Holland Symphony Youth Orchestras – Formed in 1988
All students must be members of their school band or orchestra to join the orchestras. Home school students are welcome.
Two formal concerts are held per year in the fall and spring. Kyle Nester is conductor of Junior Strings and Concert Strings. Dr. Christopher Fashun is the conductor of the high school youth orchestra.
The Holland Symphony Youth Orchestras is comprised of three orchestras:
The Holland Area Junior Strings (HAJS) is a non-auditioned, beginning string orchestra for students with at least one year of experience. Advanced registration is required by completing the application and sending it to the HSO office via mail or online with payment. The group meets Monday evenings from 5:30-7:00pm, September through March in Room 106 at the Midtown Center. The Junior Strings performs at the HSYO concerts.
The Holland Area Concert Strings (HACS) is an intermediate string orchestra focusing on developing advanced skills who may not be quite ready for the difficulty level of the Youth Orchestra. Auditions requirements are included on this site. Rehearsal times are Monday evenings from 7:00-8:30pm, September through March in Room 106 at the Midtown enter.
The Holland Area Youth Orchestra (HAYO) is an auditioned high school orchestra. HAYO is committed to pre-professional training of young musicians in the greater Holland area of elementary through high school age who join the orchestra through a competitive audition process.HAYO has grown from a string orchestra to a full orchestra (strings, winds, and percussion), grades 6 – 12. Members of HAYO represent many different schools in the greater Holland and Lakeshore area and are auditioned for membership and chair placement.
Goals
- We are committed to use standard orchestral literature for a full symphonic orchestra in addition to programmatic arrangements for youth orchestras.
- We focus on education as well as performance.
- We cultivate excellence under an outstanding conductor and coaches, thus seeking to provide an educationally sound musical experience that will motivate the students to fulfill their potential and to strive for that same excellence.
- Lesson scholarships are available to encourage private lessons.
- We seek to enhance the cultural environment of the families and communities we serve.
- We wish to promote the appreciation of the performing arts in the community through collaborations and guest artists.
We seek to be an inspiration to our members and other young musicians by offering a peer group for students interested in orchestra from several area schools. Through HSYO, talented students who have attained a similar level of expertise and share the love of classical music, motivate and encourage each other.