Elizabeth Chappell
AYO Intermezzo Conductor

Elizabeth Chappell is a teacher, parent, and graduate of the Austin Independent School District (AISD) and a native Austinite. She is currently the orchestra director at Lamar Middle School and Fine Arts Academy and has taught in AISD since 1995. Ms. Chappell maintains a small private violin and viola lesson studio and conducts the Intermezzo Orchestra of the Austin Youth Orchestra program.

Ms. Chappell holds a degree in Music Therapy from the University of Kansas, a Master’s degree in Music Education from The University of Texas at Austin, and is currently a doctoral candidate in Music and Human Learning at The University of Texas at Austin. She is also a certified Suzuki instructor. Ms. Chappell’s main instruments are violin and viola and she has performed in various ensembles, including a mariachi band.

MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS

Membership in the Austin Youth Intermezzo Orchestra is open to all interested students in grade two 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 Intermezzo 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 Intermezzo 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.