Welcome to the Mankato Area Youth Symphony Orchestra! The staff and directors of MAYSO and North Star Strings (NSS) hope you find the concert season a rewarding and musically enriching experience.

This handbook contains the answers to many questions about MAYSO/NSS rehearsals and concerts this season. All students and parents should become familiar with the information contained herein.
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The purpose of MAYSO/NSS is to provide the young people of Mankato and the surrounding region with the experience of rehearsing and performing with a symphony orchestra. Although most of the students in MAYSO/NSS are members of their local school bands or orchestras, some students do not have access to such groups. For these students, MAYSO/NSS is particularly rewarding.

MAYSO/NSS is intended to play a supportive role to the school music programs and an impetus to form new string programs in schools where they do not presently exist. MAYSO/NSS seeks to supplement and enrich the musical repertoires of its members by acquainting them with literature which may not be available in their school bands or orchestras. By sharing their musical growth with fellow students in their school music programs, MAYSO/NSS members provide continuous encouragement to music education departments throughout the south central area of Minnesota.
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MAYSO consists primarily of students in junior and senior high schools in the south central Minnesota area. The students audition for seats in the orchestra in late Ausust, and rehearse most Saturday mornings from just after Labor Day through early April. MAYSO performs four concerts per year, this year held in October, December, and March.

The North Star Strings is a group of young musicians who are in approximately the fifth to eighth grades. Designed for the proficient intermediate string player, the North Star Strings is an ensemble designed to solidify the string technique of students so that they will be better and more effectively prepared to join the Mankato Area Youth Symphony Orchestra.

North Star Strings rehearses most Tuesday afternoons from late September until mid-March from 4:00-5:00 p.m. at the West High School orchestra room.

North Star Strings shares the concert stage with MAYSO in December and March.
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The activities of MAYSO/NSS are largely determined by a Board of Directors and the Executive Committee. Suggestions and recommendations are also solicited from parents of MAYSO members. The Board pursues the following activities on an on-going basis: (1) schedules auditions where students may try out for seats in the orchestra; (2) schedules sectionals, rehearsals and concerts; (3) develops both short-term and long-term fiscal plans in order to provide the necessary funding for a stable and permanent structure to allow the continuing needs of the orchestra to be met; (4) arranges for appropriate personnel to carry out these activities; (5) recruit parental involvement; and (6) act as liaisons with benefactors. Board members usually serve two-year terms.
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Dr. Amy Roisum Foley is the new conductor of MAYSO, starting in the fall of 2006. She is the director of bands at Minnesota State University Mankato and brings to the organization much experience in education, mentoring and conducting. She received her education from St. Olaf College, the University of St. Thomas and the University of Minnesota.

Stephen Dunn is the conductor of the North Star Strings. He has taught public school orchestra for 25 years, the past twenty teaching 5-12 orchestra in the Mankato district. He has also played violin in the Mankato Symphony for twenty-five years and for the past five years has played on a regular basis in a string quartet.
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Christine Seymour, a student at MSU majoring in music education, plays viola and is looking forward to working with MAYSO this coming season.

Roslyn Sieh serves in the capacity of a position that combines the General Manager and Financial Secretary postions of the past few years. She handles asll ares of administration regarding MAYSO and NSS. She and her husband, Joel, have had several children in MAYSO over the past decade. She possesses a degree in music education, has taught privately for many years, and has been active in church music ministry. Prior to serving as Executive Administrator, she served on the MAYSO Board for a year.

To keep a multi-faceted organization like MAYSO running smoothly, parental involvement is essential. There are many ways to help, from concert set-up, reception prep, and rehearsal snacks to publicity, fundraising, grant writing and special events. Count on sharing some of your time and talents to keep MAYSO functioning and growing. There will be a sign-up sheet at the fall picnic/meeting, or you an contact MAYSO via the website www.mayso.net or phone.
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Members of MAYSO/NSS are generally students in grades 5-12 who live in Mankato or the surrounding area. Admission to the orchestra is achieved through audition, with both new students and returning members auditioning each year in August or September. Students are chosen on the basis of their musical skill, their willingness to make a commitment to the MAYSO program, and the needs of the orchestra. Members are also encouraged to be active in their local school music programs.
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A second audition date will be held after the December concert to allow new students the opportunity to perform in the spring.

Initial placement and seating assignments in the orchestra are determined by the audition process at the beginning of each season. Seating or placement is subject to change.
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A tuition fee, payable at the first rehearsal, is accessed to each student. Arrangements can be made for anyone unable to pay the fee. The tuition for MAYSO for the 2005-06 season is $150.00; the tuition for NSS is $75.00. The maximum for family participation is $225. No one is denied participation due to inability to pay. Any musicians in need of a tuition waiver are encouraged to speak to the conductor, general manager, or board president.
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Most time-sensitive information, i.e., rehearsal cancellations, will be distributed through email and the MAYSO web site, www.mayso.net, or through the following radio stations:

KEEZ FM 99.1
KOWZ FM 100.9
KFMC FM 106.5
KRBI AM 1310
KTOE AM 1420
KJLY FM 104.5 or FM 101.7

If you feel unsure about travel, it is always better to err on the side of safety. Please do not risk your life, and possibly someone else's, to attend a rehearsal in bad weather.

All pertinent information regarding MAYSO and NSS can be found on the website, including audition dates and requirements, concert information and ticket prices. Members should communicate suggestions, questions, or problems to the appropriate MAYSO personnel. Forms and surveys distributed in rehearsals should be filled out and returned promptly, to allow for efficient planning. When possible, members should proofread concert programs to be sure personal information (name, school, etc.) is properly recorded.
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Members of the orchestra are expected to prepare their parts to the best of their ability before attending each rehearsal. Each member is issued a folder of music and is required to contribute sufficient practice time each week to provide adequate preparation for the next rehearsal. In addition to his/her instrument and folder, each student should bring a pencil to the rehearsals for making changes in the music as needed.
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All musicians are responsible for their music. If a member must be absent from a rehearsal, he/she is responsible for ensuring that the section is equipped with the proper music. (This is particularly important for the woodwinds, brass, and percussion.) All markings on music must be legible, neat, and in pencil. Members are responsible for payment of replacements for lost or damaged music.
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Musicians should have properly maintained musical instruments. Instruments should be in working order prior to rehearsals and concerts. Repairs or replacements should be done well in advance of the rehearsal or concert. Every member should be prepared with basic instrumental accessories (mutes, rosin, extra strings, valve oil, extra reeds, mallets, etc.).
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Rehearsals are mandatory. Rehearsals provide weekly opportunities for members to learn to play their parts together, both as sections and a full orchestra. Rehearsals benefit both the individual member, who learns how his/her part fits into the composition, and also the entire orchestra, as each member hears how the parts come together to form the whole piece. Similarly, absences are detrimental, not only to the individual member, but also to the entire orchestra as well. Before rehearsal, musicians should assist in setting up the chairs and stands needed for their sections. Whenever possible, instrument cases should be placed in the instrument storage room rather than in the rehearsal area. Musicians should arrive in time to be warmed up and ready to begin by the specified starting time of the rehearsal. Arriving at 8:59 AM for a 9:00 AM rehearsal does not provide adequate time to prepare.

Rehearsal schedule for MAYSO is as follows:
Arrival 9:00-9:15
Attendance taken 9:15-9:20
Complete orchestra tuning session
9:20-9:25
Announcements 9:25-9:30 Rehearsal 9:30-10:45
Break 10:45-11:00
Rehearsal 111:00-12:00

North Star Strings will rehearse 4:00-5:00 p.m. on Tuesdays at Mankato West High School orchestra room.

Students should arrive early enough to unpack their instrument and get set up so that we may begin tuning at 4:00 p.m. Members are expected to attend all rehearsals. Students will be allowed two absences for an NSS concert cycle.
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Members are expected to attend all rehearsals. If a conflict arises that would necessitate an absence from a North Star Strings or MAYSO rehearsal, an attendance form must be completed, signed by student, parents, and director, and filed with the student intern. Telephone calls, verbal messages during a rehearsal, and any notification received on the day of the rehearsal is not acceptable except in cases of the most urgent emergency. This includes late arrivals or early departures. Avoid announcing to the conductor of the group the reason for your tardiness or early departure. For attendance purposes, the season is divided into three trimesters, with each trimester culminating in a formal concert. Attendance at all concerts is mandatory. Students will be allowed one absence per concert sequence, two for North Star Strings. A student not able to meet the attendance requirement for a concert cycle will be asked not to play the remaining rehearsals and concert of that trimester. There are no excused/unexcused absences. The reason for the absence is not the issue; rather, the absence itself and the subsequent lack of preparation that results. To help you plan, please reference the published event schedule.
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During rehearsals and concerts, musicians should give their complete attention to whomever is on the podium - the conductor, the concertmaster, etc. They should maintain eye contact with the conductor and be ready to stop immediately or resume playing as needed. During the rehearsal, members should be attentive to both the conductor and the rest of the orchestra. They should listen to the other parts and try to maintain a sense of ensemble. Except for asking necessary questions of the conductor, players are not to chat during rehearsal. Changes made to the music should be done neatly and in pencil. Refreshments (gum, candy, soft drinks, etc.) and other distractions should not be present in the rehearsal room. Cell phones and pagers are not permitted in the rehearsal or performance areas at any time.
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Principal section players are assistants to the concertmaster and the conductor. They are responsible for the musical and logistical preparedness of their own sections. Each principal is responsible for the following:

1. Make sure that his/her section has the proper music and has the proper stage/rehearsal setup (chairs, music stands, etc.)
2. Responsible for obtaining bowings and distributing them to the section (string sections).
3. Advise the conductor of any missing music prior to the start of rehearsal.
4. Taking attendance for your section and report it to the person responsible for recording it.

Principal players should also be leaders in the preparation of their own music and should listen to the music being played by their sections. Section leaders should make sure that solos are distributed to other members wherever possible. Doing this, the principal should inform the conductor of the solists' names.
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A dress rehearsal is essentially a performance. Although concert attire is not normally required, a dress rehearsal is a "dry run" of the concert. All members are expected to be present at dress rehearsals.
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The concert is the culmination of a member's musical preparation, including individual practice time, sectionals, and rehearsals. Members with insufficient attendance at rehearsals may not participate in the concert. Members are responsible for having all essential music at the concert; musicians who cannot perform (due to illness, etc.) must arrange to have their folders present at the concert so necessary parts can be performed by alternate musicians.

At both rehearsals and concerts, MAYSO musicians are the guests of the organizations which provide facilities for these activities. Members should take care to leave facilities in good condition following their use. In addition, MAYSO members represent not only MAYSO, but also the musical organizations of their respective schools, and should conduct themselves accordingly.
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All musicians at the concert should be properly attired.

Men: Long-sleeved white shirts, black pants, black bow tie, black socks, black shoes.

Women: White blouses and black full-length (below the knee) skirts or slacks, appropriate stockings and black low-heeled shoes.
Soloists: Men should wear regular concert attire (tails are allowed). Women should wear formal gowns or dresses of any color.

NSS members will be asked to wear black slacks or skirt, a white shirt or blouse, and black shoes and socks.
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Members are encouraged to enter the stage individually. Wherever possible, instrumentalists should enter the side of the stage on which they sit. Percussion and woodwind players are encouraged to enter the stage early in order to become situated or to have their instruments sufficiently adapted to the stage conditions. Brasses are asked to do their warm-ups offstage before entering. Low strings are encouraged to enter while the stage is relatively quiet to facilitate tuning.

The orchestra should leave the stage at the end of each "set" (before intermission or at the end of the concert).
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The concertmaster directs the tuning of the orchestra. Three A's will be requested from the oboe: one for the woodwinds, one for the brass, and one for the strings. For the last, the concertmaster will first play the 'A' as give by the oboe, from which the strings will get their 'A'. The concertmaster will also instruct the orchestra to leave the stage.
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Members should stand when the conductor first comes on stage. The orchestra should stand and sit according to instructions from the concertmaster or the conductor. Soloists should stand promptly when acknowledged. It is not necessary for the orchestra to applaud the concertmaster or the conductor. However, it is appropriate to applaud soloists and other musical guests.
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The principal oboist should always be ready to play an 'A-440'. A tuning fork or an electronic tuner is an appropriate means of assuring a good 'A'. A tuning session should be efficient. It should not be confused with a warm-up session. When the conductor exits the stage between pieces, a tuning session can be held. A tuning session between pieces consists of only one 'A'. Between pieces and tuning sessions, it is appropriate to warm up quietly on stage while the conductor is off stage.
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The concerto competition is an annual event, open to all current members with at least one year prior membership in the orchestra (i.e., first year students are not eligible). Auditions are held in January or February, the date for the 2006-2007 season is Jan. 20, 2007, and a panel of judges selects the winner who performs the concerto with the orchestra at the spring concert. Each applicant is responsible for providing an accompanist for the audition.

The applicant may play his/her normal orchestra instrument or another instrument, such as the piano. Before applying, the student must consult with the Music Director about the availability of music for his/her piece. The capabilities of the orchestra should also be taken into consideration when selecting a concerto.
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The Mankato Youth Symphony was organized in 1965 by James Berg orchestra teacher in District 77, and other teachers from public and private schools in Mankato. It became a non-profit corporation in May 1967. A Board of Directors worked with school personnel to provide an orchestra experience for all interested students in grades 4-6. There were 105 students in the first orchestra, and in 1966 over 50 students attended a music camp in Bemidji.

Through the years various school orchestra directors conducted the symphony. During some periods, two orchestras were functioning and at various times chamber groups also existed. As budget cuts occurred and workloads increased, music faculty in District 77 found themselves unable to continue providing the support to the orchestra that they had been able to provide in the past. During 1982-83, no orchestra functioned.

In August of 1983, a group of concerned parents met with District 77 orchestra directors. Their efforts resulted in the present structure and program of MAYSO, now in its 23rd consecutive season. Residents of the organization during this time include Carol Stiles (1983-86); Brad Pratt (1986-89); Dottie Crouch (1989-90); James Pierce (1990-96); Brian Roverud (1996); Kate Brigman (1996-97); Brad Pratt (1997-98); Mark Frahm (1999-2003); Rick Kramlinger (2003-04); and Gregg Suskovic (2004-05). Paul Wigtil is serving as president for the 2005-06 concert season.
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