May 4, 2005 – Sylvia Bierschenk

Piney Woods Youth Orchestra to present concert and hold auditions

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - May is a busy month for the Piney Woods Youth Orchestra. The ensemble, which is an outgrowth of the Stephen F. Austin State University Music Preparatory Division, will present its final concert of the season at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 12, in Cole Concert Hall. Less than two weeks later, Dr. Evgeni Raychev, the orchestra's director, will hold auditions for the 2005-2006 orchestra beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 21.

Raychev, who teaches cello in the SFA Department of Music and the Music Preparatory Division, established the youth orchestra in the fall of 2004 with the help of his wife, Jennifer Dalmas, SFA assistant professor of music. The couple saw the necessity for the promotion and development of the classical ensemble for young people in the area.

"SFA already offers Suzuki violin and private lessons on violin, viola, cello and bass through the Music Preparatory Division," said Pat Barnett, division director. "Gene and Jen are now taking our offerings a step further," she added.

Raychev said the orchestral experience benefits young musicians in a variety of ways.

"It creates collective thinking that builds up a more precise conception of intonations, rhythm, style and phrasing. It helps students learn about how musical forms, harmonies and colors are put together in a larger-scale composition. And it provides an understanding of the problematic issues involved in ensemble playing," Raychev said.

During the orchestra's first year, Raychev and Dalmas invited string students to become members. The auditions on May 21 will be the first opportunity for string students across the East Texas area to try out for the orchestra.

Dalmas said the average age for the current members is 13 or 14.

"We are looking for fairly advanced players--those on Suzuki Book 4 and up," Dalmas said.

Once rehearsals begin in the fall, the orchestra will maintain its current rehearsal schedule on Tuesdays from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

Students interested in auditioning can find more information and the application by visiting www.music.sfasu.edu/prep and following the links for Piney Woods Youth Orchestra.