Williamsburg Youth Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The Williamsburg Youth Orchestra (WYO) is a symphony orchestra
and string orchestra
based in Williamsburg, Virginia
. It is composed of grade schoolers, any age between 8-19. The current director is Akiko Fujimoto and Karey Sitzler.http://www.wyomusic.org/concerto_competition.php
groups that have one large concert at the end of the season.
WYO holds a concerto
competition every year. In this competition, students perform their practiced concerto in front a board of judges and an audience, and the winners are awarded the chance to perform the concerto with the symphony orchestra at the next concert.
on January 27, 2008. The concert was held at the Ferguson Center for the Arts at Christopher Newport University
in a "side-by-side" concert.
. Previously, the concerts have been in various other places, ranging from churches to schools such as Lafayette High School
and Bruton High School.
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
and string orchestra
String orchestra
A string orchestra is an orchestra composed solely or primarily of instruments from the string family. These instruments are the violin, the viola, the cello, the double bass , the piano, the harp, and sometimes percussion...
based in Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
. It is composed of grade schoolers, any age between 8-19. The current director is Akiko Fujimoto and Karey Sitzler.http://www.wyomusic.org/concerto_competition.php
History
The WYO was originally formed in 1995 by local musicians and parents, who wanted a full symphonic orchestra for local instrumentalists. Since 1995, the orchestra have played at least three concerts every year, performing at different locations almost every time.Related groups
In addition to the two large ensembles, there are also several small chamberChamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
groups that have one large concert at the end of the season.
WYO holds a concerto
Concerto
A concerto is a musical work usually composed in three parts or movements, in which one solo instrument is accompanied by an orchestra.The etymology is uncertain, but the word seems to have originated from the conjunction of the two Latin words...
competition every year. In this competition, students perform their practiced concerto in front a board of judges and an audience, and the winners are awarded the chance to perform the concerto with the symphony orchestra at the next concert.
Other occasions
The symphony orchestra has played with the Virginia Symphony OrchestraVirginia Symphony Orchestra
The Virginia Symphony Orchestra is an American regional orchestra in the Hampton Roads metro area. The orchestra performs at several venues in Virginia, including Chrysler Hall in Norfolk and the Ferguson Center for the Arts in Newport News....
on January 27, 2008. The concert was held at the Ferguson Center for the Arts at Christopher Newport University
Christopher Newport University
Christopher Newport University, or CNU, is a public liberal arts university located in Newport News, Virginia, United States. CNU is the youngest comprehensive university in the Commonwealth of Virginia...
in a "side-by-side" concert.
Performance spaces
As of the 2007-2008 season, all of the concerts (excluding the side-by-side with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra) have been in the auditorium at Warhill High SchoolWarhill High School
Warhill High School is a public high school operated by the Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools . Serving the joint school division of the independent city of Williamsburg and James City County, Virginia, the school is located at 4615 Opportunity Way, in the Lightfoot area of the...
. Previously, the concerts have been in various other places, ranging from churches to schools such as Lafayette High School
Lafayette High School (Williamsburg, Virginia)
Lafayette High School is a public secondary school in James City County, Virginia, just outside the city limits of Williamsburg, Virginia. It is part of Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools and is located at 4460 Longhill Road.-History:...
and Bruton High School.