Congratulations to Lydia Balge, the winner of MAYSO's 2010 Concerto Competition. Lydia will perform a Bach violin concerto with MAYSO at their spring concerts on March 13 & 14.

Thanks to all who participated in the competition. It was a great day with some great performances.

MAYSO and NSS will present their spring concerts on
Saturday, March 13, at 2 p.m. at Christ the King Lutheran Church in New Ulm, MN and
Sunday, March 14, at 3 p.m. at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Mankato.
Both of these concerts will feature our Concerto Competition Winner, Lydia Balge.

Make sure you check the handbook for the required concert attire: long-sleeved white button-down shirts, black dress pants (no jeans) and black socks and shoes for guys. For girls, at least elbow-length or longer sleeved white shirts and black pants or below-the-knee length black skirts, black shoes.

Rehearsals for North Star Strings will begin Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 4 p.m. at Dakota Meadows Middle School in the orchestra room. Students interested in NSS who are not prior members should contact Mr. Steve Dunn at violins2@hickorytech.net to arrange for an audition prior to the Sept. 15th starting date. Or you may call him at 507-387-5957.

Dr. Joseph Rodgers, the Director of Orchestral Studies at Minnesota State University, Mankato, has recently been engaged to take the helm for the Mankato Area Youth Symphony Orchestra. He comes to us with an extensive background in both performance and conducting and will be a wonderful mentor to our students.

The Mankato Area Youth Symphony Orchestra provides the young people of Mankato and the surrounding area with the experience of rehearsing and performing with a symphony orchestra, and enhances the musical education of those students who do not have access to a school orchestra.

MAYSO also provides an additional musical challenge by acquainting students with literature which might not be available in their school music programs.

MAYSO members provide continuous encouragement to music education departments throughout south central Minnesota by sharing their musical growth in their school music programs, their peers and their families.

Learn more the Mankato Area Youth Symphony Orchestra by clicking on the links on the left!

North Star Strings is an ensemble for younger string players, designed to foster beginning orchestral techniques. NSS is directed by Steve Dunn.