Elizabeth Compton
AYO Sinfonietta Conductor

Elizabeth J. Compton is director of orchestras at West Ridge Middle School in the Eanes Independent School District (ISD) in Austin, Texas – a position she has held since 2003.

Ms. Compton is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin where she received her Masters in Music (2003), and of Linfield College where she received her Bachelors of Arts in Violin Performance. While at The University of Texas, Ms. Compton studied violin with Dr. Eugene Gratovich and string pedagogy with Phyllis Young. Ms. Compton was also active in The University of Texas String Project where she taught various ensembles and orchestras.

Currently, Ms. Compton serves as the Region 18 Middle School Orchestra Coordinator. Ms. Compton’s professional affiliations include: Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Texas Music Educators Association, and Texas Orchestra Directors Association.

MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS

Membership in the Austin Youth Sinfonietta Orchestra is open to all interested students in grade four 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 Sinfonietta Orchestra rehearses on Monday evenings of the fall and spring semesters, 7:15–8:30 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 Sinfonietta 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.