Tuition
Tuition for this season is
$480.00. (Discount of $55 ($425) if paid before Nov. 6th). This fee covers all rehearsal costs, building rental fees, sectional coaches, clinics, programs and concert venues. Preparatory program is $300.00. (no discount) First payment for all orchestras is $210.00 by the first rehearsal.
Tuition may be paid in full or in payments. Checks should be made to Bay Area Youth Symphony. No refund of tuition can be made once a student has accepted membership.
Financial Assistance
No student will be excluded from BAYS due to financial need. Financial assistance is available to all members in the form of partial or full tuition, not including the $25.00 application fee.
All requests for financial assistance must be made in writing and received upon acceptance of membership. Applicants should state the amount requested which the BAYS manager will review. Note: IRS non-profit organization guidelines require a copy of the first two pages of the most recent tax return to verify financial need.
Financial assistance does not affect the standing or eligibility of a member in any way. Recipients will be asked to assist BAYS in some way (finding business sponsors, moving chairs, set-up, and assist at concerts) All financial concerns are strictly confidential and will only be used for reference with BAYS tax liabilities and filing verifications. All documents will be destroyed at the end of the season.
Rehearsals
Rehearsals will take place on Sundays from 2:30-4:30 at Space Center Intermediate. Please review the attached calendar for Sundays in which rehearsals will not occur. Please arrive for tuning by 2:10.
Preparatory Rehearsals will also be at Space Center from 2:30-3:45. Parents are expected to help students organize and finger all music and stay during rehearsals for elementary aged students.
Concerts
The concerts for this season will take place on November 6th, December 3rd, February 19th and May 20th at 4:00 pm. Tickets may be purchased for $10.00 each in advance or at the door. Tickets for the December concert may vary depending on the site of the concert.
Concert Attire
Men will wear a tuxedo or black suit, white tuxedo shirt, black bow tie and cummerbund, black socks and black dress shoes.
Ladies will wear a sleeved, full-length black dress, or black blouse, black skirt, black dress slacks with black hose and black shoes.
Preparatory Orchestra boys will wear a white dress shirt with black dress slacks and tie. Girls may wear any dress that has bright white and dark black. It may have pattern or be solid. All students must wear black shoes.
♫ BAY AREA ♫
YOUTH SYMPHONY
HANDBOOK
2011-2012
General Information
Mailing address:
BAYS
2437 Bay Area Blvd # 131
Houston, TX 77058
281-284-3385office
281-902-9630
Ms. Black’s cell for emergency only
Web-site:
www.bayareayouthsymphony.org
Rehearsal Location:
Symphony and Preparatory
Space Center Intermediate School
17400 Saturn Lane, Houston, TX 77062
Symphony Conductor:
Lisa Black
lblack@ccisd.net
Preparatory Director:
Tom Dinardis
tdinardi@ccisd.net
Bay Area Youth Symphony Board
All email contact may be found on our website:
President: Peter Bauer
1st Vice President: Lisa Ling
2nd Vice President: Mika Hasler
Treasurer: Karen Dinardis
Secretary: Deborah Kidwell
Volunteer Chair Christine Alexander
Advisor: James Kidwell
Rick Slator: Parliamentarian
Attendance
A sign-in sheet will be provided at all rehearsals to keep a record of attendance. Members should sign in upon arrival.
It is important that everyone attend all rehearsals. Members should notify the conductor or manager by e-mail as soon as possible for any rehearsal they expect to miss. You may also call the BAYS office number at 281-284-3385 and leave a message stating your name and date of absence.
Members who are absent from more than two rehearsals may not be permitted to perform at the concert, at the discretion of the conductor. Consistent absences may result in removal from the organization without a refund of tuition or fees.
In the event of a schedule change or cancellation, every effort will be made to notify the members.
Equipment and Music
Members will be provided a folder with all music for the upcoming concert events. Originals will be kept at the site with the conductor or symphony manager. Please be sure to bring your music to each rehearsal. If the need arises for an additional copy, please notify the conductor by e-mail or arrive early to accommodate any loss of rehearsal time.
Large percussion instruments will be provided. Students are responsible for mallets, sticks and small accessory percussion needs. Cellos and basses will need to provide their own roc-stops and stools.
Placement and Seating
Students have been placed into the symphony based on the auditions held before the adjudicators. Placement into BAYS is not based on
ethnic, religious or financial background. Chair placements are determined by the audition, chair tests and/or rotation and may be adjusted accordingly by the conductor or symphony manager during the course of the season. Decisions made by the directors are final. BAYS does not offer an appeals process for decisions set forth by the staff or BAYS advisory board.
Auditions for the
2012-2013 Season
Students wishing to return to BAYS in the fall will need to submit a new application with the $25.00 fee and complete the audition process. Students will then be placed into one of three ensembles: Symphony, Philharmonic or String Ensemble. All-State students will need only to submit an application and proof of All-State membership. Students making the All-Area and/or All-State ensembles are automatically accepted into the Symphony. Students requesting membership into Symphony will be accepted until all positions are filled. New applicants will complete the audition process and will be notified of the orchestra placement. Auditions are held in May and August. Information regarding audition dates will be posted on the web-site in April 2012.
School Participation
The BAYS program is designed to supplement, not replace, the area public and private school music programs. BAYS requires its members to participate in their school orchestra or band whenever such ensembles exist. The signature of the member’s school music director will be required in order to participate.
Students not participating in their school music programs must submit a signed letter in writing from the school’s music director stating the student’s reasons for not participating and giving permission for that student to accept membership into BAYS.
Dismissal
Any member may be dismissed from BAYS after staff review. Reasons for dismissal include, but are not limited to:
Dismissed members will not be refunded their tuition or be eligible to receive any scholarship award. The parent(s) or legal guardian may request a meeting with the BAYS staff and dismissed student.
Mika Hasler Concerto Competition
The Bay Area Youth Symphony offers its members monetary scholarships awarded through competitive auditions. The winners receive funds to support their musical endeavors, as well as an opportunity to perform their concerto with the Symphony. Financial rewards may vary and are determined by available funds.
Eligibility
The competition entrant must:
Competition Requirements
Applicants will perform one movement of a concerto, or a work for solo instruments and orchestra from the baroque or classical time period. The applicant will provide their own accompanist and appropriate cuts in the accompaniment should be made to keep the performance time to a minimum. The concerto should be played by memory for the concert if selected.
All participants must meet the audition eligibility requirements.
Each entrant will be assigned an audition time. There will not be an alternate audition date. The auditions will be open to the public, and the contestants should dress appropriately.
Judges for the concerto competition may include BAYS conductors, staff and/or invited guests. The judges written critiques will be given to each participant.
Scholarship Awards
Cash rewards will be rewarded to the first place winners. The judges reserve the right not to designate a winner at any level. The decision of the judges is final.
Winners of the top scholarship awards may, at the discretion of the conductor, be invited to perform their solo with the symphony.
Utilization of Scholarships
Recipients must send a letter regarding the use of the award. Scholarship funds may be applied to: lessons, music school, camps, purchase of an instrument, bow, equipment, music or BAYS tuition. Funds will be reimbursed upon receipt of use. Awards will first be applied towards BAYS tuition in the event of an outstanding balance. Funds must be used or committed before the beginning of the following BAYS season. Continued membership in BAYS for the following year is required.