The Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra will be holding rolling auditions for the Lone Star Youth Orchestra’s 2016-2017 Season weekly on Wednesday evenings from 6:00-6:30pm. Based in Irving, TX, the Lone Star Youth Orchestra is the only tuition-free youth orchestra in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The Lone Star Youth Orchestra is open to all middle and high school students residing in the Dallas Metroplex. These talented youths are given the opportunity to supplement and enhance their music education by learning symphonic literature through high-quality orchestral and ensemble training with the very best in the field. Students have the opportunity to perform with the Garland Symphony Orchestra and the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra through our side-by-side concerts, and students may also compete for scholarship opportunities and guest artist spots through our annual concerto competition. Each year, the Lone Star Youth Orchestra provides our community with multiple breath taking concerts. Through master classes with distinguished professors and building connections with professional musicians, 98% of our students go on to higher education. In fact, many students who have graduated concurrently with the LSYO have been granted scholarships at prestigious music institutions such as Julliard (New York), the Curtis Institute of Music (Philadelphia), and the Royal College of Music (London). Likewise, LSYO alumni include an abundance of community leaders, professionals, and educators. Auditions are by appointment only. All audition information can be found at www.lascolinassymphony.org/lsyo. Students can expect to perform two scales and one solo of their choice. The Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra’s mission is to enhance the quality of life in our growing and diverse community by inspiring, entertaining and involving citizens and organizations through music concerts of superior cultural and educational value. The Lone Star Youth Orchestra is an education initiative of the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra. Currently in his second year as conductor of the Lone Star Youth Orchestra, Kevin Pearce brings a unique combination of a world-class musical background and an unending commitment to education. Pearce recently completed coursework for his Doctor of Musical Arts in Orchestral Conducting at the University of North Texas, in the studio of David Itkin. Prior to his move to North Texas, he served from 2008-2013 as the inaugural Director of Orchestras at Cypress Lakes High School in the western suburbs of Houston. During his tenure, the Cypress Lakes Orchestras won multiple UIL Sweepstakes awards, as well as top honors in local and national festivals. Kevin received a Bachelor of Music Education from Indiana University, and a Master of Arts in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Iowa. His other conducting teachers include Clay Couturiaux, William LaRue Jones, Myron Welch, Stephen Pratt, and Douglas Stotter. Rolling auditions can be scheduled weekly on Wednesday evenings from 6:00-6:30pm.
