Sangamon Valley Youth Symphony
Member Handbook

Sangamon Valley Youth Symphony Membership

Membership is open to any young musician through college, including home-schooled students, who plays an orchestral instrument, including harp, piano, and advanced saxophone. To be accepted, students meet the entry level performance skills and qualify in the audition process.

Tuition

Tuition fees from students help to offset the costs of administration and artistic direction and are due at the first Parent Meeting of the season. Tuition fees are:            

• There is a $25.00 discount for each additional family member. Tuition is due at the first rehearsal.

These fees cover only a portion of the total SVYS operating expenses. It is for this reason that we so highly value family and community contributions, both monetary and volunteer time, to keep the Youth Symphony thriving.

Attendance Policy

Maintenance of the traditional high standards of the Sangamon Valley Youth Symphony requires conscientious participation of all its members. This means not only learning to play the music competently, but also regular attendance at rehearsals and concerts. Attendance is recorded five minutes before each rehearsal. To ensure fair and equitable treatment of all orchestra members in regard to absences, the Board of Directors has established the following rules:

• If you are aware in advance that you will miss a rehearsal, you must notify the SVYS and turn in an absence slip no later than the rehearsal prior to the one to be missed.
• In the event of illness or family emergency, notify the SVYS immediately by calling the office at 753-8000 (leave a message if no one is available to take your call), or by sending an e-mail to: richardhaglund@netscape.net. You must then provide an absence slip at the next rehearsal you attend.
• If more than two rehearsals are missed within a semester, or the rehearsal prior to a concert is missed, members must contact the conductor of the orchestra to see if they will be allowed to perform in the concert. The conductor may assign members to another part and another seat for that concert. Members excluded from performing at a concert, may return at the first rehearsal of the next concert period.
• All members are expected to arrive early for rehearsals to check in, warm up and tune instruments. Attendance is taken five minutes before rehearsal and members must be there or they will be marked absent or tardy.

Sheet Music

Music for use in the Sangamon Valley Youth Symphony is issued to students on loan. Members are responsible for the care, maintenance and return of their music. Members will be charged for any music that is not returned. Concert folders will be provided prior to each scheduled concert and they must be returned before leaving the concert.

SVYS Handbook

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