Overview

NMYO is comprised of the following orchestras and ensembles:

Gerald Dolan serves as NMYO’s Music Director. In past years, he conducted the Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. Mr. Dolan has conducted the Intermezzo Orchestra since the fall of 2012.

Symphony Orchestra

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 have the opportunity to perform in chamber ensembles. During an eight-week period in January and February, the orchestra is divided into 12 to 15 small chamber ensembles. 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 in Symphony Orchestra are also members of the Wind Ensemble. Winds rehearse from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with Symphony Orchestra. They arrive by 5:50 p.m. and join the Wind Ensemble from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

During the chamber music program, strings rehearse together from 5:00 p.m. to 5:40 p.m. All winds and strings rehearse with chamber groups from 5:45 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Winds are expected to arrive by 5:35 p.m. during the chamber music program.

Wind Ensemble

Dr. David Rox conducts the Wind Ensemble which rehearses on Mondays at Masconomet High School from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The most advanced students in the Wind Ensemble also play in Symphony Orchestra. (See paragraph above.)

Intermezzo Orchestra

Gerald Dolan conducts the Intermezzo Orchestra. Weekly rehearsals are held on Mondays from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Masconomet High School. During the spring semester, Intermezzo musicians work collaboratively with NMYO’s Conductor-in-Residence to compose and perform a new piece of music.

Overture String Ensemble and Prelude String Ensemble

Abigail Haynes conducts the Overture String Ensemble. Sarah Skinner conducts the Prelude String Ensemble. Weekly rehearsals for both ensembles are held Mondays from 4:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. at Masconomet High School.

Prelude String Ensemble students enter NMYO by a recommendation of their private teacher and a short audition. Members of Prelude will generally have taken at least two years of private lessons and should be able to note-read well in first position on all strings.

Flute Choirs

Trisha Craig conducts the Select Flute Choir, the Flute Choir, and 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.

A flute choir is a wonderful place to fine-tune individual flute skills in preparation for upcoming auditions, i.e., Districts, All-State, or college. Flute choir builds the flutist’s confidence level for a variety of performance settings and levels.

Flute choir members are expected to own their own Korg tuner for home practice.