About the orchestra
The College Park Youth Orchestra was created in 2006 to help young string players develop their reading and listening skills and to introduce them to the joys of ensemble playing. The orchestral repertoire is carefully selected to challenge the reading abilities of the advanced beginner through advanced intermediate level string player.
To best meet the needs of its members, the CPYO comprises two ensembles. The Primary Ensemble emphasizes the development of fundamental reading and listening skills while introducing its members to the joys of ensemble playing. The Intermediate Ensemble offers a more challenging repertoire to students with previous ensemble experience, more technical skill, and greater reading proficiency.
CPYO is a program of the College Park Arts Exchange and is supported by parent and teacher volunteers and by its sponsors.
About the director
Kenneth Whitley received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music Performance degrees from the University of Michigan. He spent nine years with the D.C. Youth Orchestra program, where he served as both conductor and cello instructor. In 1992, he helped found and became director of the Mount Royal Symphonic Orchestra, a nonprofit organization that offered musical instruction to children who would not otherwise have been able to study a musical instrument. He has been guest conductor for the InterSchools Orchestra of New York and the Junior Philharmonic of Tokyo, and festival conductor and adjudicator throughout Maryland and Virginia. Mr. Whitley lives in Baltimore where he oversees the Middle School Music Program and directs two vocal ensembles at The Bryn Mawr School. He lives with his wife, Jane Cromwell, and son, Cooper.
Locations
Ensemble rehearsals are held in the Old Parish House at
4711 Knox Road (at Dartmouth Avenue)
in College Park.
Audtions (September 11) and sectional rehearsals (October 2, January 15, April 1) will be held in the classrooms at Riverdale Presbyterian Church at 6513 Queens Chapel Road in University Park.
Concert locations will be announced.
Dates and times, 2011-2012
The College Park Youth Orchestra meets on scheduled Sunday afternoons from September until June. The orchestra performs concerts at the end of the fall, winter, and spring seasons.
The CPYO's Primary Ensemble rehearses from 3:00 to 4:15 p.m. The Intermediate Ensemble rehearses from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.
For tuning and warm-up, players should arrive 15 minutes early for rehearsals and one hour early for concerts. Players should bring their own music stands to rehearsals.
Membership requirements
All members must be taking lessons, either privately or in a group, apart from CPYO.
Members of the Primary Ensemble are expected to have skills which, at minimum, include reading knowledge of the notes in first position; quarter, eighth, half, and whole notes and rests; and a comfortable physical set-up. Suzuki students should be working on or beyond the Bach Minuets in Book 1.
Members of the Intermediate Ensemble will be competent readers with knowledge of third position and experience with keys of up to three sharps and three flats. It is recommended that students be working on solo repertoire comparable to that in Suzuki Book 4. They will typically have had some previous ensemble experience, such as a prior CPYO year.
Auditions
Auditions are required for new members of the Intermediate Ensemble, whether they are entirely new to the CPYO or moving up from the Primary Ensemble. Returning members of the Intermediate Ensemble, and new members of the Primary Ensemble, need not audition.
Auditions for the Intermediate Ensemble may include, within the limits of available time, sight reading, a prepared piece, and/or the following excerpts and scales.
Excerpts
Auditioning students should download, print, and practice the appropriate excerpt. The student's teacher will be able to help the student prepare for the audition.Scales
Scales, with arpeggios, should be played at 2 eighth notes per bow, at a tempo of 72 quarter notes per minute.- Violin:
2-octave scales in C, G, D, A, F, Bb, and Eb - Viola and Cello:
2-octave scales in C, G, D, Eb
1-octave scale in Bb - Bass:
1-octave scales in C, G, D, A, F, Bb
Fees
Tuition for the year is $275, refundable until October 2. New members of the Intermediate Ensemble must add a non-refundable $15 audition fee. Checks should be payable to College Park Arts Exchange (CPAE).
The CPYO will try to provide financial assistance as necessary to allow every qualified and motivated young musician to participate. You can send your confidential inquiry regarding financial assistance to admin@cpyo.net.
How to join
Please register with our convenient online registration. If you cannot register online, please contact us to arrange an alternate method of registration.
Early registration is recommended as spaces are limited. Students who wish to audition for the Intermediate Ensemble should register by September 4, to allow time for scheduling an audition.
CPYO in the news
3/14/2011: A video report in the College Park Patch showed interviews and concert excerpts.
6/19/2008: Van Caldwell's column in the College Park Gazette featured the CPYO as an exemplary addition to Prince George's County.
12/12/2006: Outlook, the University of Maryland's faculty and staff newspaper, spotlighted Ashleigh Butler, an undergraduate majoring in music performance and music education, who has volunteered her time with the CPYO.
2/23/2006: The College Park Gazette profiled the CPYO shortly after its formation.
Sponsors
The College Park Youth Orchestra is supported in part by generous donations from:
- Gailes' Violin Shop
- Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
- Prince George's Arts Council
- City of College Park
Questions?
Contact a CPYO administrator by e-mailing admin@cpyo.net or call the College Park Arts Exchange at 301-927-3013.
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The College Park Arts Exchange is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supporting arts and humanities activities in College Park, Maryland, through collaborative partnerships and innovative programming.