Becoming A Member

The Frederick Regional Youth Orchestra welcomes young musicians with a dedicated interest in orchestral music and ensemble playing. Membership in FRYO is open to students in the upper elementary grades through high school who have played their instrument for at least one year. Students must audition to become members.

Members are expected to attend rehearsals and maintain a regular practice schedule at home.

To sustain the financial requirements of the organization and keep the tuition low, families are expected to participate in fundraising activities.

2010 - 2011 Auditions for New Members

Auditions for the 2010-2011 Season will be held by appointment in August, but with the permission of the instructors, a student may make an appointment for an audition mid-year. Call 301-695-1187 for information.

Rehearsals: FRYO rehearses on Monday evenings during the school year at the Frederick Church of the Brethren, located at the corner of 2nd Street and Fairview Avenue, across from the Schifferstadt Museum. The Concert Strings rehearse from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., the Wind Ensemble from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., the Symphonia from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., and the Philharmonic from 6:45 to 9:00 p.m.

August Seating Auditions for Returning Members and New Members

Seating Auditions and Auditions for New Members for the 2010-2011 Season will be held by appointment in August. Check this website regularly for updates or call Peggy Alley for information. Returning members will receive a reminder notice later in the summer to schedule an appointment. For questions about audition requirements for new members, please call Peggy Alley at (301) 695-1187 for more information.

Check Back September 2010 - For First Rehearsal!

Audition Requirements

Concert Strings and Wind Ensemble (Ages 9 to 12)

The Concert Strings and Wind Ensemble are designed to cater to young musicians who possess one year of experience or more on their instrument (consult conductor if less than one year). Enrollment in these ensembles will help to reinforce your child's basic skills as well as build upon their prior training. During the audition, students will be asked to perform the following:

Strings

G major scale; one prepared solo selection.
A short sight-reading piece to be provided by the conductor.

Winds, Brass

Concert Bb scale; one prepared solo selection.
A short sight-reading piece to be provided by the conductor.

Percussion Instruments

Snare solo required; long roll.
Scale on mallet instrument.
A short sight-reading piece to be provided by the conductor.

Symphonia (Ages 11-14)

The Symphonia has full orchestral instrumentation. The program is designed to enhance performers' understanding of ensemble playing and build on their basic playing skills. Generally, students shall have played their instrument for a minimum of two years to join the Symphonia. During the audition for the Symphonia, students will be asked to perform the following:

Strings

Two scales in the chart below
A solo piece. Students should prepare a solo piece of music that is equivalent to the difficulty of Suzuki Book 3 or higher. This should demonstrate the student’s current level of musical and technical development.
A short sight-reading piece to be provided by the conductor.

Brass and Winds

Two scales from the chart below.
A solo piece demonstrating the student’s current level of musical and technical development.
A short sight-reading piece to be provided by the conductor.

Percussion

Snare solo required as well as timpani or mallet solo
Demonstrate ability on bass drum and cymbals

Philharmonic (Ages 13-18)

The Philharmonic has full instrumentation and is intended to give the student an advanced experience in ensemble playing. The Philharmonic performs complex music in a variety of genres.  During the audition for the Philharmonic, students will be asked to perform the following:

Winds and Brass

See chart below for scale requirements unique to your instrument

Scales should be in eight notes at quarter note = 100 or faster. The tonic note should be repeated. The musician should be able to perform each scale:
Slurring every four notes.
Slur two, tongue two.
A solo piece.
Each musician should prepare at least six minutes of solo music of his or her choosing. This may be a single work with two contrasting sections, or two contrasting works. The student may be asked not to play each piece in its entirety. Please select solos carefully with guidance from your private teacher. Solo music should demonstrate your current level of musical and technical development. There is no advantage to choosing a work that is too difficult or elementary.
A rhythmic exercise and a sight - reading piece.
Students will be asked to clap out a short rhythmic exercise.

This should demonstrate the student's ability to subdivide into eighth-notes, and to move steadily through each of these. Musicians may also be asked to sight-read an instrumental selection selected by the conductor.

Strings

See chart below for scale requirements unique to your instrument.

The musician should be able to perform each scale:
Eighth notes at quarter note = 100 or faster, slurring four notes per bow, Half notes at quarter note = 60, one bow per note, with vibrato.
A rhythmic exercise and a sight - reading piece.
Students will be asked to clap out a short rhythmic exercise. This should demonstrate the student's ability to subdivide into eighth-notes, and to move steadily through each of these.
Musicians may also be asked to sight-read an instrumental selection selected by the conductor.
Each musician should prepare at least six minutes of solo music of his or her choosing. This may be a single work with two contrasting sections, or two contrasting works. The student may be asked not to play each piece in its entirety. Please select solos carefully with guidance from your private teacher. Solo music should demonstrate your current level of musical and technical development. There is no advantage to choosing a work that is too difficult or elementary.

Percussion Instruments

Snare solo required, as well as timpani and mallets.
Demonstrate familiarity with timpani tuning and ability with bass drum and cymbals.

Scale Chart

Numbers before the scales denote the number of octaves required. All scales are in concert pitch.

	Symphonia	Philharmonic
Violin	2/C G D A Bb; 1/F	G chrm 1 or 2 octaves; 2/C G D A F Bb Eb 1/Ab E
Viola	2/C D; 1/G A F Bb	C chrm 1 or 2 octvaes; 2/ C G D F; 1/A Bb Eb Ab E
Cello	2/C D; 1/G A F Bb	C chrm 1 or 2 octaves; 2/C G D F; 1/A Bb Eb E Ab
Bass	1/C G A D F Bb	E chrm 2 octaves; 2/E; 1/C G D A F Bb Eb Ab
Flute	chrm 1 or more oct; 2/G D F; 1/C A Bb	chrm 1 or more octs; 2/C G D A E F Bb Eb Ab
Oboe	1/chromatic; 1/C G D A F Bb	chrm 1 or more oct; 2/D Eb; 1/C G A E F Bb Ab
Clarinet	chrm 1 or more oct; 2/C G D A F Bb	chrm 1 or more oct; 2/C G D A E F Bb Eb Ab
Bassoon	1/chromactic; 1/C G D A F Bb	chrm 1 or more oct; 2/C D; 1/G A E F Bb Eb Ab
French Horn	1/chromatic; 1/C G D A F Bb	chrm 1 or more oct; 2/G F; 1/C D A E Bb Eb Ab
Trumpet	1/chromatic;1/C G D A F Bb	chrm 1 or more oct; 2/C G A Bb Ab; 1/D E F Eb
Trombone	1/chromatic; 1/C G D F Bb Eb	chrm 1 or more oct; 2/F G ; 1/C D A E Bb Eb Ab
Tuba	1/chromatic; 1/C G D F Bb Eb	chrm 1 or more oct; 2/F G; 1/C D Bb Eb Ab A E