Shenandoah Valley Youth Symphony Orchestras

The Shenandoah Valley Youth Symphony Orchestras provide a unique, high-level orchestral experience for advanced pre-collegiate wind, brass, strings, and percussion students of the greater central Shenandoah Valley area. There are three different ensembles in SVYSO that meet at different times throughout the school year.

A student participating in one of our ensembles will:

experience a broad range of symphonic literature
broaden their training in an orchestral setting
experience a high level of music-making
express individual creativity through concerto performances and performances of student compositions
provide an orchestral forum not otherwise available for most wind and percussion players

Fall 2025 Ensemble: Shenandoah Valley Youth Chamber Orchestra

The Shenandoah Valley Youth Chamber Orchestra is designed for musicians that already have some orchestral experience and are proficient at their instrument. This smaller group allows for musicians to develop their leadership and musical independence. This group is typically composed of strings, but occasionally other instruments may be needed depending on the programmed repertoire for the season.
This ensemble meets during the Fall semester. Admittance is based upon a successful audition. See below for audition requirements.
This ensemble is led by Rhonda Stees.
FALL 2025 REHEARSAL SCHEDULE
Fall Session 2025
Strings Only
Rehearsal Locations TBD
Sunday Rehearsals 3-5pm
Tuesday Rehearsals 6:30-8pm
Sunday, October 19th 2-4PM Sectionals
Tuesday, October 21st
Sunday, October 26
Tuesday, October 28
Sunday, November 2
Tuesday, November 4
Sunday, November 9
Tuesday, November 11
Saturday, November 15th Dress Rehearsal 3-5pm
Sunday, November 16th Concert (4pm), Call Time 3pm
Full Year Tuition (Fall 2025 and Spring 2026)
- $50 Registration Fee
- $200 Year Long Tuition
Half Year Tuition (Fall 2025 ONLY)
- $50 Registration Fee
- $100 Semester Tuition
Students that participate in one of the following activities automatically qualify for a $25 tuition reduction:
- Take weekly private lessons
- Participate in their school orchestra or band program

Audition Information

Admittance into any of the three groups is on the basis of a brief audition.

Auditions in Fall 2025 are for String Players only; woodwinds, brass, and percussion will audition for the Spring concert cycle in January 2026
- Scales: Musicians should play two scales of different keys. Play them in any format you wish and play them with as many octaves as you are comfortable.
- Prepared Selection, please choose one of the options below
  - Option 1:
    SRO or All State audition etude
  - Option 2:
    District Band or JRO audition music AND
    A selection from a solo, etude, or school band/orchestra music
  - Option 3:
    If a participant has not prepared a DB, SRO, JRO or All-state audition, they should bring in two short selections from a solo, etude, or their school band/orchestra music
- Sight Reading: A very brief excerpt of instrument specific sight reading may be supplied at the audition.

Auditions will for the 2025-26 Concert season are OPEN!

Use the form below to sign up for an audition.

https://forms.gle/vcdjJzpZEct8Rtm2A

Audition times for the Youth Chamber Orchestra (Fall 2025) are listed below. Auditions are available for string players ONLY at this time.

Sunday, September 28th, 3-5pm, Lehman Auditorium, Room 025
Sunday, October 5th, 3-5pm, Lehman Auditorium, Room 025
If the above time does not work for you, please contact Dr. Ledgerwood to arrange for an alternate time. philip.ledgerwood@emu.edu

Students that sign up for an audition are committing to a potential placement in the orchestra. Please look over the calendar above to confirm your availability for rehearsals and concerts.

An official registration form will be sent out after your audition.

Auditions will be held on EMU’s campus in either room 011 or 025 in the Lehman Auditorium building.

Rhonda Stees, SVYSO Music Director

Rhonda Stees is a passionate music educator with a broad and varied experience in instrumental music education which includes public school teaching, college teaching, leading youth community music and a private studio. Mrs. Stees currently teaches as an adjunct faculty at both James Madison University (JMU) and Bridgewater College (BC) in the areas of instrumental music education. Mrs. Stees has served as a JMU University Supervisor for Music Education student teachers for nearly 20 years, and has also taught music appreciation and Instrumental Technique classes, in addition to coaching chamber groups. At BC, Mrs. Stees has taught a variety of music education courses, leads the Chamber Strings, and has taught within the oboe and string studios.

Mrs. Stees has been an active public school educator in Arizona and Virginia. In Virginia, Mrs. Stees taught middle school and high school orchestra and served as the Orchestra Chair for the VA Music Educators Association and the VA Band & Orchestra Directors Association. Her interest in community music education for youth led her to co-found the Massanutten Youth Brass Band in 2010, a regional group of which she is currently Director. She has also served as the wind and percussion Coach, as well as interim conductor, for SVYS for numerous years. Mrs. Stees earned her Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Illinois and a Master of Music from Arizona State University. Mrs. Stees conducts the Youth Chamber Orchestra and Youth Symphony.

Tuition and Scholarship Information

Registration for the 2025 Fall concert cycle will be available soon. Registration forms are sent directly to students that have completed their audition.

If you’re interested in participating, please sign up for an audition using the form above.

Tuition Costs For SVYCO
(Fall 2025 Audition Cycle)

Full Year Tuition (String Players who audition in Fall 2025 are automatically placed in either SVYSO or Sinfonia Strings for Spring 2026)

$50 Registration Fee
$200 Year Long Tuition

Half Year Tuition (This option is available ONLY for students who cannot commit to the Spring 2026 Concert cycle)

$50 Registration Fee
$100 Semester Tuition

ALL ELIGIBLE STUDENTS QUALIFY FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP BELOW:

Students that are in one of the following activities qualify for a $25 tuition “Active Musician” scholarship:

Take Weekly Private lessons
Participate in their school orchestra or band program

Following an audition and after the Active Musician scholarship is applied, students who demonstrate additional need may qualify to have further tuition reductions.

Spring 2026 Ensembles