Douglas County Youth Orchestra 2014-2015

!Welcome!

!As the new Director of the Douglas County Youth Orchestra, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the 2014-2015 season! !I can’t wait to get started on some great musical work for this upcoming year. With my Assistant Director, Jenna Cooksey, we are looking forward to small class sizes and two teachers for every class. Each student will receive ample individual attention. Additionally, because of our small class sizes, we will have the opportunity to study music from a more holistic standpoint than simply sitting in rehearsal. We will have the chance to explore the topics of music theory and literacy, music history, ear-training, sight-reading, fiddling, and give special attention to proper instrument set-up and technique. Our hope is that this program will not simply be an orchestra, but the start to a more complete musical education for your student. !In this packet you will find more information about the year, such as the schedule for the year, attendance policy, info about Jenna and myself, and all other general information. !Again, I cannot wait to get started with an exciting year of music-making! !Sincerely, !Annissa Olsen DCYO Director

Umpqua Symphony Association / Douglas County Youth Orchestra

!Student and Parent Information

!2014-2015 !

Eligibility All students six years and older are invited to play in one of the Douglas County Youth Orchestras. Students are not required to have previous experience. The following instruments are available for rent: violin, viola, cello and string bass. !Musician Responsibilities Productive rehearsals and concerts require each musician’s attendance and participation. Commitment to attendance and preparedness is vital for a successful program. All musicians are required to do the following: • Arrive at least 10 minutes before rehearsal begins, instruments and music ready to go.

• Bring all music, a music stand and a pencil to rehearsals.

• Label all instrument cases and stands.

• Practice all orchestra music regularly and come well prepared to rehearsals.

• Make concerts, rehearsals, and scheduled sectionals a priority by honoring the DCYO attendance policy.

• Planned absences must be excused prior to missed rehearsals (see Attendance Policy).

• Conduct yourself in a cooperative and respectful manner towards others and the rehearsal and concert facilities. Turn cell phones off and do not chew gum or eat.

• Participation in private lessons is encouraged.

• Members must abide by all orchestra policies, including attendance and concert dress.

• Students will be picked up promptly at the conclusion of rehearsals.

Financial Information Annual Registration fee until June 4 is $85.00 per student, $210.00 for groups of 3 or more students from the same family. Registration fees are due at registration. • Some scholarships may be available for partial assistance with registration fees and

instrument rent. Families awarded scholarships may be asked to volunteer at rehearsals, concerts and other DCYO/USA events.

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DCYO Support and Fundraising DCYO student fees and instrument rent fund only a small portion of the orchestra’s budget. The Umpqua Symphony Association seeks grants and community support to make up the difference. As an orchestra parent, you are encouraged to donate to DCYO if you have the means to do so. In addition, students and parents may be asked to participate in fundraising activities on behalf of the orchestra. !Location and Class Times • All rehearsals are held at the First United Methodist Church, 1771 W. Harvard Ave,

Roseburg.

• There will be 3 classes, held in Room 15-16 on Tuesdays: Beginning (4:30-5:20pm); Intermediate (5:30-6:20pm); and Advanced (6:30-7:20pm)

Concerts/Events • The DCYO winter concert will be held on Tuesday, January 27, 2015. The spring concert

will be on May 26, 2015. Time and location will be announced soon.

• Students will arrive at the concert location at least 10 minutes before their dress rehearsal time. Students will have an assigned area for their cases. Students need to bring all their music and get instruments out and tuned prior to taking the stage.

• Please make sure cases, stands and music are all labeled.

• Parents, please advise family members and friends to arrive at the auditorium 15 minutes prior to the start of the concert.

• Remember to congratulate the musicians on a great performance!

• DCYO families will receive passes to Umpqua Symphony Association concerts. Please plan to attend with your DCYO students.

Concert Dress Girls • Long black skirt (must be below the knee when sitting) or long black pants, no jeans or

leggings

• White blouse

• Black nylons, tights or socks

• Black shoes

Boys • Black pants

• White dress shirt/ Black tie optional

• Black socks

• Black shoes

DCYO Rehearsal Dates 2014-2015 **This schedule will be updated with concert times/locations by October** !

2014 !September 9

• Registration, Auditions, Parent Meeting: 4:30pm !September 16

• First rehearsal! !September 23 !September 30 !October 7 !October 14 !October 21 !October 28 !November 4 !**November 11: Veteran’s Day…No rehearsal** !November 18 !November 25 !December 2 !December 9: !----Holiday Break---- (NO REHEARSAL: Dec. 16, Dec. 23, and Dec. 30) !January 6 !January 13: !January 20 !**January 27: CONCERT (Time and location TBA)** !

2015 !February 3 !February 10 !February 17 !February 24 !March 3 !March 10 !March 17 !**March 24: Spring Break…No rehearsal** !March 31 !April 7 !April 14 !April 21 !April 28 !May 5 !May 12 !(May 14: Advanced DCYO class may perform in Eugene before ESO concert) !May 19 !**May 26: FINAL CONCERT (Time and Location TBA)** !

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Douglas County Youth Orchestra Attendance Policy !

• Excused Absences: Personal illness and family emergencies are the only qualifications for an excused absence. Other conflicts (such as school or sports-related absences) may be excused if the family submits an Absence Request Form one week before the absence. ALL Excused Absences require the notification of Director/Asst. Director/Kathi Halloran (see process below).

• Unexcused Absence: Failure to notify Conductor/Asst. Conductor/Kathi of an absence is considered an Unexcused Absence. Only 2 Unexcused Absences are permitted per concert set; a student may not be eligible to perform on the final concert for the set if they have more than 2 Unexcused Absences.

• Tardies: 3 Unexcused Tardies per concert set will be considered an Unexcused Absence. Please email Annissa and Jenna to give explanation for any tardies. !

Excused Absence Process: !1) If possible, submit an Absence Request Form (available from Kathi

Halloran) to Director/Asst. Director at least 1 week prior to the Excused Absence.

2) If the Excused Absence is an emergency: a. Email Annissa Olsen AND Jenna Cooksey

i. annissaolsen@gmail.com ii. cooksey.jenn23@gmail.com

b. If emailing is not possible, call Jenna Cooksey to inform of the absence (541-680-6997), and leave a message if she does not answer.

!It is vital that students attend rehearsals. Missing even 1 rehearsal not only delays one student’s progress, but delays the entire class’s progress! !!!

Annissa Olsen, DCYO Director: !

! !Raised in a family of musicians and music teachers, Annissa began studying violin and piano at age 5. By age 13, she discovered her true passion—the viola. Annissa is in her final year of the Master’s program in Viola Performance and Violin/Viola Pedagogy at the University of Oregon in Eugene, where she is a student of Leslie Straka and principal viola of the UO Symphony. At UO’s Community Music Institute, she teaches a full studio of Suzuki violin and viola students, violin group classes, Music Mind Games (a music theory and literacy method), and Music and Movement to students aged 3+. Annissa is a certified instructor in Suzuki violin/viola, Music Mind Games, and Kodàly method. Before moving to Oregon, Annissa lived in Tempe, Arizona, where she obtained degrees in Viola Performance and French from Arizona State University and graduated summa cum laude from the Honors College. In Arizona, Annissa was in demand as a violist, violinist, and teacher, serving as the primary violist for the Sweetwater Strings Quartet and the Desert Breeze Quartet, sitting assistant principal viola for the Musica Nova Orchestra of Scottsdale and principal viola of the Arizona State University Symphony, and teaching chamber music at Marcos de Niza High School and McKemy Middle School. Annissa has performed in master classes for renowned teachers and ensembles including the Brentano, St. Lawrence, Takács, and Orion String Quartets. She has been invited to be a Guest Artist at music festivals around the world, including the Ameropa Festival in Prague, Czech Republic (2011), the Astoria Music Festival (2012), the Mendocino Music Festival (2013), and most recently the Vianden Music Festival in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (2014). In her free time, Annissa enjoys hiking, cycling, running, reading, and studying French. She is thrilled to be appointed Director of the Douglas County Youth Orchestra, and looks forward to an inspiring year of music-making! !!!

Jenna Cooksey, DCYO Asst. Director:

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Jenna Cooksey began playing violin with a Youth Orchestra program in Bremerton, Washington when she was eight years old. She moved to Douglas County when she was 15, and quickly became integrated with the Douglas County Youth Orchestra and Roseburg Chamber Orchestra. Besides performing, she also assisted with teaching and coaching duties within DCYO.

Jenna graduated in 2011 from Umpqua Community College with an Associate of Arts degree in music, and won the Douglas County Young Soloist competition that same year. She has been teaching string instruments for seven years, as well as performing with the Roseburg Chamber Orchestra and other venues in the area.

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