Canton Youth Symphony Holds Auditions Today

The Canton Youth Symphony will hold auditions for the 2013-2014 Season today, September 4 and Thursday, September 5 from 4:00-8:00 pm for string players, and on Sunday, September 8, beginning at 1:00 pm for woodwinds, brass, and percussion. Auditions will be held at Cable Recital Hall, located in the Cultural Center for the Arts, 1001 Market Avenue North, Canton. The Canton Youth Symphony (CYS) will be under the direction of Rachel Waddell, Music Director of the Canton Youth Symphony and Assistant Conductor of the Canton Symphony Orchestra.

The Canton Youth Symphony offers aspiring young musicians a professional learning environment focused on the highest artistic standards. The CYS provides students with an outlet for musical expression, growth, and exploration in a challenging and nurturing environment. Its participants rehearse weekly in preparation for three concerts annually. Youth Symphony members regularly work with Canton Symphony Orchestra musicians in sectional rehearsals and will have the opportunity to perform side-by-side with the Canton Symphony Orchestra on this season's Holiday Pops concert, A Very Canton Christmas. This year the CYS will offer two new programs: The CYS Training Orchestra, an additional ensemble designed for less experienced players aspiring to perform with CYS, and a Chamber Music Program, for advanced CYS musicians interested in chamber music performance.

CYS is primarily intended for students in high school and junior high, however, there is no minimum age requirement. Canton Youth Symphony members are required to participate in at least one school instrumental music ensemble if one is available to them.

Membership in CYS is by audition only. Students must prepare two contrasting pieces (loud vs. soft, fast vs. slow). Percussionists should select works to be performed on two different percussion instruments. In addition, auditionees may be asked to play a major scale or sight-read. All orchestral instruments are invited to audition including violin, viola, cello, bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, harp, piano, and percussion. More information is available online at www.cantonsymphony.org/education/youth-symphony.

To schedule an audition time call Lisa Boyer, Director of Education and Community Engagement at the Canton Symphony Orchestra Office at330-452-3434 ext. 604.

Founded in 1937, the Canton Symphony Orchestra is a fully professional ensemble and organization dedicated to performing concerts that enrich, educate and entertain residents of Stark County and beyond. The orchestra performs classical, holiday, and a variety of educational programs in Umstattd Performing Arts Hall, 2323 17th Street NW, Canton, Ohio, as well as other venues in Stark County. For more information, please visit www.cantonsymphony.org or call (330)452-2094. Administrative offices are located at 1001 Market Ave. N., Canton, Ohio, 44702.