​YSO welcomed Sectional teachers Michael Montgomery on Bass, Elizabeth Lyon on Violin, Krista Mays on Viola, and Danny Mays on Cello to their rehearsal Monday evening. The group broke out into Winds/Brass, Bass, Cello, Viola, and Violin sections to practice Dvorak's Slavonic Dance and then played together for the last half hour of practice.  Mr. Barg taught the Winds/Brass.  Everyone must have learned a lot because they sure sounded fantastic when they got back together to play!

Beginning October 5, 2015 and for the rest of the 2015-2016 season, we will be practicing on the Campus of the Arkansas Arts Academy.  The address of the new location is 2005 S. 12th St, Rogers, AR 72758.  This is the Elementary/Middle School Campus that is off New Hope Rd just off I49.

We will always look back fondly on our years of practicing at Trinity Grace Church, and thank them for their kindness and generosity which allowed us to nurture our love of music and grow.  With the blessings of such growth, we found it necessary to look for a new place to practice that could accommodate the acoustic requirements of a full philharmonic orchestra.

The partnership that we are developing with the Arkansas Arts Academy will allow us to meet all of our rehearsal needs and practice in a location designed for students in the arts/music, and give us plenty of space to spread out.  Thanks to Jesse Collett for verifying that the space would meet the conductors' needs and to parent Stephanie Summit for introducing us to the campus.

Andante and Presto will meet in the Annex Building on the West Campus in two sound proof choir rooms that are side by side, and YSO will meet on the East Campus in the Cafeteria to start.  All practice times will remain the same; Andante 5:30-6:30 pm, Presto 6:00-7:30 pm, and YSO 6:00-8:15 pm.

I am excited to announce that Darren Horton has generously agreed to host our Winter Concert planned for December 14, 2015 at Horton Farms! Horton Farms is one of Northwest Arkansas' Premier Event Destinations.  It is a scenic 200 acre non-working farm that is going to be decked out with 50,000 holiday lights and a 60 foot Christmas Tree that will welcome you over its covered bridge for some old fashioned holiday cheer.  Our orchestras will be performing in the Sierra Grand Hall which has the architecture of a timber frame barn and the ambience of a Relais & Chateax resort.  Mr. Barg and I went out to visit the property a few weeks back, but you can check it out here,  http://www.hortonfarms.com on their website.  I can't wait to hear the beautiful notes that are sure to soar to new heights in this location!  

Crepes Paulette will be raising money for the
 
Ozarks Philharmonic Youth Orchestra 

and the Arkansas Philharmonic Youth Orchestra this Thursday, September 24th in the evening,  from 6-8pm, with the final in this series of TRAINEE DAY POP-UP FUNDRAISERS!

Their new chef, is almost ready for prime time, and will be cooking up a full sweet crepe menu, as well as two of their most popular savory crepes:  la Complete and la spinach.  Since he is in training, the crepes are free for your kind donation and 100% of donations go to the non-profit of your choice if you pay via cash!

This event is being sponsored by Paula Henry who is the owner of Crepes Paulette and parent to Alex who plays the violin in OPYO's Andante.  Let's support one of our own in the OPYO family and eat some delicious crepes. 

Be sure to pay via cash if you want your donation to go to OPYO
and bring your instrument if you want to play!

Thanks to the Henry family for their very generous donation!

I really enjoyed getting to meet all of the young musicians and parents at our first rehearsal this past Monday!  Thank you to the parents who helped sign students in and collect tuition; Jody Agnacian, Susan Jones, Shelly Odell, and Karen Scott we couldn't have done it without you! Also a special thanks to Tami Murphy and Margaret Bartell for their tireless support.  Music Director & Conductor David Barg first loosened his students up with some stretching and then challenged them with Dvorak's Slavonic Dances, Conductor Jesse Collett worked with his Presto musicians on form and technique while Conductor Jenny Castillo had fun with her Andante students and agreed to take a group photo for me on the lawn.  I saw many young musicians give each other welcome back hugs, and make new friends.  At the end of the evening there was an aura of accomplishment and excitement as players packed up, and parent volunteers helped with cleanup.  Thanks to Angelique Edmondson and Theresa Fennell for helping with the cleanup!  I am looking forward to a season filled with fun and learning.