Auditions planned for new youth string orchestra

The San Diego Youth Philharmonic Orchestra is holding auditions for its newest group, one that promises to give exceptional young string musicians an opportunity to perform — possibly as soloists.

Auditions for the Philharmonic String Orchestra and Soloist ensemble will be held Sept. 1-2. The orchestra rehearses on Sunday evenings at the Lutheran Church of the Incarnation, at 16889 Espola Road in Poway.

The group will be led by Rancho Bernardo resident Alyze Dreiling, a violinist and conductor who is on the faculty at the University of San Diego and an orchestra coach at Rancho Bernardo, Westview and Del Norte high schools.

The group is designed for string players — violin, viola, cello and bass — up to 25 years old. Dreiling said the group is primarily meant for high school-age performers, though exceptions will be made for younger players if they are good enough.

Dreiling said the group will be two-tiered, with some members being called to become soloists. She noted that many orchestras feature only a handful of soloists, or that they invite soloists from outside the company to perform with them.

“A soloist ensemble, in which the players are featured as soloists with the orchestra, is unique,” Dreiling said. “Many bands have only a few members that can play at the (soloist) level.”

Dreiling said the new group will differ from other local youth orchestras because of the soloists, and also because it focuses only on stringed instruments.

The orchestra will play a wide range of musical styles, from baroque to modern music, Dreiling said, citing the works of Poulenc, Albinoni, Hindemith, Ginastra as examples.

She added that playing with the group will help the members grow as musicians.

The group is also different enough from other ensemble groups that some members might be part of other groups.

“We’re going to have our rehearsals and our concerts timed so they don’t conflict with the other groups, so that our students can be a part of both,” Dreiling said.

There are currently about 12 members who are part of the group.

Dreiling said there’s room for about 25-30 students.

The group will start rehearsals in mid-September and its first of three concerts is being planned for November.

For the audition, musicians will be asked to play a three-minute excerpt of a concerto or concert piece. Violin candidates auditioning for the soloist ensemble will be asked to play a section of Paganini’s “Moto Perpetuo.” Some sight reading and scales may be required during the audition. The semester fees are $200, though need-based scholarships are available.

For more information and to schedule an audition, call 858-592-9790 or 858-395-5439. The San Diego Youth Philharmonic Orchestra also has an intermediate and a beginning string orchestras. For more information on the group, go to http://home.earthlink.net/~sdypo.