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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday December 3, 2008 - 35 Youth orchestras present holiday concert on December 7 Continued from page 34 The friendly 12-year-old boy said he loves being surrounded by people who are like him. "I like the fact that a whole bunch of kids can come together and play what they know," said Augurusa, who also plays piano and guitar. "It's really cool. It's also a good experience and is a chance to meet a lot of other new people and they are very kind. You get to know everyone." Augurusa has been with the orchestra for three years. He said he has learned many skills from playing in a group setting. "I've learned sight reading and playing on tempo, because if one man's out, then everyone else is," he said. While the music places demands on the students, it does the same to the conductors. Janez Govednik, artistic director and conductor of the HYSO, is celebrating his 11th season with the group. The constant cycle of students moving on and new ones coming in keeps him coming back year after year. "I like challenges and I am challenged because each year, at least 30 per cent of the group is gone in June to university or other places to study," he said. Musicians in the senior orchestra range in age from about 12 to 20, but the one thing that is constant is that they are all experienced musicians. "Some of them are coming in with at least six or seven years of experience, while others are doing Royal Conservatory exams," he said. Students have a chance to grow as musicians with the wide range of repertoire placed on the music stands in front of them, Govednik said. "We play everything from "I like that a whole Bach and Vivaldi to music bunch of kids can for movies, like Pirates of come together and the Caribbean and Star play what they Wars," he said. "Everyone is know." also encouraged to perform solos with the orchestra." Jean-Paul Augurusa Besides musical skills, Violinist, HYCO students are also gaining friends, Govednik said. He added that the HYSO is also unique, as most schools do not offer an orchestral program. "Socializing is also a big part of the orchestra, because they aren't just here to play," he said. "It is a different group than one in school. In school, the band has all the same people in it, but here they are different people with artistic backgrounds." Members of the HYSO went on a European tour this past summer, which was fun for the students, but also a valuable learning lesson, the conductor said. "It was interesting to see and hear other orchestras to see where we are," Govednik said. "We played in Prague, Vienna and Salzburg and we showed them what we are capable of. We also saw that we can achieve even more." The junior chamber orchestra is also filled with skilled musicians, according to its conductor, Caron Allen. It is for string players only, including violinists, violists, cellists and double bassists. "Most of them take private lessons and started from a very early age," said Allen, who is now in her fourth year with the group. "They are very committed." Allen said she tries to find music that will appeal to the variety of ages in the ensemble, which is usually comprised of students aged 9 to 14. "I like to incorporate popular movie tunes and show tunes from Broadway, fiddle music and representatives from the classics, as well," she said. Allen also stressed the many benefits of playing in the HYCO. "It is an experience you can't equate with just playing on your own," she said. "When the group comes together, they get the whole gamut of sound and they really improve their playing because they are forced to learn it faster and can hear the whole piece, not just the one part. It is also a social experience, because they develop friendships that can last for years." Both groups did well at the recent Rotary Burlington Musical Festival. Both placed first in their respective cat- DEREK WOOLLAM / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER TAKING NOTES: Caron Allen, conductor of the Halton Youth Chamber Orchestra, leads the group, including principal violist Tyra Sweet, at a recent Tuesday night rehearsal. egories, attaining marks of 90. "I was really happy about that, because the repertoire was harder than last year, and last year we got an 87," Allen said. "I think the bar is going up. Every year, I lose musicians to the senior group, so it's a challenge to get the group at the same level that it was the previous year." Besides their regular concert season, the HYSO also runs an ambassador program, where smaller ensembles of musicians go out into the community to play at special events and venues. The program has been well-received, with bookings for special events at historic buildings, weddings and conferences, among others. Both the symphony orchestra and chamber orchestra are taking the opportunity to strut their stuff at their Christmas concert, entitled Winter Solstice, on Dec. 7 at 4 p.m. at Holy Trinity Secondary School, 2420 Sixth Line, Oakville. Special guests will be Alexander and Nicholas Miles (clarinet/flute duet), Laura Andrew and Melissa Pettau (flute duet), and the HYSO Brass Ensemble. The young musicians are recommending the event to families. "If people bring their kids, it shows them what other kids can do if they try and maybe they want to join or try a new instrument," said Augurusa. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for seniors/students Tickets for this concert are on sale and can be purchased by calling 905616-2760. For information on the HYSO or HYCO, visit www.haltonyouthsymphony.com. A slideshow on the HYSO created by photographer Derek Woollam can be viewed at www.oakvillebeaver.com/community/gallery/slideshow. 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