I can't believe the season is almost over! some important dates to remember

I can’t believe it’s almost time to enjoy the amazing talent of our young musicians again with another spectacular performance! We have been busy practicing and planning for the Spring Concert coming up on May 1st, 2016 at the Arend Arts Center in Bentonville, AR, and can’t wait to share the experience with you!  

Here is a rundown of important dates and information as the season comes to a close;

SUNDAY, APRIL 24TH 12:00-12:30 pm CRYSTAL BRIDGES MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART

MARK YOUR CALENDARS OPYO FAMILIES! YSO has been invited to perform in the Great Hall at Crystal Bridges on April 24th, 2016 at Noon in honor of El Dia de Los Ninos. The event is a celebration of cultures and creativity of children throughout our community and will feature entertainment for and by NWA youth in music, dance, art making, and more. Under the Direction of Maestro David Barg, YSO will perform several works including Conga Del Fuego by Marquez Arturo, Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 17 - "Little Russian," and Rodeo - IV. Hoedown by Aaron Copeland. This will be a teaser for the upcoming May 1st concert and is free to the public so come on out and support your fellow OPYO musicians!  

YSO musicians who are performing in the concert need to meet in the Great Hall at 11:30 am.  If you are a YSO student who needs to sign up go to http://www.opyo.org/crystal-bridges-performance.html .  How great is that going to look on their college applications and resumes?  They get to say they performed in the Great Hall at Crystal Bridges! 

MONDAY, APRIL 25TH DRESS REHEARSAL FOR SIDE BY SIDE WITH ALL ORCHESTRAS AT ARKANSAS ARTS ACADEMY

All three orchestras will play “ America the Beautiful” on stage together as a side by side for the grand finale at the Around the World With OPYO Spring Concert, and will have a special rehearsal for that piece on April 24th before their normally scheduled practice at the Arkansas Arts Academy.  Please drop your children off at the Gym for this practice.

Arrival times

Andante arrives at 5:30 pm.
Presto arrives at 5:45 pm
YSO should arrive at 5:45 pm at the latest.

Attached Music below

I am attaching the music for your convenience and ask that students practice their part over the weekend. We will only have two opportunities to practice as a group, and want to be sure to make it count!

SUNDAY, MAY 1ST, DRESS REHEARSAL FOR THE SPRING CONCERT AT THE AREND ARTS CENTER

The dress rehearsal for the spring concert will take place right before the concert and the schedule is as follows;

Andante arrives at the Arend Arts Center at 12:45 pm and is on stage at 1:00 pm.
Presto arrives at the Arend Arts Center at 1:15 pm and is on stage at 1:30 pm.
YSO arrives at the Arend Arts Center at 1:45 pm and is on stage at 2:00 pm.

All Orchestras need to be on stage at 2:30 pm to rehearse the side by side America the Beautiful.  
The concert will begin at 3:15 pm.  

SUNDAY, MAY 1ST, “AROUND THE WORLD WITH OPYO” SPRING CONCERT AT THE AREND ARTS CENTER FROM 3-5 pm
The Ozark Philharmonic Youth Orchestras will give a concert this spring celebrating classical music from around the world. The concert will take place on May 1st, 2016 at the Arend Arts Center in Bentonville Arkansas from 3-5 pm. Invite your family and friends to travel with the Ozark Philharmonic Youth Orchestras as they play their way around the World through various works and noted composers!  

The Andante Ensemble and Jenny Castillo will start the trip off followed by Jesse Collett and Presto with a performance of Blue Ridge Run by Alan Lee Silva among many other favorites.  The Youth Symphonic Orchestra, under the direction of David Barg, will make stops in Eastern Europe in old Ukraine with Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 2, affectionately dubbed the “Little Russian” by Tchaikovsky’s fellow Russian composers, and Latin America with their fiery performance of Conga del Fuego Nuevo by Arturo Marquez featuring YSO’s fabulous horn, wind, and percussion section with the violins, viola, cellos, and basses nearly burning their bows to their strings. As the trumpets usher the audience off into the South American sunset, and home to the good old USA, the Youth Symphonic Orchestra will close their performance with Aaron Copeland’s Rodeo: IV Hoedown.  Then for the Grand Finale; The strings will really stand out when Andante, Presto, and YSO Orchestras unite onstage to play “America the Beautiful”.  In addition, our Concerto Competition winner, violinist Maran Scott, will play Concerto No.2 in G major by Joseph Haydn.  
Parents, to reserve a seats for family and friends go to http://www.opyo.org/around-the-world-with-opyo.html.  

MONDAY, MAY 2ND, END OF THE SEASON OPYO PARTY HOSTED BY PARENTS GUILD AT FAST LANES

Still in the planning phase, but should be tons of fun and a great opportunity to get all three orchestras together for one last hoorah! 

WE NEED PARENT VOLUNTEERS FOR THE DRESS REHEARSAL AND CONCERT

We are need of some parent volunteers for the upcoming “Around the World With OPYO” Concert and Dress Rehearsal.  Please go to http://www.opyo.org/concert-volunteer-sign-up.html if you can help out!

FREE TICKETS AVAILABLE TO ARKANSAS PHILHARMONIC CONCERT THIS SATURDAY

The Arkansas Philharmonic would like to invite OPYO members and their families to attend the “American Innovations” concert this Saturday, April 16th at 7:30pm in the Arend Arts Center. To get the tickets just let me know the total number of adult and student tickets being requested by going to http://www.opyo.org/free-tickets.html and I will leave them at Will Call under OPYO.  There will be a conductor chat at 6:40pm. Doors open at 6:00pm.”

If you haven’t paid your Spring tuition yet, it is past due!  Please email me at youthorchestras@gmail.com so we can make arrangements.  

I know this is a ton of information to take in, and thank you for your support!  Best Wishes,
Chari Cross
OPYO Manager