Please make every effort to be at rehearsals. If you are unable to make a rehearsal please use the online absence form to report your absence. We recognize that family and school obligations come first.
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Tuerck Memorial Concert
December 7, 2019
2:00 p.m.
Life Church - Swansea, IL
Winter Concert TBA
Esquiline Retirement Center
Tuerck Concerto Competition
TBD
March 2020
Spring Concert
Saturday, May 9, 2020 2:00 p.m.
Belleville East Performing Arts Center
ABSENCES
​Musicians are encouraged to attend rehearsals. We understand that school and family commitments come first. Please fill out the online absence form if you will not be at a rehearsal.
ACTIVITIES AT A GLANCE
December 11th - January 6th - Break
January 7 - Rehearsal
January 14 - Bring a Friend for pizza - stay for an audition!
January 20th - 3:00 p.m. OneSound Sunday Sensory-Friendly Concert St. Clare, O'Fallon
January 28th - Youth Orchestra Sectional - Lindenwood Belleville
February 24th - Sunday concert - 1:00 p.m. Musician Call
April 27th 7:30 p.m. - Side by Side of one selection with the Belleville Philharmonic Orchestra
Dress rehearsal for this concert is Monday, April 22rd, Tuesday, April 23rd, at 7:30 p.m. April 27th, Saturday, 27th at 2:00 p.m. Come to these rehearsals when you are able. Rehearsals will only be 1/2 hour at the most. All rehearsals and the concert will be at Lindenwood.
Bring Stands to the Monday, April 23rd YO rehearsal. The other ensembles will be using the stands for their dress rehearsal.
May 11th - Farewell to Seniors Concert - location To be Announced
June 3rd - tentative start date of summer intergenerational orchestra
June 27th - tentative intergenerational orchestra summer concert.
SNACKS
Busy musicians enjoy breaks because they give them an opportunity to visit with fellow musicians, get something to eat or drink, and take a mental break. Please consider signing up to bring food or drinks. Since there is not anyone regularly using the hall to create trash, the Philharmonic does not have trash service. Groups who use the hall practices pack it in/pack it out. We try to recycle so we generate 1/2 of a large trash bag of trash and a small box of recycling. Please consider helping out by taking the trash at the end of the rehearsal.
Concert Schedule
REHEARSALS
Rehearsals for the Belleville Philharmonic Youth Orchestra are Mondays
5:30 - 7:30 pm at the Belleville Philharmonic Hall. Sometimes we will have sectionals off-site. We rehearse on most holidays. The exception is Labor Day. Parents are always welcome to stay to listen to the rehearsals. It is interesting to hear the progress that the kids make throughout each concert session.
PARENT AND OTHER VOLUNTEERS
The Belleville Philharmonic Society (BPS) has been around for "the Love of Music" since 1866 because of the dedication of a number of volunteers. The Youth Orchestra was founded in 1962. It exists today because of the commitment of parents and other volunteers. Outside of the conductors, and a cleaning person who comes in a couple of hours a week, there is no paid staff. If you have a talent to share, please let us know. We always need adults to help with snacks and clean-up at rehearsals and set up and logistics at concerts. However, there is a lot of behind the scenes work that needs to be done sorting and copying music, lining up venues, doing concert programs, and collecting and inputting registrations. If you have a special musical talent, please consider sharing it either by leading a group in sectionals when we organize full orchestra sectionals or by pulling kids into the kitchen to do small sectionals. If you can think of some community outreach events that the Philharmonic youth or even other ensembles should be involved in, please bring it up. If the kitchen door is closed, it is not because parents aren't welcome. It is because sometimes the parents are talking too loudly and we don't want to disturb rehearsals. Parents are also welcome at Philharmonic board meetings. Any topics that you want to bring up at the meeting, need to be submitted to the board secretary via email ahead of time. Meetings are the first Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m.
PRIVATE LESSONS
Members are encouraged to take private lessons from a music teacher preferably one who specializes in their instrument. If you need a list of teachers, please ask Dr. Burke or one of the parent volunteers. As Dr. Burke likes to say find that teacher who can teach you the secret handshake for your instrument!
MUSIC SECTIONALS
Sectionals are a chance for musicians to meet with other members in their instrument group and work on repertoire as well as technique. Generally, these are conducted by an adult musician or a member of the Belleville Philharmonic Orchestra. These will be held off-site to allow space for the different sections to spread out.
CONCERTS
Musician Call is typically two hours prior to the start of the concert. Concerts are generally on Saturdays. Venue permitting, Saturday concerts are at 2:00 p.m. with a musician call of noon. Because of venue or scheduling around the various Philharmonic ensemble or school music activities, we will occasionally have a Sunday Concert. These typically start at 3:00 p.m. with a musician call of 1:00 p.m. Please make every effort to attend the full rehearsal. If you are going to be late please contact us ahead of time.
CONCERT ATTIRE
Concert Attire is white oxford style button up dress shirt with black dress pants, black socks, and black dress shoes. Girls may wear long black skirts with black tights. No short skirts. Shoes should be dress flats. Look sharp!
SPECIAL CONCERTS
The Tuerck Memorial Concert is a concert that highlights the youth concerto winners from the spring George N. Tuerck Concerto Competition.
Farewell to Seniors Concert - We honor those graduating high school seniors by featuring solos performed by these musicians. Seniors who wish to participate should talk with Dr. Burke in the late winter/spring about their selection. Musicians who remain in the area after graduation are welcome to come back to mentor younger musicians!
Side by Side Concert with Belleville Philharmonic Orchestra
The adults and the youth typically have one concert where the youth will play one song at the Philharmonic concert. Youth are encouraged to come to the "adult" rehearsals for 1/2 hour when they practice the selected piece. Typically, the selection is played at the beginning of the last concert of the season.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Occasionally, youth will be asked to participate in special events that are sponsored by the Philharmonic Society or community events that the youth orchestra has been invited to play at. Examples of these are playing for St. Elizabeth's philanthropy dinner, marching in the downtown Optimist's Santa Claus parade, or performing at the Belleville Old Town Farmer's Market. These events are extra and voluntary. Any of these events, especially the performances provide youth with extra opportunities and experiences.
Youth Orchestra Member Page
Ways to Become a Better Musician
"For the Love of Music ...Since 1866"