A new initiative, the Rio Grande Youth Symphony Orchestra, invites music students ages 12 to 21 to join in the all-new musical experience. Students with two or more years of instrumental experience are welcome to audition.
Students from music programs throughout the Rio Grande Valley region and neighboring communities will compromise RGYSO. Rehearsals will take place at the UTRGV campus in Edinburg on Sundays starting Sept. 12. Each season will feature two concert programs with presentations in Edinburg and Brownsville.
“Last school year, students faced unimaginable challenges and because of it some may be feeling rather unfit for an in-person audition; we still want to encourage everyone to consider participating and be a part of this new venture,” said Dr. Norman Gamboa, director of UTRGV Orchestral Activities and conductor of the RGYSO. “The distance learning and lack of face-to-face interaction of the past 15 months surely gives a new meaning to the prospect of in-person rehearsals and performances. Members of the RGYSO will be able to make music together of course by closely following all health guidelines by the CDC and UTRGV.”
RGYSO Audition Information
Auditions are in person at the UTRGV School of Music in Edinburg Aug. 28 and at the UTRGV campus in Brownsville Aug. 29.
To audition, students will prepare a short selection from their instrument’s solo repertoire, specific scales and excerpts from the UTRGV School of Music website. They will also be asked to sight-read.
Auditions are open to all orchestral instruments. These include violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba and percussion. Tuition assistance is available to students who qualify. Even though UTRGV will accept applications until auditions begin, students should register as soon as possible.