Rowan Youth Orchestra

  • Rowan Youth Orchestra Fall 2019

Rowan Youth Orchestra

Rowan Youth Orchestra

  • Faculty: Dr. Hayden Denesha, Rowan Youth Orchestra Artistic Director
  • Sundays, 6:00 - 8:00 PM
  • Dates: September 12, 2021 - April 24, 2022 
  • Concerts: December 5, 2021 & May 1, 2022 
  • Cost for 2021-2022 season: $425, Registration will open June 1, 2021, A late fee of $15 will be assessed for ensemble tuition not paid by October 1, 2021.
  • Submit your audition before June 30th, 11pm: go.rowan.edu/ryoaudition
    • A payment plan option is also available for full year participation. All students are required to make tuition payments through the Marketplace online system after they have been accepted as per their audition.
    • A 10% discount is available if your child is enrolled in private lessons through the Rowan Community Music School. You must contact Rowan CMS for more details. 
    • A late fee of $15 will be assessed for ensemble tuition not paid by October 1, 2021.
    • Rowan CMS reserves the right to cancel any courses, classes, camps, workshops, and ensembles that do not meet minimum enrollment requirements.
    • Please be advised that we reserve the right to change the format of offerings without notice based on the Federal, State and Local guidelines related to the COVID-19 global health pandemic in person in the Wilson Building at Rowan University. 

The Rowan Youth Orchestra, now in its 38th year, under the Direction of Dr. Hayden Denesha (Artistic Director) a full orchestra including strings, brass, and percussion instruments. Orchestra members are typically in grades 8-12 from schools throughout southern New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. This ensemble is dedicated to performing unabridged orchestral works as well as upper level arrangements from a variety of musical genres. Auditions will be held virtually from April 1st - June 30th with a supplemental round for remaining vacancies in September. Auditions will consist of scales, a prepared solo, and an orchestral excerpt for all instruments. For specific audition requirements for each instrument, please see below. 

RYO 2021-2022 Season

RYO 2021-2022 Tuition: $425; A 10% discount is available if your child is enrolled in private lessons through the Rowan Community Music School. A payment plan option is also available for full year participation. All students are required to make tuition payments through the Marketplace online system after they have been accepted as per their audition.  A late fee of $15 will be assessed for ensemble tuition not paid by October 1, 2021 and 2nd payments on the payment plan. 

 

Rehearsal Information

There are a limited number of rehearsals for our concerts so all are extremely important. Plan on rehearsal starting on time and ending at the scheduled time. Rehearsal time will be 6:00-8:00pm. Be sure to tune your instrument and warm-up by 5:45pm. Players should be in their seats, ready to play, at 6:00pm. 

Please be prepared to play by 5:45pm & have your:

  • Instrument
  • Pencils
  • Music Stand
  • Music 
 
2020-2021 Season RYO Concerts: 
December 5, 2021
May 1, 2022
 

Attendance Policy

-More than one unexcused absence and you may be asked to not play the concert.

-Excused absence = rowancommunitymusicschool@rowan.edu are notified at least 48 hours in advance of the start of a rehearsal.

-More than 2 excused absences and you may be asked to not play the concert.

Audition Requirements

Auditions will be done by video submission (2021-2022). Please submit all audition materials before June 30, 2021: click here!

You may submit your video audition as one file or multiple files.  They must be sent to the appropriate email either shared via google drive or privately shared on YouTube with a link. Your files must be clearly labeled with your First Name, Last Name, and Instrument. 

1) A solo piece of your choosing that you feel comfortable playing. The piece should demonstrate the full range of your technique and musicality. Percussion: One mandatory solo on the Snare Drum or Tympani (If you have accesses to the instrument).  It is encouraged that if you have access to a mallet percussion instrument, you include a brief mallet solo.

2) Scales. You will need to play 2 scales of your choosing.

Violin/Viola/Cello/Bass: Major or minor scales in 2 or 3 octaves.
Woodwinds & Brass: Major or minor scales, 2, or 3 octaves as appropriate for your instrument.
Percussion: Demonstrate loud (fff) and soft (ppp) rolls on snare drum (mandatory) and timpani (optional, if available) and loud (fff) and soft (ppp) crashes on a pair of crash cymbals (optional, if available). It is encouraged that if a student has access to a mallet percussion instrument, 2 different major or minor scales in 2 octaves on marimba, xylophone, or bell set.

3) Excerpts. In lieu of sight-reading this year, musicians will be asked to submit the corresponding orchestral excerpt(s) posted on the web-page. Percussion: Only play the mallet percussion excerpt if you have access to a xylophone.  HINT: It is better to take a slow tempo that is comfortable, rather than a fast tempo that will cause you to stop. Harps do not need to submit an orchestral excerpt.

 

*Excerpts can be found here for the 2021-2022 Season.