Content on this page includes:
Message from the GWYOA Board of Directors
Performance Schedule
Ticket Information
Concert Attire Requirements
What to Bring to the Spring Showcase
Performance Timing
Caramoor House Rules
COVID-19 Policies
Message from the GWYOA Board of Directors
GWYOA musicians and parents,
We wanted to thank you for your commitment, flexibility, patience and understanding this season. COVID-19 restrictions, contact tracing, quarantines, and the division of our orchestras into rehearsal cohorts have been a challenge for all of us. It would have been easier to throw up our hands, but here we are, over a year after this all began, ready to perform our Spring Showcase under the covered outdoor Venetian Theater at the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts.
We are very proud of your hard work and accomplishments this past
season. We hope that you have had a productive year with the GWYOA and that you are looking forward to expanding your orchestral horizons with us in the future. If you are graduating, we wish you the best of luck and continued success in all your future endeavors that hopefully
will include orchestral music.
All of you are representing the best of Westchester County and beyond.
The GWYOA would not exist without you! And that goes for all those parents, teachers, and schools as well!
Congratulations and Best of Luck,
Board of Directors
Greater Westchester Youth Orchestras Association
Timing will be very important for our Spring Showcase. Specific details for each orchestra is listed under Performance Timing below.
The Venetian Theatre at Caramoor can accommodate up to 200 guests per performance, under current NY State COVID-19 social distancing requirements. Caramoor is allowing us to treat each of our three performances – Elementary Strings, Junior Strings and Youth Symphony – as three separate A&E events. As such, all Elementary Strings musicians and guests must vacate the Venetian Theater and surrounding areas entirely before Junior Strings’ musicians and guests will be allowed to enter. Junior Strings musicians and guests must vacate before Youth Symphony and guests will be allowed to enter. We need to avoid groups of people gathering as they wait for the prior group to exit.
If you have musicians in more than one orchestra, please leave the theater area so that Carmoor can complete its cleaning and disinfecting. Reenter at the correct designated time.
We regret that due to COVID-19 guest limitations this year, guests will not be allowed to watch performances in which they do not have a musician performing.
Thank you for helping us to stay on time and adhere to New York State guidelines and Caramoor rules.
COVID-19 specific Caramoor Rules
All attendees, including: musicians, guests, conductors, volunteers and vendors, will be required to complete an online COVID-19 health questionnaire within 12 hours of arrival.
Upon entry of the Caramoor gate, there will be four health check lanes where volunteers will take your temperature and confirm that you have completed the online health questionnaire. Please remain in your car during this NY State-required health screening. If you do not pass this step, you must leave the grounds.
Please wear a mask – all guests and musicians – at all times. (Brass & winds musicians may pull their masks down only while they are performing.)
Please maintain social distancing. Do not crowd while entering or exiting the theater.
Dear GWYOA families,
All attendees (guests, musicians, siblings, conductors, volunteers, and vendors) must fill in the Google form (link below) as it will be used for COVID-19 contract tracing. Regardless of whether or not you are purchasing tickets. If any of the form fields do not apply, kindly place an "NA" notation in the response area.
Thank you for your patience and understanding!
_________________________
We regret that due to COVID-19 guest limitations this year, guests will not be allowed to watch performances in which they do not have a musician performing.
At least 2) tickets will be available for purchase per musician. Tickets cost $42.00 each, and are non-refundable.
If siblings are in the same orchestra, 2) tickets will be available for purchase for each sibling. In order to comply with NYS contact tracing requirements, you will need to complete this Google form for each musician. We apologize for the inconvenience: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScbmmukeBiQKRCBo6qPkpbPC6r7W0-S1I3_ma72Sptkk5Xonw/viewform?usp=sf_link
If you have musicians in more than one orchestra, you need to purchase only 1) ticket per guest for the day. If you are attending multiple sibling performances, please LIST GUEST INFORMATION EXACTLY THE SAME FOR EACH MUSICIAN.
GWYOA musicians do not need to purchase a ticket for a sibling's performance.
Seating in the Venetian Theater will be "General Admission" (no assigned seats), and arranged in pairs of two. We are tracking how many sets of two (or single tickets) are purchased. Please purchase tickets in groups of 2 (rather than as two singles) if you plan to sit together.
If we have remaining tickets after everyone has purchased their allotted two, these tickets will be available for purchase beginning on MONDAY EVENING, MAY 17, 2021. First come, first served.
Tickets are color coded for each performance: Elementary Strings (Blue), Junior Strings (Red), Youth Symphony (Green). Please bring your ticket with you to the performance. You must show the corresponding ticket to a volunteer or usher before entering the Venetian Theater.
Purchasing Tickets:
Once information is received, you will be sent an email with the link to make your payment via PayPal.
Tickets will be distributed at Monday rehearsals.
Thank you again for your patience and understanding!
Venetian Theatre Audience Seating
Color coded tickets: ES - blue, JS - red, YS - green
Suit jackets will be optional for this outdoor, June performance. If it is a particularly warm day, jackets can be left at home. If it is an unseasonably cool day, musicians may need a warmer layer: a black or white sweater or suit jacket.
ELEMENTARY STRINGS:
Black or navy pants, black socks and shoes, white shirt with conservative, straight tie. Jacket optional. Shirt must be tucked inside pants.
OR: All white blouse, black shoes, black skirt (knee length or longer).
Please note: Black leggings do not conform to this dress code. No athletic shoes / sneakers.
JUNIOR STRINGS:
Black trousers, white button-down shirt, long tie (doesn't need to be black), black socks and black shoes.
Jacket optional.
OR: Black dress (3/4 sleeved or longer). Dress must be mid-calf to floor length. Black hose, black shoes.
OR: Black skirt (mid-calf to floor length) and black blouse (3/4 sleeved or longer). Black hose, black shoes.
OR: Black concert trousers and black blouse (3/4 sleeved or longer). Black socks and black shoes.
Please note: Black leggings do not conform to this dress code. No athletic shoes / sneakers.
YOUTH SYMPHONY:
Jackets will be optional for our June 5th Caramoor Spring Showcase. If it is a particularly warm day, jackets can be left at home. If it is an unseasonably cool day, musicians may need a warmer layer: a black or white sweater or suit jacket.
• Black suit (jacket optional for Caramoor Spring Showcase), white button-down shirt, long tie (doesn't need to be black), black socks and shoes. No athletic shoes/sneakers.
OR:
Black dress (knee-length or longer), or black blouse with black skirt (knee-length or longer) or concert trousers, black shoes. No short sleeves, top must be ¾ sleeve or longer. Please note that leggings are not a substitute for black trousers.
Musicians, please bring your:
• music (JS & YS – music should be in page protectors in a 3-ring binder)
• face mask
• music stand IF you are a JS or YS musician who has been asked to do so
Guests, please bring your:
• ticket
• face mask
As stated earlier, timing will be very important for our Spring Showcase.
The Venetian Theatre at Caramoor can accommodate up to 200 guests per performance, under current NY State COVID-19 social distancing requirements. Caramoor is allowing us to treat each of our three performances – Elementary Strings, Junior Strings and Youth Symphony – as three separate A&E events. As such, all Elementary Strings musicians and guests must vacate the Venetian Theater and surrounding areas entirely before Junior Strings' musicians and guests will be allowed to enter. Junior Strings musicians and guests must vacate before Youth Symphony and guests will be allowed to enter. We need to avoid groups of people gathering as they wait for the prior group to exit.
If you have musicians in more than one orchestra, please leave the theater area so that Carmoor can complete its cleaning and disinfecting. Reenter at the correct designated time.
We regret that due to COVID guest limitations this year, guests will not be allowed to watch performances in which they do not have a musician performing.
Thank you for helping us to stay on time and adhere to New York State guidelines and Caramoor rules.
Park in East Meadow or Foxes Field. Parking ushers will direct you.
Please remain in in your car until we have taken your temperature and confirmed that you have answered the New York State health questionnaire online (to be emailed to you the morning of the concert or night before).
Wear shoes appropriate for parking on grassed lot.
Walk up slight hill to Entry Circle. Show your ticket to an usher. Please be sure to maintain 6ft distance from other parties.
Musicians and ticket holding guests proceed on Friends' Walk (chaperones will direct you) to drop off your musician at the Reception Tent where musicians will unpack and tune their instruments. Ticket holders enter the Venetian Theater seating area through the South Gate. Please do not linger in the Reception Tent with musicians. Ticket holders not dropping off students will enter through the North Gate, or whichever gate volunteers direct you to.
All guests except parents of cellists & basses will be asked to exit through the gate they entered, in an orderly fashion.
Parents of cellists & basses can remain seated for this initial exit; they can then come to the stage to assist musicians with cellos and basses as soon as other musicians have cleared the stage.
See arrival instructions above. Guests may enter the theater through either the North or South Gate, as directed by volunteers to avoid crowding.
Guests may exit through whichever exit gate is closest to where they are seated. Ushers may direct you. Musicians will gather their instrument cases in the Reception Tent and join their family shortly. Please do not follow your musician to the Reception Tent.
See arrival instructions above. Guests may enter the theater through either the North or South Gate, as directed by volunteers to avoid crowding.
Guests may exit through whichever exit gate is closest to where they are seated. Ushers may direct you. Musicians will gather their instrument cases in the Reception Tent and join their family shortly. Please do not follow your musician to the Reception Tent.
Greater Westchester Youth Orchestras will be charged an additional fee if guests linger past 8pm.
Thank you for helping us clear the area in a timely manner.
COVID-specific Caramoor Rules
Please wear a mask – all guests and musicians – at all times. (Brass & winds musicians may pull their masks down only while they are performing.)
Please remember to maintain social distancing. Do not crowd while entering or exiting the theater.
Upon entry of the Caramoor gate, there will be four health check lanes where volunteers will take your temperature and confirming that you have completed the online health questionnaire. Please remain in your car during this NY State-required health screening. If you do not pass this step, you must leave the grounds.
General Caramoor Rules
The following Rules apply to all events held at Caramoor.
No food and drink please, except a water bottle for musicians.
Smoking and vaping of e-cigarettes and other devices are not permitted inside any venue, including outdoor structures and tents.
Animals/pets are not allowed on the property without prior authorization. Certified service animals to assist the disabled are always welcome at Caramoor.
No dumping of waste (including without limitation ice and water) anywhere on the grounds, especially on the flowers.
Children must be properly supervised during the entire course of the event.
No picking of flowers or destruction of existing vegetation from surrounding grounds and gardens.
Climbing of Venetian Theater structures is strictly prohibited, including but not limited to perimeter fences and gates, stage, statues etc.
Caramoor COVID-19 Policies and Procedures
Guests may not enter Caramoor’s premises if any of the following apply:
· You currently have a fever > 100.4
· You have had in the past 48 hours any one of the following symptoms:
· persistent cough
· shortness of breath
· two or more of the following symptoms:
o new onset of fever
o chills
o repeated shaking with chills
o muscle pain
o headache
o sore throat
o diarrhea
o loss of taste or smell
· You have had close contact with a person who has confirmed COVID-19
· You have traveled to a location that meets the criteria for required quarantine in the last 14 days
Hand Washing
1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.
Use Hand Sanitizer When You Can’t Use Soap and Water
1. Apply the gel product to the palm of one hand (read the label to learn the correct amount).
2. Rub your hands together
3. Rub the gel over all the surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry. This should take around 20 seconds.
Coughing and Sneezing Etiquette
1. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
2. Throw used tissues in the trash
3. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands
Remember to immediately wash your hands after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
Physical Distancing
1. Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from other people
2. Do not gather in groups
3. Stay out of crowded places and avoid mass gatherings
Face Coverings
1. Wash your hands before putting on your face covering
2. Put it over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin
3. Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face
4. Make sure you can breathe easily
5. Keep the covering on your face the entire time you’re in public
6. Don’t put the covering around your neck or up on your forehead
7. Don’t touch the face covering, and, if you do, clean your hands