age 15-22	Saturday 8:30am – noon	St. Patrick Hall, 242 S 20^th St, Philadelphia	$2,095
Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra (PYAO)	Advanced symphonic orchestra	Age 13-18	Sunday 2 – 5pm	St. Patrick Hall, 242 S 20^th St, Philadelphia	$1,995
Young Musicians Debut Orchestra (YMDO)	Beginning- to intermediate- level symphonic orchestra	Age 11-17	Saturday 1:30-4pm	St. Patrick Hall, 242 S 20^th St, Philadelphia	$1,795
Prysm String – Mainline	Beginning string orchestra	Grade K-12	Friday 6:30-8:30pm	Parish House of the Church of the Redeemer, Bryn Mawr	$1,995
Prysm String – New Jersey	Beginning string orchestra	Age 7-14	Friday 6:30-8:30pm	Katz Jewish Community Center, Cherry Hill, NJ	$1,995

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Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO)

PYO’s other ensembles

Bravo Brass
Philadelphia Youth Symphonic Band
Philadelphia Youth Concert Band
Philadelphia Youth Jazz Orchestra
Pizzicato Players
Tuen Up Philly

PYO’s value added programs

College and Conservatory Preparation Program (CCAP)
Introduction to Conducting Course
PYAO Young Artists Solo Competition
Summer camps: string camp, band camp, jazz camp

Auditions https://pyomusic.org/auditions/

Fall 2025: in-person audition on May 18, 25, and June 1, 7, 8

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Philadelphia Sinfonia

Rehearsal location:

The Howard Center for the Arts, 1212 Wood Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Ensembles

Philadelphia Sinfonia, advanced full orchestra with musicians aged 14 to 23
Philadelphia Sinfonia Players, intermediate full orchestra with musicians aged 11 to 18
Philadelphia Sinfonia Strings, musicians aged 10 to 16
Philadelphia Sinfonia Chamber Orchestra, string-only ensemble drawn from Philadelphia Sinfonia

Auditions (Auditions – Philadelphia Sinfonia)

Fall 2025: in-person audition on May 24, May 25, May 31, and June 1

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Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra (GPYO)

Website Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra - Home
Rehearsal location: Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ
Ensembles

Symphonic Orchestra
Concert Orchestra
Camerala Strings
Preparatory String Ensemble
Chamber Wind Ensemble

Auditions (Auditions - Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra)

Summer 2025 program: audition in April 2025
Fall 2025 program: audition begin in Spring 2025

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