REHEARSAL SCHEDULE

UPDATED: Rehearsals begin
Monday, September 18th, 2023
Old First Reformed Church

729 Carroll Street

corner of 7th Ave.

REHEARSAL LOCATION

Old First Reformed Church
729 Carroll Street (at 7th Avenue)
Park Slope, Brooklyn

TUITION INFORMATION

Program Fees
$1,290 Single student
$1,990 Sibling Rate: Two students ($995 per)
$1,890 Dual Rate: Single student in two ensembles

For Application Form and Payment Options
Go to REGISTRATION & FEES

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Enrollment in our after-school music ensemble programs means a commitment to attend and actively participate in all rehearsals and concerts, as well as daily practice on the music assigned. In addition to pre-scheduled auditions, we do accept applications on a rolling basis throughout the year when there are available seats. Our Summer Camp, which takes place for 2 weeks in July, is a separate registration process, with no audition.

We strive for professionalism in our rehearsal and performance process.

We are committed to keeping our tuition affordable to ensure that our programs remain accessible. We also offer need-based financial aid.

Browse our website. Contact us at 1-800-399-0489 or at info@bymp.org for more information on our programs, performances and policies.

OUR ORCHESTRAS

Our Prelude, Overture and Sinfonia orchestras, led by Artistic Director Kelly Howard, provide beginner, intermediate and advanced musicians ages 6-18 the opportunity to develop confidence in performance through a challenging and engaging approach to the vast repertoire of orchestral music. Please check the Auditions section of our website for application information and audition dates/times.

SECTIONALS

Sectional rehearsals are held twice per concert cycle at the same time as regular rehearsals. They are run by Artistic Director Kelly Howard, our orchestra coaches, and occasional guests from the vibrant community of NYC-based classical musicians.

PERFORMANCES

We perform from two to three concerts per season and enjoy a series of collaborative events. In the past we have played including collaborations with Dan Zanes & Friends at BAM, Celebrate Brooklyn! in Prospect Park & a music-dance collaboration with the Martha Graham School.

WHY I WAS COMPELLED TO START
A YOUTH ORCHESTRA WHERE I LIVE

Belonging to an orchestra is an exhilarating experience and a rare opportunity for young music students. Where else can 100 students come together with 20 different instruments to create a beautiful sound that moves a wide audience? Over the course of their participation, members of the Brooklyn Youth Orchestras learn to fine tune their own playing while they develop new skills as ensemble players. These young musicians learn to listen — to their stand partners, to their sections and to the group as a whole.

In all orchestras, I strive for an atmosphere that combines focused, concentrated work with room for the social development that infuses an orchestra with life. In the Prelude orchestra, our young musicians are introduced to ensemble playing and the fundamentals of sight reading, listening to each other and taking cues from the conductor. In the Overture orchestra, our budding musicians learn and hone their new skills, blending their sound through deep listening to one another and through their developing ability to watch and follow the conductor. In the Sinfonia orchestra, students are introduced to a wide variety of musical genres and learn to play more intricate rhythms and harmonic structures. Every member of the BYMP community - directors, faculty, students and families - makes a commitment to the joys and challenges of striving for musical excellence together.

All older musicians have memories of their youthful experiences. Memories of my own experience with the Binghamton Youth Symphony remain vibrant to this day. First concert: Overture to Die Meistersingers. Last concert: Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony. I learned to watch the conductor and appreciate his role on the podium. This was my first introduction to the kind of music director I wanted to be: nurturing, supportive and inspiring. I still spend time with my youth symphony stand partner. She's a chef and I'm a musician, but we will always share our musical bond.

This is a gift that I want to share with all of the students in the Brooklyn Youth Music Project: an exemplary musical experience that constantly raises the bar, the space to work with their peers to attain that standard, and the chance to build lifelong friendships that are music centered.