String Ensemble

The Roanoke Youth String Ensemble is composed of beginning-to-intermediate string players, ages 8-14, who rehearse weekly and perform concerts in public venues throughout the city of Roanoke during the year.

Formerly known as the Junior Strings, the String Ensemble was founded in 1985. Many String Ensemble members, after achieving an appropriate level of skill, successfully audition to become members of the RYSO. For many young string players, participation in this ensemble is the first and only opportunity to begin playing in an ensemble under the direction of an experienced conductor. Within the String Ensemble, students learn the skills necessary to play in a chamber group, such as following a conductor and developing their musical ears to listen to the larger group.

Students are eligible to join String Ensemble after one year of private instruction or one year of participation in one of the RSO’s After-School Programs. There is no audition requirement for participation in String Ensemble.