Dear Youth Orchestra Members & Prospective Youth Orchestra Members,

Greetings! We are very excited to be on the verge of a new year. We hope you have all had a wonderful, restful, and music-filled summer.

Please find below very important information about auditions and first rehearsals. If you have not already submitted your membership application and dues, please do so as soon as possible before September 16, 2005 (before rehearsals resume) so as not to jeopardize your membership in the organization.

If you need to set up an audition time, please call us at 732.451.0064 so we may schedule your time and review the guidelines with you. Unfortunately, we are unable to schedule audition requests via e-mail.

We are seeking volunteers to assist with auditions. If your parent or guardian is interested in helping out, please let us know.

Please stay tuned for corrections to any of the information/schedules listed below.

Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to call us at 732.451.0064 or e-mail us at gspmusic@earthlink.net.

Best wishes,
Darlene

Scheduled Auditions

Scheduled Auditions will take place on Monday, September 19, 2005 and Wednesday, September 21, 2005 from 6 pm to 9 pm at

Toms River High School North at 1245 Old Freehold Road in Toms River.  To schedule an audition time, visit the GSP Office at 150 Brick Boulevard or

call 732.451.0064 between August 30 and September 15, 2004.

 Please refer to the schedule below to determine the date your instrument will audition.  All prospective members must schedule an audition time.

Returning members will audition for seating placement early in the season according to audition guidelines.  PLEASE CONSULT THE ATTACHED AUDITION GUIDELINES for your ensemble.

AUDITION CHECKLIST

1.                  Membership Application

2.                  Membership Fee (2005-2006 Annual Membership fee of $95.00 payable with the application and $85.00 per child if there are two or more members from same family).

3.                  Attendance Policy

4.                  Audition Guidelines for the appropriate ensemble

5.                  Audition Excerpts (where appropriate as listed in audition guidelines)

String Ensemble (6th grade and under):

Strings:  September 19, 2005

ALL Returning Strings & Make-up Strings:  September 21, 2005

Concert Youth Orchestra (7th & 8th grades):

Strings:  September 19, 2005

Winds, Brass, and Make-up Strings:  September 21, 2005

Symphonic Youth Orchestra (9th through 12th grades):

Strings:  September 19, 2005

Winds, Brass, Percussion, and Make-up Strings:  September 21, 2005

 Audition guidelines and excerpts are available at the following locations:

 GSP Offices:  Located in the Ocean County College Continuing and Professional Education Center at 150 Brick Boulevard in Brick.  The excerpts ARE available at the reception window outside of regular business hours.  You may also sign up for an audition time here.

 www.gspyouth.org:  Download guidelines and excerpts from the internet at the Garden State Philharmonic Youth Orchestra web-site.  See the section marked “Forms and Documents”

First Rehearsals

Rehearsals will resume according to the following schedule:

String Ensemble (6th grade and under):

TUESDAY September 27, 2005 (6:30 pm to 8:00 pm)

Toms River Intermediate West Music Room

Intermediate West Way

Toms River, NJ

Concert Youth Orchestra (7th & 8th grades):

TUESDAY September 27, 2005 (7:00 pm to 8:30 pm)

Toms River Intermediate East Music Room

1519 Hooper Avenue

Toms River, NJ

Symphonic Youth Orchestra (9th through 12th grades):

STRINGS ONLY

TUESDAY September 27, 2005 (7:00 pm to 9:00 pm)

Toms River Intermediate East Orchestra Room

1519 Hooper Avenue

Toms River, NJ

FIRST FULL ORCHESTRA REHEARSAL

TUESDAY October 4, 2005 (7:00 pm to 9:00 pm)