Folsom Lake College Youth Chamber Orchestra
Our Mission
The mission of FLCYCO is to inspire music appreciation and excellence among children ages 12-20, and increase community awareness of and participation in the musical experiences of the youth of Folsom Lake College’s service area (Rancho Cordova, Folsom, El Dorado Hills, Cameron Park, Shingle Springs, Placerville, Sacramento,Orangevale, Fair Oaks, Carmichael,Citrus Heights, Roseville, Granite Bay, Rocklin and surrounding communities).
Who We Are
FLC Youth Chamber Orchestra is one of the most captivating young artists’ ensembles of the Greater Sacramento area. Established in 2012 as a “pilot project” at the Folsom Lake College, the group has quickly gained recognition for its expressive and imaginative performances at the Harris Center for the Arts (former Three Stages). Instead of following a familiar path and becoming yet another “youth symphony”, this chamber ensemble was conceived from the ground up as a highly selective orchestra of soloists, where each young musician has a chance to be in a spotlight, satisfying her/his artistic ambition.
Why Choose Us?
From their choice of challenging repertoire, which spans across from Baroque to Contemporary and from Classical to Jazz, to their unique “rotation” system, that requires violinists to switch from first to second violin sections in one performance, to their attention to details in articulation and dynamics – FLC Youth Chamber Orchestra surprises and excites the audience. Despite the fact, that some of these young artists are still in the middle school, every semester they earn college credit (advanced education) as the Folsom Lake College students. The Folsom Lake College Youth Chamber Orchestra is made possible to be a tuition-free, full scholarship youth orchestra program. Thanks to the generous donation of The Robert S. and Star Pepper Foundation.
Audition With Us!
The audition time slots and the orchestral excerpts will be emailed separately for the following instruments: Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, and Flute, upon candidate's registration for the audition. The auditions are behind the screen to protect the anonymity of the candidates.
Requirements
- 2 to 3 minutes of unaccompanied violin piece along with all the orchestral excerpts found on the excerpt sheet. The orchestral excerpts will be emailed upon registration.
- Please, come 15 min before your audition time to warm up.
Date and Time
Sunday, December 14
10:00 am
Harris Center, Room 1045
Please allow extra time to find the room, as you will need to approach the Harris Center from the back (we will make sure the door is opened).
Audition Form
Have Questions?
When and Where do you Rehearse?
We rehearse on Folsom Lake College Main Campus, at two different locations.
Mondays
FL1-20 (Community Room)
Wednesdays
Harris Center (room 1045), from 7:00 to 8:50 pm
Do you Accept Anyone who Qualifies for the Level of Music Orchestra Plays?
Yes
Do you Limit the Number of Musicians for Each Section of Instruments?
In the future, it is potentially possible. Yet, so far we have never experienced the necessity to do so.
How Many Openings in Violin (Viola, Cello) Section are There?
We will take anybody who qualifies.
What Are Your Audition Requirements?
No scales are necessary. Audition requirements include:
- A concerto of the candidate’s choice (1st or 3rd movement), from the standard repertoire, OR a comparable large-form piece (sonata, partita, suite, variations)*
- The orchestral excerpts, which will be sent upon registration for an audition slot.
*Example: For violins, the concerto, if desired, could be replaced with the candidate’s choice of Bach’s Solo composition (from Partitas, Sonatas, or Suites), or one of the Caprices by Paganini, or one of the “standard” virtuoso pieces written by the composers of Romantic era.
Which Instrumental Positions are Available?
Traditionally, we offer positions for the following instruments:
- Violin
- Viola
- Cello
- Bass
- Flute
- Clarinet
When is the Next Round of Auditions?
The next round of auditions are scheduled on Sunday August 25, starting at 10:00 am at the Harris Center for the Arts, room number 1045, 10 College Parkway, Folsom, CA 95630.
Which Logical Algorithms do Your Adjudicators Use to Render Their Decision?
Student placement is competitive, and is ranked in order of artistic quality. Those qualities include:
- Beauty of tone
- Accuracy of intonation
- Dynamic range
- Tempo
- Rhythmic precision
What is a General Level of Students’ Experience/Proficiency Compared to Other Youth Symphonies/Ensembles?
Many of our artists have experience of playing in the Premier or Academic orchestras of SYS/High School/Middle School/ orchestras and ensembles before joining our chamber group. It is good to have such experience, but it is not necessary. Ages range from 12 to 20+. Some talented students entered the orchestra being as young as 11 years old. There is no quota on the number of musicians per section.
Do I Need to Have A Private Teacher to Audition/Participate in the Orchestra?
Highly recommended. In theory, it is possible to pass the audition without having a private teacher, but it has never happened before.
How Much is Your Tuition?
The participation is FREE, as the orchestra is funded by the grant. Moreover, it is a college class (MUP 311 – Advanced Orchestra), so the students receive a college credit for participating. (Advanced Education needs to be approved by the middle/high school counselors).
What is the Program for the Upcoming Concert?
The program is to be announced during the first rehearsal – Monday August 26 at 7:00 pm, Community room, FL1-20.
Contact
Director
Evgeniy Sporov
sporove@flc.losrios.edu