AUSTIN YOUTH ORCHESTRA
String Pre-Registration Form
2012-2013 Season

CLICK HERE to access the String Pre-Registration Form for the 2012-2013 AYO season. With the exception of 2012 graduating seniors, all AYO string players are requested to complete the form (staple both pages) and provide to your AYO Organizer during rehearsals no later than Monday, April 16 - even if you do not intend to participate in the AYO program next year. The information requested on the Pre-Registration Form is needed and very important so that AYO staff can begin preparations for next season.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Rachel Horvitz
AYO Camerata Conductor

Rachel Horvitz received her Bachelor of Music in Music Education from The University of Texas (UT) at Austin in 2001. While enrolled at UT Austin, she studied cello with Phyllis Young and regularly performed with the UT Cello Choir and the UT Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Horvitz has served as teaching faculty for the UT String Project, Longhorn Music Camp, and the Austin Chamber Music Center. She dedicates much of her free time to performing in local orchestras and chamber groups, including the Temple and Georgetown Symphony Orchestras, Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra, and the recently formed Austin Cello Project. Ms. Horvitz currently serves as the orchestra teacher at Hill Country Middle School in the Eanes Independent School District, and her professional memberships include the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) and the Texas Orchestra Directors Association (TODA).

MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS

Membership in the Austin Youth Camerata Orchestra is open to all interested students in grade three and above who qualify through the audition process. Students from schools with orchestra programs must be a member in good standing in their school orchestra. Membership in the AYO program is contingent upon return of the membership acceptance form with the school orchestra director's signature verifying that the student is a member in good standing in the school orchestra program.

TUITION FEES

There is a $100.00 per semester tuition fee for each participating member, which will be collected at the initial rehearsal of each semester to cover operational expenses for the orchestra. Membership in the AYO program is contingent upon payment of the tuition fee. Checks are to be made payable to "AISD." In the event a student decides not to participate in the AYO program after the membership tuition fee has been paid, full reimbursements will be allowed through the month of September (fall semester) and January (spring semester). There will be no reimbursements of the membership tuition fee after September and January.

REHEARSALS

The Camerata Orchestra rehearses on Monday evenings of the fall and spring semesters, 6:00–7:00 P.M., at O. Henry Middle School, 2610 West 10th Street, Austin, TX, 78703.

ATTENDANCE

Prompt attendance is expected of students at all rehearsals and performances. The Administrative Specialist is to be notified in advance via e-mail in the event of an illness, family/personal emergency, or unavoidable conflict that will prevent the student from attending the rehearsal and/or performance. If the absence/tardy is a last-minute unexpected circumstance, you may notify the Administrative Specialist via text message or the Organizer by telephone. More than two absences within each rehearsal period between concerts will not be allowed, and the two absences may not be in succession. More than two absences or two successive absences within a rehearsal period prior to a concert and/or excessive tardiness will result in the student's dismissal from the AYO program for the remainder of the season. Contact information and a rehearsal/performance schedule have been included in the handbook as a reference for your convenience.

CONCERT ATTIRE

Each Camerata Orchestra member is required to perform concerts in proper attire. The formal concert attire is as follows:

• Males — Black dress slacks (no black jeans); white long-sleeved shirt; black long tie; black socks; black dress shoes (no sneakers).
• Females — Below-the-knee black skirt or full-length black dress slacks (no black jeans); white sleeved blouse; black dress shoes (no sneakers or flip flops). Dresses or blouses may not be sleeveless, shoulderless, or have spaghetti straps.

Failure to comply with the concert attire requirements will result in the student not being allowed to perform in the concert.