The Summerville Orchestra Youth Philharmonic Programs
About the Summerville Orchestra Junior & Youth Philharmonic
The Summerville Orchestra (S.O.) is proud to announce that it has expanded its efforts to collaborate with the education community, specifically through the creation of a brand-new, youth string orchestra program, music advocacy initiatives, and mentorship opportunities. In line with the S.O.’s strategic goals to promote and enhance music education in our area, the Summerville Orchestra created a dynamic, energetic, passionate, and dedicated program to lead this new education initiative.
A priority on the S.O. ‘s Strategic Plan is to create a youth string orchestra to enhance our young citizens’ love of music, while also promoting their musical growth and development. These new ensembles are composed mostly of students in middle and high school. It will directly strengthen, reinforce, and enhance the string pedagogy of our local school districts and teachers from the private, public-school districts, and home-school communities of the Summerville area. These include, but are not limited to, Dorchester, Berkeley, and Charleston counties. The opportunity to participate in the ensemble will be offered at no cost to students or their families.
The Summerville Orchestra Junior Philharmonic and the Youth Philharmonic will hold auditions to accept new students on Monday, January 8th at Alston Middle School!
The Junior Philharmonic (introductory level) and the Youth Philharmonic (intermediate/advanced level) rehearse on Monday evenings at Alston Middle School in Summerville (500 Bryan Street). The Junior Philharmonic rehearses from 5:30-6:45 PM and the Youth Philharmonic rehearses from 7:00-8:30 PM. The first rehearsal for the second semester will be held on Monday, January 22nd.
Here is a look at our spring performance schedule.
2024 Spring Events:
- SOJP/SOYP Orchestra Clinic – Featuring S.O. conductor, Wojciech Milewski, as the clinician – 3/16
- Spring Concert – 5/11
Cost: Thanks to a generous contribution from the South Carolina Arts Commission, the youth orchestras are free of tuition.
Age Range: The orchestras consist mostly of middle school and high school-age students. Elementary school students who can play the audition requirements are also invited to audition.
Students Served: Public School, private school, and homeschool students. If a student’s school has an orchestra program, they are required to participate in the school orchestra.
Audition Date & Location:
- Monday, January 8, 2024
- Alston Middle School at 500 Bryan Street, Summerville, SC
- Times are not posted, because after completing the online registration, the student will be emailed a form to sign up for a time slot.
Audition Registration Link:
- Parents or students must complete the online audition registration
- Registration Link: This will be posted before the Holidays.
Audition Requirements:
Solo Requirement: All students should perform a solo of their choice. Solos may be from Essential Elements, Suzuki method books, or any other melodic solo that exhibits the student’s ability.
Sight Reading: Students may be asked to sight read.
Scale Requirement: Students will prepare one of these two octave scales for their audition. Each instrument may choose between the following:
Violin: Two octave G or D Major scale
Viola: Two octave C or G Major scale
Cello: Two octave C or G Major scale
Bass: Two octave F or G Major scale
***Students interested in auditioning for the Youth Philharmonic, the advanced orchestra, should also prepare the attached excerpt. (The excerpts can also be downloaded from the S.O. website.)
Excerpt:
Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 – 1st mvt
Play in common time (not cut)
Goal tempo: quarter note = 75 – 100
Violin: measures 1-19
Viola: measures 1-9 and 28-38
Cello: 1-9 and 50-61
Bass: measures 1-9 and 28-42
Instrumentation Needs:
Junior Philharmonic:
The greatest need is for violists and bassists. There is room for more violins and cellos as well.
Youth Philharmonic:
There is room for more violins, violas and bassists. The cello section is quite full, but your cellists may audition in case we have room for them. If not, they will be added to a waiting list.
Violin - Brandenburg 5 Excerpt
Viola - Brandenburg 5 Excerpt
Cello - Brandenburg 5 Excerpt
Bass - Bradenburg 5 Excerpt
DeAnndra Glenn
The Summerville Orchestra (S.O.) is thrilled to announce DeAnndra Glenn as the inaugural director and education coordinator for the new Summerville Orchestra Youth Philharmonic (S.O. Youth Philharmonic) and education program.
Glenn brings a wealth of teaching and performing experience to the position. She has taught strings students of all ages in the Charleston area since 2004 and has performed with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, the North Charleston POPS! and with Mannheim Steamroller, Michael Bublé and Michael W. Smith among many others.
She was conductor of the Charleston County School District Honors Orchestra from 2005 to 2010, and served for seven years as a strings instructor for both the Charleston
County School district summer SMAART (Students Mastering the Academic Arts) program and the West Ashley middle and high schools.
Glenn founded Charleston Violin Studio, and many of her violin and viola students have gained admission to the Charleston County School District School of the Arts, Rollings School of the Arts, the Lowcountry Region and South Carolina All-State Orchestras and the Charleston Symphony Youth Orchestra.
Along with performing as violinist with the North Charleston POPS! (since 2014) and the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Glenn has played with Charleston Stage and the
Long Bay Symphony Orchestra (serving the Grand Strand). She holds a Bachelor of Music in violin performance from the University of Montana and earned a South Carolina teaching certification in instrumental music. She received her training in the Suzuki method and “Every Child Can!” from East Carolina University. She studied locally under the College of Charleston’s Lee-Chin Siow.
In her free time, Glenn loves gardening and traveling with her husband and children.
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2024 Summerville Strings Spectacular!
Get ready for an electrifying musical adventure at the Summer-ville Strings Spectacular! Calling all young music enthusiasts to join us from July 8th to July 13th for a week packed with rhythm, melody, and loads of fun! At our camp, it’s not just about playing the classics – it’s about exploring all kinds of music! From classical masterpieces to funky jazz tunes and even a dash of pop, we’re diving into a world of musical diversity that’ll make your heart sing.
But that’s not all! Get ready to unleash your creativity with interactive workshops, where you’ll jam with fellow musicians, dive into music theory, and even travel back in time to discover the stories behind your favorite melodies.
And hey, it’s not all about the music!
We’ve got epic team challenges and group activities lined up to spark new friendships and boost your teamwork skills.
These skills include scavenger hunts, archery, decoding mysteries
and collaborative team effort! Because here at Summer-ville Strings Spectacular, we believe in creating a supportive community where everyone shines.
So, grab your instrument, bring your passion, and let’s make some magical music memories together! Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, there’s a place for you in our orchestra family. Let’s turn up the volume and rock out at the Summer-ville Strings Spectacular – where the music never stops, and the fun never ends!
Camp hours: Monday through Friday – 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM – Saturday 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Performance 1:00 PM