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.

Students in MYA’s Orchestra Program also are given the opportunity to grow musically beyond the orchestra repertoire. All students enrolled in the Orchestra Program may participate in tuition free theory classes. Students in Concert and Symphony Orchestra are required to particpate in chamber music ensembles where they strengthen their listening and ensemble skills in a small ensemble. Finally, MYA has started tuition free Instrument Classes for Concertino, Philharmonia, Concert & Symphony Orchestra students to supplement what students are receiving from their private lesson teachers. In classes several times each semester, students work on technique with a master teacher and then have the opportunity to perform a solo they are working on before the master teacher and their peers for performance feedback. Last season we even had ensemble performances by the cello, bass, and viola classes.

Orchestra Program Offerings

Reading Orchestra, Rhona Reagen, Director

Reading Orchestra is MYA’s entry-level orchestra. Reading Orchestra focuses on teaching the basics of reading music and playing in an ensemble, not preparing for performances. Reading Orchestra’s enrollment is kept smaller to facilitate better teaching. Conductor Rhona Reagen 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

Pat Pearson with the Reading Orchestra

Cadet Orchestra is MYA’s next-level performing orchestra for students in grades 4 through 7. Please note the "Age Policy for Orchestra Program" at the bottom of this page. Includes strings, winds, percussion and brass. 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 half 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: Saturday, 12:00 to 1:00 PM
Theory Class: before or after rehearsal, based on placement evaluation

Audition for Cadet Orchestra

Concertino Orchestra, Patrick Pearson, Director

Concertino Orchestra is MYA’s next-level intermediate performing orchestra for students in grades 5 through 8. Please note the "Age Policy for Orchestra Program" at the bottom of this page. It includes strings, winds, percussion and brass. Concertino’s teaching emphasis is on developing and perfecting rhythmic and intonation skills in an ensemble and strengthens musical communication within the orchestra while performing. Concertino Orchestra also includes a half 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.
Concertino Orchestra Rehearsals: Saturday, 9:30 to 11:00 AM
Theory Class: before or after rehearsal, based on placement evaluation

Audition for Concertino Orchestra

Philharmonia Orchestra, Patrick Pearson, Director

Philharmonia Orchestra is MYA’s intermediate orchestra and includes full orchestra. Philharmonia Orchestra’s current enrollment is approximately 75 members. It includes students primarily in grades 5 through 9. Please note the "Age Policy for Orchestra Program" at the bottom of this page. Teaching emphasis is on refining ensemble performance skills including rhythm, intonation, dynamics, and balance. Works performed include Beethoven Symphony No. 5, Haydn’s Symphony No. 104 and Schubert’s “Unfinished” Symphony. Philharmonia Orchestra members are encouraged to take an MYA theory class. 

An audition is required for entry.
Philharmonia Orchestra Rehearsals: Saturday, 1:00 to 3:00 PM
Theory Class: before or after rehearsal, based on placement evaluation

Audition for Philharmonia 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 Philharmonia 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 Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 5 "Reformation". 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
Theory Class: before or after rehearsal, based on placement evaluation

Audition for Concert Orchestra

Symphony Orchestra, Dr. 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 110+ member ensemble with full string (including harps), woodwind, brass and percussion sections. Repertoire includes works by Mussorgsky, Mahler, Hindemith, Holst, Rimsky-Korsakov, Bernstein, among others. All Symphony Orchestra members are required to be available for placement into a Chamber Music Ensemble. Members 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.

An audition is required for entry.
Symphony Orchestra Rehearsals: Saturday, 12:00 to 3:00 PM
Theory Class: before or after rehearsal, based on placement evaluation

Audition for Symphony Orchestra

I’Solisti MYA, Charlie Pikler, Director

I’Solisti MYA is a small, select chamber orchestra of soloists chosen to perform a series of concerts in public schools and special venues during each season. Participating students are given scholarships and have the opportunity to perform a movement from a concerto on this concert series. Students must both be in Symphony Orchestra and able to commit to all rehearsals and concerts in order to participate. Audition requirements are announced in early fall. The minimum instrumentation is six violins; two violas; two cellos; one bass; and winds, brass and percussion as determined by the Director.

Early Music Academy

The Early Music Academy is a select chamber orchestra dedicated to the performance of music composed before 1800. Often the members of this group perform on period instruments, and once yearly the Early Music Academy performs with a world class soloist such as Mathieu Dufour, principal flute of the CSO, Charles Pikler, principal viola of the CSO, and David Douglass, the director of the Newberry Consort. Students must be in Symphony Orchestra to participate in this select Honors Ensemble and be able to commit to all rehearsals and concerts.

New Music Ensemble

The New Music Ensemble is a small, select chamber orchestra that plays great works of the 20th and 21st centuries, including World Premiere’s of MYA commissioned works by composers such as Gary Fry and Max Raimi. These premiere works are often performed with the solo virtuosity of guest artists such as Charles Pikler and Mathieu Dufour. Students must be in Symphony Orchestra to participate in this select group and be able to commit to all rehearsals and performances.

Highlights of Accomplishments since 1993:

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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