Midwest Young Artists’ orchestral program provides students from kindergarten through 12th grade with an unparalleled music experience. Students are exposed to orchestral literature at the earliest of ages and are able to grow through a comprehensive continuum that provides the most advanced students with an outstanding opportunity to perform literature on par with professional orchestras around the world. Students also perform in many of Chicago’s premiere performance venues with world-renowned conductors and guest artists.

Orchestra Program Offerings

    Reading Orchestra, Patrick Pearson, Director

Pat Pearson with the Reading Orchestra

Reading Orchestra is MYA’s entry-level orchestra. This orchestra focuses on teaching the basics of reading, not preparing  for performances. Reading Orchestra’s enrollment is kept smaller to better facilitate teaching and is currently approximately 30 students. Conductor Patrick Pearson stresses concepts such as recognition of pitch, rhythmic accuracy, and basic ensemble skills, which are reinforced in the free theory class that meets before orchestra.

An audition is not required.
Reading Orchestra Rehearsals: Saturday, 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Theory Class: before or after rehearsal, based on placement evaluation

Register for Reading Orchestra

    Cadet Orchestra, Patrick Pearson, Director

Cadet Orchestra is MYA’s next-level performing orchestra for students in grades 4 through 8. Includes strings, winds, percussion and brass as needed. Cadet Orchestra’s current enrollment is approximately 45 members. Teaching emphasis is on developing beginning rhythmic and intonation skills in an ensemble and the ability to listen to others while performing. Cadet Orchestra also includes a one-hour-per-week theory class that addresses time signatures, key signatures, treble and bass clef note recognition, major and minor scales, intervals, chords, and other skills.       

An audition is required for entry.
Cadet Orchestra Rehearsals: Satuday, 9:30 to 11:00 AM
Theory Class: before or after rehearsal, based on placement evaluation

Audition for Cadet Orchestra

    Prep Orchestra, Patrick Pearson, Director

Prep Orchestra is MYA’s intermediate orchestra and includes full orchestra. Prep Orchestra’s current enrollment is approximately 75 members. Prep Orchestra includes students primarily in grades 5 through 9. Teaching emphasis is on refining ensemble performance skills including rhythm, intonation, dynamics, and balance. Works performed include Haydn’s Symphony No. 104 and Schubert’s “Unfinished” Symphony. Prep Orchestra members are encouraged to take an MYA theory class. 

An audition is required for entry.
Prep Orchestra Rehearsals: Saturday, 12:00 to 2:00 PM

Audition for Prep Orchestra

    Concert Orchestra, Dr. Allan Dennis, Director

Dr. Allan Dennis, ConductorThe Concert Orchestra is MYA’s upper-level performing orchestra. Concert Orchestra is a fully-orchestrated, 100+ member ensemble with full string (including harps), woodwind, brass and percussion sections. Concert Orchestra includes students primarily in grades 6 through 11. All students who are in grades 6 or below are required to also participate in Prep Orchestra. Teaching emphasis is on the continuing refinement of ensemble performance skills including rhythm, intonation, balance, tone colors, dynamic nuances and style. Works performed include Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, Schubert’s Symphony No. 9 (“The Great C Major”), and Khachaturian’s 3 Dances from the Gayne Ballet. All Concert Orchestra members are required to be available for placement into a chamber music ensemble that meets within two hours before or three hours after orchestra rehearsal, or on a mutually agreeable alternate day. 

An audition is required for entry.
Concert Orchestra Rehearsals: Saturday, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Audition for Concert Orchestra 

   Symphony Orchestra, Allan Dennis, Director

Symphony Orchestra is MYA’s most advanced performing orchestra. It represents the highest musical performances of any youth orchestra anywhere in the world. Symphony Orchestra includes students primarily in grades 10 to 12, as well as some college-age members. All students who are in grades 9 or below are required to also participate in Concert Orchestra. Symphony Orchestra is a fully-orchestrated 120+ member ensemble with full string (including harps), woodwind, brass and percussion sections. Repertoire includes works by Mussorgsky, Hindemith, Holst, Rimsky-Korsakov, Larsen, Schwantner, Bernstein, among others. All Symphony Orchestra members are required to be available for placement into a Chamber Music Ensemble. 95% are placed in an ensemble that meets no more than 2 hours a week either before or after orchestra, or on a mutually agreeable alternate day. Symphony Orchestra is conducted by Dr. Allan Dennis.          

An audition is required for entry.
Symphony Orchestra Rehearsals: Saturday, 12:00 to 3:00 PM

Audition for Symphony Orchestra

Highlights of Accomplishments over the past 14 years:

          Notes

Age Policy for Orchestra Program

MYA’s Orchestra Program strives to foster the highest quality musical experience possible for students in all its orchestras. To that end, there are times when younger students are occasionally allowed to perform in an “older” orchestra. Since the social interaction among orchestra and chamber music participants is also an important consideration when placing students in an ensemble, it is the policy of MYA to require all students at certain ages/grades be placed in an age-appropriate orchestra and, if possible, chamber music ensemble. Students who are allowed to participate in “older” ensembles are also required to perform in their age-appropriate group, at no additional financial cost. There are no exceptions to this policy.

Chamber Music Policy for the Orchestra Program

A requirement for participation in the Concert and/or Symphony Orchestras is that students be available to participate in the Chamber Music Program if they are assigned to a chamber music ensemble. Exceptions to this policy are to be requested in writing and submitted with justification for the exception at the time of submitting an Intent to Participate form in April/May or, for new students, at the time they are accepted and return the Intent to Participate form. Students who do not participate in the MYA Orchestra Program may be assigned to a chamber music ensemble when an opening cannot be filled with current MYA orchestra members. However, MYA orchestra members receive first priority.

 

Orchestra Program

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