The Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra is part of the Richmond Symphony Young Performer’s Program.

History

The Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra was founded in the spring of 1962 by Edgar Schenkman and is the oldest youth orchestra in the state of Virginia. It was a partnership between the Richmond Symphony Orchestra and Richmond Public Schools. The schools provided the venues, students, and music stands, and the Richmond Symphony provided Edgar Schenkman and the rest of the artistic leadership. It was originally only one orchestra, but by 1981 had expanded to three orchestras, the original Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra, the Richmond Symphony Youth Concert Orchestra, and the Richmond Symphony String Sinfonietta. In 2004, a fourth orchestra was added, the Richmond Symphony Camerata Strings.

Orchestras

The String Sinfonietta is an all-string ensemble for young musicians, directed by Joseph Wargo from 1983 to 2004 when the Camerata Strings were created. Camerata Strings is also just for strings and is the next level up. Mr. Wargo helped found the Camerata Strings and conducted the group from 2004 to 2008 when he resumed his original position with the String Sinfonietta (and his real passion for teaching the youngest performers) until his retirement in late 2008. String Sinfonietta is now conducted by Christie-Jo Adams (an alumnus of the Young Performer’s Program and the String Sinfonietta under Joseph Wargo in particular) and Camerata Strings now is conducted by Rebecca Jilcott. The Youth Concert Orchestra is the lower-level full orchestra, conducted by Beth Almore since 2007 (now conducted by Amy Birdsong), and the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra is the top ensemble, a full orchestra, conducted by Dr. Erin Freeman, D.Mus., since 2007. The orchestras accept students up through 12th grade.
All four orchestras meet weekly and participate in coaching and masterclasses by Richmond Symphony musicians, mentoring, and other activities. The orchestras are the top orchestral training ensembles of central Virginia. In 2008, the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra played at the Kennedy Center with the Richmond Symphony Orchestra to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Richmond Symphony.

Audition Requirements

All students must participate in their school band or orchestra program.

String Sinfonietta: conducted by (Christie Jo-Adams) No formal audition, but required to know:
C, D, and G major scales, 2 octave preferred (1 octave for bass)
All Strings: 1st position notes on all strings
Violins: basic 3rd position on the E string
Cellos: basic 2 ½ and 3rd position on the A string
Basses: basic 2 ½ and 3rd position on the G string (high C/D area)

Camerata Strings: conducted by (Rebeca Jilcott) formal audition process
Scales: all major scales up to 3 sharps and 3 flats, 2 octaves (Bass 1 octave) PLUS
Harp: Scale of your choice, 2octaves hands together
Violin: G major, 3 octaves
Viola: C major, 3 octaves
Cello: C Major 3 octaves
Bass: F Major 2 ocatves

Sightreading
Solo Piece: must be about 3 minutes and best demonstrate the abilities of the student
Equivalent to VBODA or ASTA level 3-4

Youth Concert Orchestra: conducted by (Amy Birdsong) formal audition process
1. Scale Requirements: (Quarter = 120)
Strings
Harp: Scales of your choice, 3 octaves hands together
Violin: G, A, B-flat, B & C major scales, 3 octaves
g, a, b, & c melodic minor scales, 3 octaves
Viola: C, D, E-flat, E & F major scales, 3 octaves
c, d, e, & f melodic minor scales, 3 octaves
Cello: C, D, E-flat, E & F major scales, 3 octaves
c, d, e, & f melodic minor scales, 3 octaves
Bass: E, F, G & A major scales, 2 octaves
e, f, g, & a melodic minor scales, 2 octaves
Winds
All major/melodic minor scales up to 4 sharps/flats, 2 octaves
Chromatic scale, 2 octaves preferred
Percussion
Scales on a mallet instrument
Ability to play a roll (pp-ff) on snare drum
2. Sight Reading (required for all instrumentalists)
Viola players should be prepared to read in TREBLE clef
Cello, bassoon, and trombone players should be prepared to read in TENOR clef
3. Solo Requirements
Applicants must prepare a 3-minute piece that best demonstrates their playing ability
Must be equivalent to VBODA or ASTA’s level of 4-5
Percussionists must be prepared to play a solo on snare or a mallet instrument

Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra: conducted by (Erin Freeman) formal audition
Harp
Scales of your choice, 4 octaves hands together
Strings
All major scales – 3 octaves (Bass: 2 octaves)
Melodic minor scales up to 4 sharps/flats, 3 octaves (Bass: 2 octaves)
Winds
All major/melodic minor scales up to 4 sharps/flats, 2 octaves
Chromatic scale, 2 octaves preferred
Percussion
Scales on a mallet instrument
Ability to play a roll (pp-ff) on snare drum
• Sight Reading (required for all instrumentalists)
Viola players should be prepared to read in TREBLE clef
Cello, bassoon, and trombone players should be prepared to read in TENOR clef
• Orchestral Excerpt
Applicants will prepare an orchestral excerpt relevant to his/her instrument (downloaded from website)
Trumpets and horns must be prepared to transpose
Auditions are held in the spring and fall of each school year.

Alumni

The alumni of this program number in the thousands. They regularly attend music schools and many are successful musicians in top orchestras around the world. Many of the Richmond-area music teachers also are alumni.

Sources

Halbruner, Aimee. "Slideshow of RSYO at the Kennedy Center." E-mail to Kristin Grasberger.3 June 2008.

"Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestras." Richmond Symphony. 2008. Richmond Symphony Orchestra. 8 Jun 2008 .

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