Dr. Walter Pavasaris conducts the Symphony Orchestra. Weekly rehearsals are held Mondays from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Masconomet High School in Topsfield, MA. In addition to practicing as a full orchestra, members of the Symphony Orchestra perform in chamber ensembles. During an eight-week period, December into February, the orchestra is divided into 12 to 15 small chamber groups. They are coached in chamber music, with opportunities to perform various outreach concerts during the remainder of the year. The top chamber ensembles are chosen to perform in the Honors Chamber Concert.
The winds and percussion in Symphony Orchestra are also members of the Wind Ensemble. They rehearse from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. with Symphony Orchestra and join the Wind Ensemble from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
During the chamber music program, strings rehearse together from 5:00 p.m. to 5:40 p.m. Winds and percussion rehearse with Wind Ensemble from 5:00 p.m. to 5:40 p.m. All winds and strings rehearse in their chamber groups from 5:45 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Dr. David Rox conducts the Wind Ensemble which rehearses on Monday's at Masconomet High School from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wind Ensemble members who are not in an orchestra rehearse from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Symphony and Intermezzo winds, brass, and percussionists join the Wind Ensemble from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. During the chamber music program, rehearsal times will be modified.
Gerald J. Dolan, Jr. conducts the Intermezzo Orchestra. Weekly rehearsals are held on Mondays from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Masconomet High School. Intermezzo string players rehearse from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. with orchestral winds, brass, and percussionists joining from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The winds and percussion in Intermezzo Orchestra are also members of the Wind Ensemble. They rehearse from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. with Intermezzo Orchestra and join the Wind Ensemble from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
During the spring semester, Intermezzo musicians work collaboratively with NMYO’s Conductor-in-Residence to compose and perform a new piece of music.
Michael Coelho conducts the Overture String Ensemble. Julie Parsons conducts the Prelude String Ensemble. Weekly rehearsals for both ensembles are held Mondays from 4:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. at MasconometHigh School.
Overture and Prelude play four concerts a year. In addition to the regular winter and spring concerts, they perform in the thanksgiving outreach concert benefiting the Ipswich food pantry and a spring outreach concert for senior citizens.
Trisha Craig conducts the Select Flute Choir, the Flute Choir, and the Junior Flute Choir. All flute choirs meet weekly on Sundays at Trinity Episcopal Church in Topsfield, MA. Junior Flute Choir meets 2:30-3:30 p.m., Flute Choir meets 4:00-5:30 p.m., and Select Flute Choir meets 5:30-7:30 p.m.
The Flute Choirs play in four concerts a year. In addition to the regular winter and spring concerts, they perform in the Thanksgiving outreach concert benefiting the Ipswich food pantry and an all-flute concert in March.
Flute choir builds the flutist’s confidence level for a variety of performance settings and levels. A flute choir is also a wonderful place to fine-tune individual flute skills in preparation for upcoming auditions, i.e., Districts, All-State, or college.
Flute choir members are expected to own a metronome for home practice.
