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Bad Weather Policy

Alert Messages

  • Orchestra arrival time at Alys Stephens Center changed to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 27th
    February 25, 2010, 2:58 pm

    The arrival time for the performance has changed to 5:30 p.m. for Saturday February 27th at the (Alys Stephens Center 1200 10th Avenue S).  This will give the musicians one more opportunity to practice before the presentation.  Stands and Chairs will be available; however, PLEASE, PLEASE, bring your music.  The dress is black bottoms and white tops.

     

    Free tickets to the concert of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra will be available to the musicians, and discount tickets will be available to the adults.  The tickets are only good for the concert that follows our performance on Saturday.

     

    Also, there will be no rehearsal Sunday for MYO; however, there will be a rehearsal on Monday for MCYO at 6:30 p.m.

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Orchestra

Location

Alabama School of Fine Arts
1800 8th Avenue North
Birmingham, AL, 35203-2203
See map: Google Maps

 

An orchestra is a community where the essential and exclusive feature is that it is the only community that comes together with the fundamental objective of agreeing with itself. Therefore the person who plays in an orchestra begins to live the experience of agreement.
And what does the experience of agreement mean? Team practice - the practice of the group that recognizes itself as interdependent, where everyone is responsible for others and the others are responsible for oneself. Agree on what? To create beauty. -- José Abreu, the founder of El Sistema

 

No child turned away. Every youth musician will play! -- Dwight Houston, MYOCA Music Director

 

The orchestra season parallels the school year: August through May.
Students may audition at any time during the season.
All rehearsals take place at the Alabama School of Fine Arts, 1800 Rev. Woods Blvd.  (This is still known as 1800 8th Av N by google maps.)

 

Metropolitan Youth Orchestra. Our flagship orchestra is a full orchestra for skilled musicians, ages 14-22. Rehearses Sundays, 2-4pm in the recital hall. (Effective Mar 1, 2010: Temporarily moving to Mondays for a combined rehearsal with MCYO in prepartion for the April 6 performance.)

 

Magic City Youth Orchestra. An entry level orchestra for talented musicians, ages 9-16. Rehearses Mondays, 6:30-8pm in the recital hall.

 

Jazz Ensemble. Rehearses Sundays, 4:15-5:30pm in the recital hall.

 

Beginning orchestra. Beginning Orchestra offers training for students new to ensemble playing. Rehearses Mondays, 7-8pm in Room 263. Directed by Craig Hultgren.

 

Dwight Houston, Music Director and Conductor

 

At this time, the orchestras need to collect tuition to help cover operating expenses such as rent for rehearsal and performance space, purchasing music, and to compensate the staff.  However, we want every interested student to participate, so we've made available many payment options as well as financial aid. One tuition fee allows a student to participate in any/all ensembles, as permitted/requested by Mr. Houston.

 

  • $25 registration fee is due at the first rehearsal.
  • $100 for the first semester is due Sept 15.
  • $50 for the second semester is due Jan 15.

 

Financial aid is also available, and fundraising options are available in lieu of payment. The semester payments can also be made weekly or monthly. Please email Cindy Nelson to arrange a payment plan, find out about fundraising options or request a financial aid application.

MYOCA Orchestras