Orchestra Member Information

2023-2024 Season

Please see detailed information for our return to WCC here.

Rehearsals and the Winter Concert are held at Westchester Community College's Academic Arts Building near parking lot #4.  

Elementary Strings:  

Rehearsal time: 6:45pm-8:20pm in room 116 on the ground floor. Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to allow for time to unpack your instrument and have it tuned. 

Please bring to every rehearsal: music stand, sheet music, folder, and sharpened pencil (a folder with the semester's sheet music and an attached pencil will be provided at the first rehearsal of each semester by the conductor). Cellos bring rock stops. You may bring a filled water bottle (no sugary drinks).  Parents, please take note of your scheduled "volunteer date" for chair set-up & break-down. 

Elementary Strings Contact Information:

Conductor:   Bernard Klinger:  bernard.klinger@gwyoa.org , ES Parent Liaisons:  Mrs. Katrina Choi katrina.choi@gwyoa.org , Mrs. Ying Yang ying.yang@gwyoa.org 

Junior Strings: 

Rehearsal time: 6:45pm-8:30pm in room 104 on the ground floor. Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to allow for time to unpack your instrument and tune it. 

Please bring to every rehearsal: music stand, sheet music, folder, and sharpened pencil (a folder with the semester's sheet music and an attached pencil will be provided at the first rehearsal of each semester by the conductor). Cellos bring rock stops. You may bring a filled water bottle (no sugary drinks).  All musicians other than bassists should also have a mute – I recommend the rubber “Tourte” type.  Be sure you don't get a "practice mute;" that's for a different purpose. Links for purchasing mutes from SharMusic.com: Violin / Viola /  Cello

Junior Strings Contact Information:

Conductor:   Jacqueline Stern: jacqueline.stern@gwyoa.org , JS Parent Liaison:  Mrs. Sujatha Thalappillil: sujatha.thalappillil@gwyoa.org , Mrs. Candy Huang: candy.huang@gwyoa.org

Youth Symphony: 

Rehearsal time: 7:00pm-9:00pm on the second floor auditorium stage. Enter bottom floor from same location as ES and JS, go up staircase one floor. Elevator is down the hallway for large instruments, or follow handicap drop off instructions

Please bring to every rehearsal: sheet music, folder, and sharpened pencil (you will be sent a link by email to printout PDF's of your semester's sheet music by the conductor and/or Parent Liaisons). Cellos bring rock stops. You may bring a filled water bottle (no sugary drinks). 

Youth Symphony Contact Information:

Conductor:   Kathleen Coletta Feldman: kathleen.feldman@gwyoa.org , YS Parent Liaisons:  Mrs. Cricket Powell: cricket.powell@gwyoa.org , Mrs. Elena Inoue:  elena.inoue@gwyoa.org 

Tuition

Families with multiple children in the GWYOA are entitled to a 10% tuition reduction off of each child's tuition (Sibling Discount). Make sure you select the appropriate amount on the drop down menu.

Please note: through the generosity of the Stanley C. Staś Chmielewski and Dr. Herman L. Eberhardt Scholarship Fund, tuition assistance is available.  Email treasurer@gwyoa.org to inquire.

Refund policy:  100% refund before the 1st rehearsal*; 75% refund after 1st rehearsal*; 50% after 2nd rehearsal*; 25% after 3rd rehearsal*; no refund after 4th rehearsal.

* minus $50 processing fee

Attendance & Behavior Policy

Attendance at all rehearsals and performances is mandatory. Inappropriate behavior, excessive tardiness and absences (excused or not) jeopardize the orchestras ability to perform and will necessitate a review by the conductor with the Board of Directors. More than two absences per semester will be considered excessive and may constitute grounds for dismissal. Cell phones and other electronics are to be silenced and out of sight during rehearsals. 

Concert Attire

Elementary Strings:

Black or navy pants, black socks and shoes, white shirt with conservative, straight tie, and black jacket.  Shirts must be tucked inside pants. 

-or-

All white blouses, black shoes, black bottoms (skirts must be knee length or longer).  

Please note: Black leggings do not conform to this dress code. No athletic shoes/ sneakers.

Junior Strings:

Black suit (or black jacket/trousers), white button-down shirt, long tie (doesn't need to be black), black socks and shoes. No athletic shoes/sneakers.

OR

Black dress, ankle or floor-length, or black blouse (3/4 sleeved or longer) and ankle- or floor-length skirt or concert trousers, black tights, black closed-toe shoes.  Please note that leggings are not a substitute for black trousers.  No short sleeves, please.

Youth Symphony:

Black suit (black jacket/trousers), white button-down shirt, long tie (doesn't need to be black), black socks and shoes. No athletic shoes/sneakers.

OR

Full length black dress, or black blouse with black skirt or concert trousers, black tights, black closed-toe shoes. No short sleeves, top must be ¾ sleeve or longer. Dress/skirt/trouser must be ankle or floor length. Please note that leggings are not a substitute for black trousers.