SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY STRINGS CAMP
Scholarship Recipients

CONGRATULATIONS to the members of the Symphony Orchestra members listed below for being selected to receive partial scholarships to attend the Texas State University (TSU) Strings Camp, which will be held June 26 - July 3 on the TSU campus in San Marcos:

  • McCaryn Bourgeois, Cello
  • Corina Santos, Violin
  • James Yoon, Viola

WOMEN’S SYMPHONY LEAGUE
2010 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
Austin Youth Symphony Orchestra

The Women’s Symphony League (WSL), an affiliate organization of the Austin Symphony Orchestra, awards scholarships each year in the amount of $250.00 to four senior members of the Austin Youth Symphony Orchestra. The four recipients who were presented with the scholarships by Ms. Sherri Davis, WSL President-Elect, at the AYO Grand Finale Concert on Sunday, May 2, 2010 were as follows:

  • Donny Crider, Cello
  • Joshua Newburger, Violin
  • Cameron Rehberg, Viola
  • Alexa Witowski, Bassoon

We are proud of you!

TEXAS MUSIC SCHOLAR AWARD
Texas Music Educators Association

The Texas Music Scholar Award designates students in high school music programs who exemplify attributes of meritorious performance in the areas of scholarship, musicianship, and citizenship. Designation is attained by Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Active Member recommendation of students in grades 9-12 who have met the following criteria during the current school year:

  • Is a viable member of the school’s parent musical organization for the entire school year.
  • Maintains in all coursework an overall “A” average as defined by the local school district for the entire school year.
  • Maintains academic eligibility for the entire school year.
  • Participates in all scheduled events of the parent organization.
  • Attends, as an audience member, two director-approved concert events of high school, collegiate or professional level during a school year.
  • Has auditioned, been selected, and participated as required in a TMEA or Association of Texas Small School Bands (ATSSB) organization (band, orchestra, or choir).
  • Performs a University Interscholastic League (UIL) Prescribed Music List Class 1 solo for a competition or public performance.
  • Consistently exhibits behavior that brings honor to the parent organization, school, and community.

Kay Vanlandingham, co-conductor of the Austin Youth Symphony Orchestra and Administrative Director of TMEA, presented Texas Music Scholar Awards to thirty members of the Symphony Orchestra at the AYO Grand Finale Concert on Sunday, May 2, 2010. CLICK HERE for a listing of the Symphony Orchestra members who received this distinguished award. We are proud of you!

TEXAS FUTURE MUSIC EDUCATORS
Austin Youth Orchestra Chapter

Officers of the AYO chapter of Texas Future Music Educators (TFME) are as follows:

  • Cameron Rehberg, President
  • Katie Waggoner, Vice-President
  • Torie Berkowitz, Secretary

The next meeting of TFME will be held on Monday, March 8 at 6:00 PM in the Stephen F. Austin High School choir rehearsal hall. This meeting and all future TFME meetings are open to all Symphony Orchestra members, grades 9–12. For additional information about TFME, visit the Texas Music Educators Association website at http://www.tmea.org/040_TFME/index.htm or contact Ms. Kay Vanlandingham, conductor of the Symphony Orchestra and sponsor of the AYO TFME chapter, at kvanlandingham@tmea.org.

James Edwards
AYO Symphony Conductor

James Edwards has been the orchestra director at Westlake High School in the Eanes Independent School District (ISD) in Austin, Texas since the 1998–99 school year. Prior to Westlake High School, he was the Orchestra Director at A.S. Johnston High School in Austin ISD for five years and was the Orchestra and Band Director at Amarillo High School in Amarillo ISD for seven years. Mr. Edwards was a founding co-conductor of the Austin Youth Sinfonietta Orchestra from 1994–1996. He is currently co-conductor of the Austin Youth Symphony Orchestra, a position he previously held from 1998–2003. In addition, he has been a guest conductor for the Austin Civic Orchestra and has taught for the music departments of Texas State University in San Marcos and Amarillo College.

Mr. Edwards has served as Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) State Orchestra Chair and Vice-President and has served as TMEA Region Chairman in both Amarillo and Austin. He has also held the offices of Texas Music Adjudicators Association Orchestra Vice-President and President. In 1991, Mr. Edwards was awarded the Texas Excellence Award for Outstanding High School Teachers. In 2005, he was included in "Who’s Who Among American High School Teachers" and was named the first "Distinguished Music Educator" by Texas Tech University.

Mr. Edwards holds the Bachelor of Music, the Bachelor of Music Education, and the Master of Music degrees from Texas Tech University and has pursued additional musical studies at Arizona State University. In 2002, the Westlake Orchestra was selected as the TMEA Honor Full Orchestra Runner-up, and in 2003 was selected as the TMEA Honor Full Orchestra. In 2008, the Westlake Symphony Orchestra performed at the International Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois.

Kay Vanlandingham
AYO Symphony Conductor

Kay Vanlandingham was appointed as Administrative Director for the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) in 2007. In her position, Ms. Vanlandingham coordinates Continuing Professional Education (CPE), TMEA Region Grants, and the Texas Future Music Educators programs, as well as administers the TMEA, Reitz, and McNallen Scholarship programs. Prior to assuming this role, she dedicated thirty-one years of her life to nurture and inspire orchestra, choir, and band students. In each one of her assignments, Ms. Vanlandingham built music programs not only numerically, but in excellence.

Ms. Vanlandingham served the Round Rock Independent School District as Fine Arts Facilitator, orchestra liaison for the district, department chair, and various district- and campus-wide committees too numerous to mention. She was co-conductor of the Austin Youth Philharmonic Orchestra from 1996–2000 and has been the co-conductor of the Austin Youth Symphony Orchestra since 2004. Ms. Vanlandingham has received national recognition by the WalMart Corporation as Outstanding Teacher of the Year. She holds memberships and affiliations with TMEA, the Texas Orchestra Directors Association (TODA), Mu Omicron, the Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and has served on the Committee on Standards of Adjudication and Performance Practice as well as the University Interscholastic League Prescribed Music List Committee. She has conducted the Longhorn Music Camp’s Philharmonic Orchestra during the years of 2005-2009. She is a Past President of TODA and frequently serves as a judge and clinician across the state. Ms. Vanlandingham has been listed in "Who’s Who in American Teachers" numerous times, and, in addition to her activities as a violinist and teacher, she also performs as a soprano soloist in her community.

MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS

Membership in the Austin Youth Symphony Orchestra is open to all interested students in grades eight through twelve who qualify through the audition process. String students from schools with orchestra programs must be a member in good standing in their school orchestra. Wind and percussion students must be members in good standing in their school band programs. Membership in the AYO program is contingent upon return of the membership acceptance form with the school orchestra/band director's signature verifying that the student is a member in good standing in the school orchestra/band 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 Symphony Orchestra rehearses on Monday evenings of the fall and spring semesters, 7:00–9:00 P.M., at Stephen F. Austin High School, 1715 West Cesar Chavez 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 in the event of an illness or family/personal emergency that will prevent the student from attending the rehearsal or performance. Excessive absences and tardiness (unexcused or excused) may result in the student being moved to a lower chair in the section or dismissal from the AYO program. A rehearsal and performance schedule has been included in the handbook as a reference for your convenience.

CONCERT ATTIRE

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

  • Males — Black tuxedo with black cummerbund; white long-sleeved shirt; black bow tie; black socks; black dress shoes (no sneakers).
  • Females — Floor-length modestly-cut black dress or black floor-length skirt/black full-length dress slacks (no black jeans) with black sleeved blouse; black dress shoes (no sneakers or flip flops).

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

SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA MEMBERSHIP ID DISCOUNTS

ALPHA MUSIC CENTER

1739 West Anderson Lane
Austin, TX 78757
512-477-5009
http://www.alphamusicaustin.com/

AUSTIN STRINGS

13276 Research Boulevard, #201
Austin,TX 78750
512-477-5009
http://www.austinstrings.com

AUSTIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Present the AYO Symphony Orchestra ID card at the box office no earlier than 7:30 P.M. to receive two free tickets to each Classical Season Concert, excluding special events.
(Free tickets to Classical Season Concerts are subject to availability.)
http://www.austinsymphony.org/

BLACKERBY VIOLIN SHOP

1111 West Anderson Lane
Austin, TX 78775
512-469-9343
http://www.violinshop.com/

FIDDLER’S GREEN MUSIC SHOP

1809 West 35th Street
Austin, TX 78703
512-469-9343
http://www.fiddlersgreenmusicshop.com

FIDDLESTICK BOW SHOP

1403 Alameda Drive
Austin, TX 78704
512-440-8579
http://www.margaretadie.com/
(By Appointment Only)

GOTT MUSIC

2047 West Stassney Lane, Suite 430
Austin, TX 78745
512-442-8100
http://www.gottmusic.net/

HILLJE MUSIC CENTER

1601 South IH 35, Suite 370
Round Rock, TX 78664-6603
512-310-1331
http://www.hilljemusic.com/

SAM BASS MUSIC

802 Brandi Lane, #B
Round Rock, TX 78681
512-246-9845
http://www.sambassmusic.com/

STRAIT MUSIC COMPANY

SOUTH LOCATION:

2428 West Ben White Boulevard
Austin, TX 78704
512-476-6927

NORTH LOCATION:

13945 Highway 183 North
Cedar Park, TX 78613
512-918-3743

http://www.straitmusic.com/

VIOLINS, ETC.

8620 Burnet Road, #132
Austin, TX 78757
512-452-5617
http://www.violinsetc.com/

WESTBANK STRING SHOP

6301 Manchaca Road
Austin, TX 78745
512-326-4898
http://www.westbankstringshop.com/

The AYO program and members of the Symphony Orchestra are grateful for the contributions and offerings provided by the Austin area music organizations and businesses listed above. Patrons of AYO are encouraged to frequent these establishments and express your appreciation for their support.

CLICK HERE to download the Symphony Orchestra Handbook.