Roanoke Youth Symphony (RYS)
The RYS is an educational offering of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra (RSO) and consists of three ensembles: the Roanoke Youth Symphony Orchestra (RYSO), the Roanoke Youth Symphony Junior Strings, and the Roanoke Youth Symphony Flute Ensemble. Ensemble participants draw from 10 school districts across Southwest Virginia and West Virginia, four private schools, and approximately 20% of participants are homeschooled.

The RYSO is comprised of 65 student musicians, ages 12-18, who rehearse weekly and perform symphonic repertoire in public concerts throughout the school year. Additionally, the RYSO performs annual Discovery Concerts in collaboration with the Roanoke Youth Symphony Junior Strings. The Discovery Concerts take place during the school day and are attended by area school children. Led by RSO Associate Concertmaster James Glazebrook, the RYSO is the only professional orchestral training for young people in southwestern Virginia. The young musicians gain membership through auditions held annually each spring and fall and may perform with the RYSO through their high school graduation. The RYSO rehearses on Sunday afternoons in Roanoke.

In addition to the RYSO, Mr. Glazebrook also conducts the New River Valley Symphony Orchestra, an ensemble comprised of both community members and students of Virginia Tech. Also at Virginia Tech, Mr. Glazebrook teaches violin and viola, strings methods, and conducting.

Participation in the RYSO enables access to competitions and scholarships specifically for members. The Young Artist Awards (YAA) is an annual competition hosted by the RSO for members of the RYSO. The YAA were initiated in 1983 by a gift from Mr. Eldon C. Grover, a former RSO Board member and patron. This generous gift enabled the formation of the Eldon C. Grover Fund, specifically for education scholarships. A portion of the Fund's proceeds finance the YAA. Three financial awards, in the amounts of $300.00, $200.00, and $100.00, are awarded to the first, second, and third place winners respectively. The first place recipient is invited to perform as a soloist with RYSO during the following school year.

The Anne Jett Rogers Scholarship Program is designed to further the musical education or training of talented and promising young musicians. This collegiate scholarship, offered through the RSO, is available to current and alumni members of the RYS. Current members must be graduating seniors who demonstrate an intention to study music at the collegiate level, and alumni must currently study music as their primary focus at the undergraduate level in order to be eligible to apply. The Scholarship is awarded based on various factors, including musical merit, financial need, academic performance, and recommendation from a current music teacher. Since its inception in 1989, the Anne Jett Rogers Scholarship Program has awarded over $6500.00 in scholarships to 21 winners. The Anne Jett Rogers Scholarship Program is funded by the Anne Jett Rogers Endowment Fund. The Rogers family, along with matching funds from the then-active Roanoke Symphony Volunteer Association, established the Fund in 1989 in honor of the late Anne Jett Rogers, an active volunteer and friend of the RSO. The earnings from the Endowment are used to fund the Scholarship. These earnings are combined with some of the earnings from the Eldon C. Grover Fund to enable a yearly award $2000.00 to the scholarship recipient, to be awarded in $1000.00 semesterly increments.

For more information about the Roanoke Youth Symphony, please contact Education Director Liz Lochbrunner by e-mail at Liz.Lochbrunner@rso.com or by telephone at (540) 343-6221 x.231

The Junior Strings, under the direction of Joanne Steele, is comprised of more than 25 beginning-to-intermediate string players, ages 9-16, who rehearse weekly and perform concerts with the RYSO and also participate in the annual Discovery Concerts. These Concerts take place during the school day and are attended by area school children. Many members of the Junior Strings, after achieving an appropriate level of skill, successfully audition to become members of the RYSO. For many young string players, participation in the Junior Strings is the first and only opportunity to begin playing in an ensemble under the direction of an experienced conductor. The Junior Strings rehearse on Tuesday afternoons in Roanoke. Joanne Steele has directed the Junior Strings since its inception in 1985. Mrs. Steele also serves as the Director of Bands and Orchestras at James Madison Middle School.

For more information about the Junior Strings, please contact Education Director Liz Lochbrunner by e-mail at Liz.Lochbrunner@rso.com or by telephone at (540) 343-6221 x.231.

This ensemble made its debut in June 2008 during the annual Roanoke Youth Symphony Summer Music Institute. Under the direction of Julee Hickcox, this ensemble performs at exciting venues throughout the Roanoke Valley, including the Taubman Art Museum. The Flute Ensemble rehearses monthly in Roanoke.

Julee Hickcox is the Principal Piccolo for the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra and maintains a well-established flute studio in the Roanoke Valley.

During mid-June, the week-long Summer Music Institute (SMI) offers daily group instruction, masterclasses, and rehearsals for both a full orchestra and two string orchestras. The development of each participant's talent and musicianship is emphasized in this intensive and challenging musical atmosphere. The Institute includes two student recitals, open to the public, that give participants the opportunity to perform either solo or in small ensembles. This musical week concludes with a public performance by the RYSO and the string orchestras.

Members of the RYSO are expected to attend the SMI as a part of their annual program. The SMI is the first introduction to the majority of the repertoire for the 2010/2011 season and is the best opportunity for students who come from all around the region to form bonds as musicians and peers. A limited number of spaces are available for other students to participate in the full orchestra, per successful audition.

The string orchestras are comprised of members of the RYS Junior Strings and welcome applications of non-members on a space-available basis. These orchestras provide a total music experience for students of string instruments: violin, viola, cello, and bass. Completion of fourth grade and one or more years of string instrument study are required to attend the SMI and participate in the string orchestras.

LOCATION & FACILITIES
The Institute is held at Ferrum College, located approximately 35 miles south of Roanoke, Virginia. Students are housed in college dormitories and eat in modern dining facilities. Classrooms, practice rooms, recital and concert halls are available for the Institute's use. Recreational activities include swimming, tennis, and volleyball.

FACULTY & STAFF
Throughout the week, students are well-supervised in their study, practice and recreational activities. Students receive the highest quality instruction from the SMI faculty, all of whom are professional musicians and teachers and many of whom are members of the RSO. There is a specialist for each instrument represented in the orchestra. In addition to providing instruction and coaching rehearsals, many faculty perform for the students in a faculty recital. Where time permits, students may arrange private instruction with individual faculty members. Fees for these lessons are separate from the Institute tuition and must be arranged with and paid directly to the instructor. Qualified chaperones and a certified lifeguard are carefully selected and trained for the Institute. Ferrum College's security force is on duty during the Institute as well


For more information email Liz.Lochbrunner@rso.com, Education Director, or phone the Symphony office - (540) 343-6221 x.231