AYSO News

Music in the Parks Music Festival
The Aurora Youth Symphony participated in the Music In the Parks Music Contest in St. Louis the weekend of May 16-18, 2008. The Contest featured Bands, Orchestras and Choirs from over 46 schools throughout the nation. The trip Orchestra, which was comprised of members of the Youth Symphony (middle school/high school) and the Sinfonietta (elementary/middle school ) that chose to attend, was entered in the High School Orchestra division, even though half of the orchestra was in elementary/middle school.

Out of the 5 Orchestras that entered as High School Full Orchestra, the AYSO received a Superior Rating of 96 and 94 out of 100 by the adjudicators, and finished in 1st Place in the High School Full Orchestra Division. They then received a 1st Place Overall Rating for scoring the highest in the field of the 12 string and full orchestras in the Festival.

At the conclusion of the Awards Celebration on Saturday, May 17, which was held at Six Flags in St. Louis, the AYSO also received the Esprit De Corps Award for overall Music Excellence. Out of the 34 Middle School and High School Bands and Orchestras in the Music In the Parks Festival, the AYSO Orchestra scored the highest with 190 points.

This is the third time the AYSO has traveled to St. Louis in the past 5 years and the third time they have Placed 1st in their division and 1st overall the Instrumental groups. This was the first time that they received the Esprit De Corps Award.

The Aurora Youth Symphony programs consists of two full orchestras, the Youth Symphony, which rehearses on Monday evenings from 6-8 pm, and the Aurora Youth Sinfonietta, which rehearses on Thursday evenings from 6-7:30pm, both at the North Island Center Complex of the Paramount Theater. Concerts are performed twice a year in the Paramount Theatre. Students that participate come from all over the Fox Valley region, including Aurora, Batavia, St. Charles, Geneva, Oswego, Plainfield and Yorkville to name a few.

Final auditions for the 2008-2009 Concert Season for both the Youth Symphony and the Youth Sinfonietta are scheduled for Monday, August 18th from 1-5pm.
To schedule an audition, contact Dr. Porter at aysomaestro@aol.com
or phone 800-943-9458.
Openings in all sections in both orchestras.

Information about our June 2009 trip to Italy

2007

We went to Spain!
Photo Album

Sinfonietta becomes a full orchestra
Beginning in the 2007-2008 concert season, the Aurora Youth Sinfonettia became a full orchestra, providing a new opportunity for intermediate wind players to perform.

2006
Aurora Youth Sinfonietta Takes First Place in the
Gurnee Music In the Parks Contest
The younger sinfonietta finished in 1st place in the Music In the Parks Music Festival in Gurnee the weekend of May 6, 2006. They finished in 1st place in the string orchestra division and 1st overall in the Orchestra division. In addition, they achieved the highest score in the festival, which involved 52 high school and middle school bands, orchestras and choirs.

AYSO selected to play at the
Illinois Music Educators Convention
Aurora Youth Symphony was selected to play at the Illinois Music Educators Convention in Peoria on Friday, January 27, 2006. The Concert will be from 9:30-10:45am in the Theater. This is a tremendous honor for the group!

2005
The Concert Suite from The Polar Express by the Aurora Youth Symphony aired on WGN radio at 11 a.m. on Christmas Day and again at 3 a.m. on December 26th, 2005.

AYSO Takes First Place in the
St. Louis Music In the Parks Contest
The Aurora Youth Symphony traveled to St. Louis April 29-May 1, 2005, to participate in the Music In the Parks Music Festival. In the Contest were 39 different groups from 14 states. The Orchestra placed first out of 6 high school orchestras, and also received the overall first place trophy for the highest score of the festival.

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