East Valley Youth Symphony Policies 2009 – 2010

The mission of EVYS is to help youth excel by providing an uplifting and challenging orchestral experience under the guidance of skilled conductors and supportive parents.

I.          Cost

The cost for the year, September through April, is $185 for Concert and Chamber Orchestra, and $195 for Symphony Orchestra. This includes rehearsals, concerts and a t-shirt.  Payment can be made using one of the following methods:

a.    Write a check to East Valley Youth Symphony,

b.    Pay online using Visa or MasterCard using the PayPal payment system at www.evysaz.org.  If paying online, please add a 3% service fee.

c.    We offer a payment program. Make contact with the President of the EVYS board if you would like to make arrangements to pay in three equal installments.

II.         Eligibility

All students of elementary through high school age, who are able to perform the minimum audition requirements as stated on www.evysaz.org, are eligible to audition to become a member of EVYS.

As an EVYS member, students are required to participate in and support their school band or orchestra program dictated by the instrument that they play.  Each member must have his/her school conductor sign a form showing participation.  If your school does not offer band or orchestra during regular school hours, a school counselor may sign the release form indicating no program is available.

At the first rehearsal, the following items will be due for participation in EVYS to continue:

a.      Tuition. (Full payment or first installment payment)

b.      Member Contract – signed by musician and musician’s parent.

c.       School participation contract – signed by school teacher.

III.        Auditions

All eligible applicants will be auditioned by a fair and qualified adjudicator. Orchestra placement will be determined as a result of each student’s EVYS audition performance only.

Orchestra placement auditions will take place at the beginning of each school year.

Additional orchestra placement auditions may be scheduled throughout the year according to space availability.

Chair auditions for all orchestra members will be held prior to each concert. The conductor will determine the dates of chair auditions. Auditions will consist of current concert literature. Excerpts will be selected by either the conductor or the adjudicator.

Members absent for their chair audition forfeit their current ranking and will be placed last in their section. Exceptions for missed chair auditions due to school concerts may be arranged prior to chair audition date. Late chair auditions will not be given under any circumstances except those deemed extreme and excusable by the Board of Directors and/or conductor.

The conductor reserves the right to schedule additional chair auditions with any or no amount of notice at all -- be prepared!

IV.        Attendance

Members are required to sign in at the beginning of each rehearsal. Members are required to attend all rehearsals and concerts with the exception of a conflict due to a school concert. In the event that a conflict does arise for an orchestra member, he/she must contact Sarah Plewe via e-mail (sarah@evysaz.org) or telephone (480) 242-5776 prior to the absence in order for it to be considered excused. An absence, for any reason, not reported prior to its occurrence will be considered unexcused. Three unexcused absences will result in a warning and then dismissal from EVYS.

A member may also apply to have an absence excused for extremely important conflicts other than those listed above, by submitting the absence form available at www.evysaz.org, one week prior to the date in question. If your Fall or Spring break does NOT coincide with the scheduled EVYS Fall or Spring break, and you will be out of town, you must submit an absence request.

Punctuality is also of utmost importance. Three tardies will equal one unexcused absence. After three tardies a verbal and written warning will be given to the member as well as the parent.

Members are responsible to obtain any information missed due to an absence or tardy.

Awards will be given for perfect attendance. Perfect attendance means no absences (excused or unexcused). Recognition will be given for outstanding attendance, which means one excused absence for a school concert.

V.         Rehearsal Rules

*          EVYS members will respect the property of rehearsal and concert facilities.

*          Food and drinks are not allowed in rehearsal room. Each member may bring one snack per rehearsal to eat in the common areas of GCA during break. Water is the only allowed beverage.

*          No running or rough play.

*          Guard your instrument and do not play or tamper with anyone else’s instrument.

*          Use and care for equipment appropriately, ie. do not lean on music stands or tilt back on chairs.

*          Be courteous and respectful to your conductors and other EVYS employees and volunteers.

*          No cell phone usage during rehearsals or concerts. Text messaging is specifically prohibited during these times.

*          Be punctual and seated early for rehearsals, performances, and after breaks.

*          Always bring your own music; don’t assume your stand partner will.

*          Music should only be marked with light pencil markings. Do not use ink or colored pencils to mark EVYS music!

*          Music must be returned at the specified time. Lost music will incur a replacement fee.

VI.        Concert Conduct

Please support your peers and boost the morale of our organization by attending the entire concert. In the event that that is not possible, then kindly wait until the music has stopped to discreetly enter or exit the performance hall.

VII.       Concert Attire

In order to provide an atmosphere of professionalism and excellence the following attire will be required for concerts.

Girls: Long, black, ankle-length skirt: no denim and no slits; long-sleeved white blouse (cannot show cleavage); black, closed-toe dress shoes and black nylons or tights. Bare legs and feet will not be allowed. Cellists only may wear dressy, long, black slacks: no denim.

Boys: Black dress slacks: no denim; long-sleeved, white, button-up dress shirt (worn tucked in); black bow tie, black shoes, black socks and black belt. No jackets.

Concert dress will also need to be approved at the first dress rehearsal of the year for a “concert dress” check. Also, concert dress will be worn when group photos are taken.

Additionally, inappropriate and unapproved concert attire will not be allowed on the stage during a concert.

VIII.      Parental Support

In order to accomplish the goals and aims of EVYS, each family is requested to donate service each season. Music is the universal language, and it is our desire to facilitate the learning of that important language in our society. We believe that can be best accomplished by providing a nurturing environment of supportive parents, families, teachers, and communities.

IX.        Additional Information

A membership roster will be compiled for EVYS members only, according to EVYS Board of Directors privacy policy, which does not allow the EVYS mailing list to be disclosed to other organizations, in order to accommodate those who would like to carpool, etc. The roster will include each member’s name, school, address and phone number.

EVYS members’ photos may also be taken occasionally and published in EVYS-related publications such as brochures, newspaper articles, or www.evysaz.org. EVYS does not provide insurance for musical instruments. Members are responsible to provide their own insurance against damage or theft as they may deem necessary.

East Valley Youth Symphony Ringers Policies 2009 – 2010

Beginning Class:

All players must be at class by 4:30 each week, and stay until, 5:45. The 15 minute “set-up” time from 4:30 – 4:45 is mandatory.

Intermediate Class:

All players must be at class by 6:00 each week and stay until 7:15. The 15 minute “take-down” time from 7:00 – 7:15 is mandatory.

I.             Cost

The cost for the year, September through April, is $130 for EVYS Ringers. This includes rehearsals, concerts and a t-shirt.  Payment can be made using one of the following methods:

a.    Write a check to East Valley Youth Symphony,

b.    Pay online using Visa or MasterCard using the PayPal payment system at www.evysaz.org.  If paying online, please add a 3% service fee.

c.    We offer a payment program. Make contact with the President of the EVYS board if you would like to make arrangements to pay in three equal installments.

II.            Eligibility

All students of elementary through high school age, who have a minimum of two years’ musical experience and can read music are eligible to become a member of EVYS Ringers.

At the first rehearsal, the following items will be due for participation in EVYS to continue:

a.       Tuition. (Full payment or first installment payment)

b.      EVYS Ringer Member Contract – signed by musician and musician’s parent.

III.        Attendance

All ringers are required to sign in upon arrival.

No ringer should ever be absent unless it is absolutely necessary. All ringers suffer when one ringer is absent. In the event that a conflict does arise, Sarah Plewe must be notified via e-mail (sarah@evysaz.org) or via telephone (480) 242-5776 prior to the absence for it to be considered excused. An absence, for any reason, not reported prior to its occurrence, will be considered unexcused. Three unexcused absences will result in a warning and then dismissal from EVYS Bell Ringers.

A member may also apply to have an absence excused for extremely important conflicts other than those listed above, by submitting the absence form available at www.evysaz.org, one week prior to the date in question. If your Fall or Spring break does NOT coincide with the scheduled EVYS Fall or Spring break, and you will be out of town, you must submit an absence request.

Punctuality is also of utmost importance. Three tardies will equal one unexcused absence. After three tardies a verbal and written warning will be given to the member as well as the parent.

Members are responsible to obtain any information missed due to an absence or tardy.

Awards will be given for perfect attendance. Perfect attendance means no absences (excused or unexcused). Recognition will be given for outstanding attendance, which means one excused absence for a school concert.

All ringers in Intermediate Class must be on time to each class at 4:30 to help set up tables, bells, music, stands, etc.

            If a ringer is late, and misses “set-up” two times, they will be responsible for setting up BY THEMSELVES the following week.

            All ringers will be responsible for wiping off their own bells at EVERY rehearsal

            All ringers will be responsible for bringing their music, note books, pencils, etc.

All ringers in Beginning Class must remain until 7:15 at each rehearsal to help put away all tables, bells, music, stands, etc.

            If a ringer must leave early, and misses “take-down” two times they will be responsible for taking down BY THEMSELVES the following week.

All ringers should make every effort possible to attend every concert. If a ringer cannot attend a concert, the director must be informed at least 4 weeks in advance to make arrangements for a replacement ringer.

V.            Rehearsal Rules

*             EVYS members will respect the property of rehearsal and concert facilities.

*             No running or rough play.

*             Bells must be taken care of and used with respect as directed by your conductor. Use and care for equipment appropriately, ie. do not lean on music stands or tilt back on chairs.

*             Be courteous and respectful to your conductors and other EVYS employees and volunteers.

*             No cell phone usage during rehearsals or concerts. Text messaging is specifically prohibited during these times.

*             Be punctual for rehearsals and performances.

*             Music should only be marked with light pencil markings. Do not use ink or colored pencils to mark EVYS music!

VI.          Concert Conduct

Please support your peers and boost the morale of our organization by attending the entire concert. In the event that that is not possible, then kindly wait until the music has stopped to discreetly enter or exit the performance hall.

VII.         Concert Attire

In order to provide an atmosphere of professionalism and excellence the following attire will be required for concerts.

Girls: Long, black, ankle-length skirt: no denim and no slits; long-sleeved white blouse (cannot show cleavage); black, closed-toe dress shoes and black nylons or tights. Bare legs and feet will not be allowed.

Boys: Black dress slacks: no denim; long-sleeved, white, button-up dress shirt (worn tucked in); black bow tie, black shoes, black socks and black belt. No jackets.

Concert dress will also need to be approved at the first dress rehearsal of the year for a “concert dress” check. Also, concert dress will be worn when group photos are taken.

Additionally, inappropriate and unapproved concert attire will not be allowed on the stage during a concert.

VIII.        Parental Support

In order to accomplish the goals and aims of EVYS, each family is requested to donate service each season. Music is the universal language, and it is our desire to facilitate the learning of that important language in our society. We believe that can be best accomplished by providing a nurturing environment of supportive parents, families, teachers, and communities.

IX.           Additional Information

A membership roster will be compiled for EVYS members only, according to EVYS Board of Directors privacy policy, which does not allow the EVYS mailing list to be disclosed to other organizations, in order to accommodate those who would like to carpool, etc. The roster will include each member’s name, school, address and phone number.

EVYS members’ photos may also be taken occasionally and published in EVYS-related publications such as brochures, newspaper articles, or www.evysaz.org. EVYS does not provide insurance for musical instruments. Members are responsible to provide their own insurance against damage or theft as they may deem necessary.