Student Handbook 2011-2012 Season

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Lakes Region Youth Orchestra - History

The Lakes Region Youth Orchestra was founded in 1990 and is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization providing orchestral experience for dedicated young musicians. There are currently several wonderful opportunities for young musicians of many playing levels to become involved with orchestral playing.

The LRYO organization relies heavily on volunteer help to bring exceptional music education to its students. In order to keep tuition costs low, students, parents and friends are asked to contribute their time, expertise and talents to the organization. We are all busy people, but are constantly rewarded by the joy of working with these talented young musicians.

If you would like to help out by serving on a committee, being a parent manager, joining the LRYO Parent Association or in any other way, please contact LRYO at 802-773-4689.

Contact Information 

Office & Mail:
   LRYO
   61 East Washington Street
   Rutland, VT 05701

Phone:  802-773-4689

E-mail:  info@lryo.org

Web: 
   The LRYO’s web site is http://www.lryo.org/ 

Change of personal information

Any change in address, phone number or e-mail should be reported to the LRYO office via email or telephone at 802-773-4689.

Concerts

Concert dates, times and venues will be announced at the beginning of the season.  Members with other activities that may be in conflict with this schedule should plan ahead to make the necessary adjustments.  Our concerts are open to the public.  Please invite as many people as possible to the concert to help publicize the event.   You may contact the LRYO office to receive flyers that can be posted for the concerts.

During Concerts, do not exit and enter the concert hall while music is being played. Please try to avoid leaving your seat at any time other than intermission, unless escorted by your group’s manager as it is disruptive. When others are performing please give them your full attention and respect.

Please remember musicians should have mutes and spare strings/reeds of the proper size/end for your instrument.

Rehearsals

Rehearsals are held at Castleton State College Fine Arts Center on Friday afternoons at 4:00 p.m. All students should bring a folding music stand labeled with name.  (Parking: Use only the designated visitor parking)

Repertory Strings rehearse in Room 108 at the Rutland Intermediate School (65 Library Avenue, Rutland, VT).

Parents, please note end times for rehearsals for pick-up and departure arrangements. The college has been a long time gracious host to LRYO so please be courteous to others using this parking area.

Typical schedule:

LRYO Dismissal/Pick-up Guidelines

Procedure: We normally check each room twice and tun out lights. One adult then exits through the upper parking lot. Another exits through the lobby and lower side parking lot. We do not leave until all participants have been picked up. That being said, however, please note that there are many unlocked rooms, bathrooms and paths between entrances. If we do not encounter your child during the process above, we will not know to wait.

We suggest that parents discuss dismissal plans with your children. If we dismiss early, or if you are not at your pre-arranged pick-up location when they exit the building, we recommend that musicians return to the lobby to await pick-up, and let a staff member know. You may want to point out the "blue light" locations outside the FAC in the event your child should ever feel threatened. (Once activated, they are "latched", requiring an officer to come to the phone and reset it - so they are not to be tried out or activated for fun.)

We have a cell phone at rehearsals, along with all provided regular/emergency contact info. Please make a note of this number and call us if you have been delayed. Note that service is not always reliable in every room, but please leave a message if it goes to voice-mail. We will acknowledge your call as soon as possible.

Please rest assured that we will never knowingly leave the premises until all participants have been picked up.

Emergency Contact Info:

• LRYO Cell Phone: 802-688-7000
• CSC Public Safety Office: 802-468-1109
• CSC Fine Arts Center Box Office: 802-468-1119 (emergencies only; rarely manned after 5:00)

Attendance

It is very important for musicians to be at all rehearsals and concerts.  For an ensemble to have a worthwhile and productive rehearsal, 100% attendance is a necessity.  All absences, early departures or late arrivals should be reported to the LRYO office at 802-773-4689 or discussed (prior to rehearsal) with the Parent Manager.  Students are allowed only 3 absences in a semester.  Please refer to your contract. In case of an emergency absence, please call LRYO and leave a message. You must give a reason for your absence in the message. 

The only excused absences are for mandatory school functions, athletic events in which the student participates (not drills or practices), music festivals such as All-State, illness or family events such as weddings, funerals, etc.  In case of an emergency, please call (802) 773-4689 and leave a message.  Parent managers will call a student's home if a student has an unexcused absence.

Rehearsal Cancellations

Should a rehearsal be cancelled unexpectedly due to inclement weather, an announcement will be made at Mill River High School, Rutland High School, Otter Valley Union High School, Poultney High School and Fair Haven High School. You may also call the LRYO office for a notice regarding cancellation. If rehearsal is cancelled, the message will be changed accordingly.

Auditions 

All LRYO students that would like to be considered for ensemble advancement will have the opportunity to audition at the end or beginning of each season.  Date, time and location will be announced.  Musicians may also schedule auditions at other times throughout the year. 

To schedule an appointment for an audition or for more information on any of the LRYO groups, please call the LRYO office.

Tuition Policy

The tuition for each LRYO semester is $265 for Symphony Orchestra (or $500 for both semesters if pre-paid on or before September 12) and $160 for all other ensembles (or $300 for both semesters if pre-paid on or before September 12).  Final tuition payment is due two weeks after the first attended rehearsal.  Payments not received by the date due may be assessed a late fee.  If you wish to make payments by mail, please send the bill and the payment to our address.

Scholarship Policy

Financial aid is available either through the Hayes Foundation (for Rutland County residents) or LRYO.  It is important that we either receive complete payment or that we hear from you with a request for financial aid.  You may inquire about financial aid by contacting the LRYO office.  Financial aid inquiries must be made by the first Friday rehearsal attended to apply for the current semester and applications must be received the following week. 

Concert Attire

Symphony & Philharmonic Orchestra, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Baroque Strings and Honors Strings:

• Young Women:   Formal all black attire (long skirts/dresses or dress pants), black stockings and black shoes. 
• Young Men:   Black suit, white shirt, black bow tie, black shoes and black socks.

Repertory Strings:

• Young Women:   White blouse, black skirt or dress pants, black shoes and stockings.
• Young Men:   White shirt, black pants, black bow tie, black shoes and black socks. 

Please remember spare strings/reeds.

Public School Participation

LRYO serves the purpose of enhancing the musical experience of the student. It does not try to replace the school music program. It is expected that all LRYO members will continue to participate in their school program.

Students who develop excellent performance ability will benefit by staying in their school group in several ways; becoming a role model, leader, teacher, soloist; gain in stature, learn responsibility, and continue to be eligible for local, state and national scholarships, performing groups, festivals, etc.

Private Lessons

In order for you to continue to develop as a musician and to contribute as much as possible to your LRYO group, it is strongly recommended that you regularly take private lessons. One of the LRYO conductors can make recommendations regarding private teachers.

Conduct

Players are expected to be tuned and ready on time, to have rosin, spare strings of the proper size/ends, reeds, mutes, soft pencils and erasers. Music should be handled responsibly; replacement parts are expensive!

Bring your music (in case you stand partner forgets or is absent)

The use of the Castleton State College Fine Arts Center is a gift to LRYO. Please conduct yourselves respectfully while in the FAC and the Art Gallery (the lobby). The same conduct is expected wherever LRYO rehearses or performs.

Please use parking spaces designated for visitors and avoid those marked for use by college personnel. Tickets will be issued to violators by CSC security. 

Pets are not allowed on the CSC campus at any time with the exception of animals assisting hearing and sight impaired. 

During Concerts, do not exit and enter the concert hall while music is being played. Please try to avoid leaving your seat at any time other than intermission, unless escorted by your group’s manager as it is disruptive.  When others are performing please give them your full attention and respect.

Drugs and Alcohol:   No alcohol, drug or tobacco use will be tolerated at any LRYO event or rehearsal.  Anyone violating this policy will be asked to leave.

Behavior:    The LRYO is committed to a safe and civil musical environment for all musicians, employees, volunteers and patrons, free from harassment, intimidation or bullying.

"Harassment, intimidation or bullying" means any intentional written, verbal, or physical act, when the intentional written, verbal, or physical act:

• Physically harms a musician or damages the musician's property; or
• Has the effect of substantially interfering with a musician's program experience; or
• Is severe, persistent, or pervasive and creates an intimidating or threatening environment; or
• Has the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the organization.

Failure on the part of any student to behave in an appropriate manner may result in that student's dismissal from the LRYO organization, at the discretion of the Music Director.  In the case of dismissal, no refund of tuition will be made.

Preparation

Musicians are expected to practice their parts regularly. Every member should bring mutes to rehearsals if parts require them. Students should carry maintenance materials such as rosin, cork, valve grease, and spare parts such as reeds or strings at all times. If you should need to borrow a string, please remember that it is your responsibility to repay or replace it. Bring a pencil to each rehearsal.

Fund-raising

The LRYO board has always been very committed to keeping tuition costs as low as possible.  We are also sensitive to the fact that parents are constantly called upon to fund-raise for a multitude of organizations.  However, we do ask that maximum participation be given to our annual student fundraiser.

Major fund-raising is underway this season to cover the cost of our growth and the administrative demands created by it.  Your help is urgently needed! If you know of a source of funding which would like to hear about the good things we do, please contact the LRYO office at 802-773-4689. 

Trips

From time to time, the LRYO Symphony Orchestra has participated in exchange concerts/weekends with other youth orchestras.  The trips are organized by parent volunteers and are designed to be affordable to everyone. These experiences require a great deal of planning and fund-raising, which is contingent upon the level of volunteer support.  The trips are rewarding and enriching for both students and chaperones.

Calendar

Check our schedule page for the latest events and rehearsal calendar.  Our weekly rehearsal status is also available on our home page.

Making Beautiful Music Since 1990!

Last modified: 08/11/11

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