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Wilmington Branch Ensembles 2011-2012

Plus a satellite location in Pike Creek. Ensembles also available at the Milford Branch.

CHAMBER MUSIC & SMALL ENSEMBLES


CHAMBER MUSIC
Youth & adults (Music School faculty)
Wednesdays or Saturdays or as arranged, 60 minutes per week
Semester 1 starting October 12 or 15
Semester 2 starting February 15 or 18
A staple of classical music, chamber music allows musicians at intermediate or advanced levels to hone their ensemble skills. Students may request assignment to a chamber music ensemble or enroll with pre-existing partners. Performance opportunities occur throughout the year.
PREREQUISITE: Placement audition with coordinator; see page 6 for audition info
ENROLLMENT: One or both semesters
TUITION: Per 10-week semester:
2 students: $306 per person
3+ students: $250 per person

CELLO CHOIR
12 years to adults (Jennifer Crowell Stomberg)
Saturdays, time TBA
Biweekly, starting date TBA
Focusing on intermediate and advanced repertoire spanning the musical spectrum from Baroque to popular, the ensemble meets biweekly with performance opportunities throughout the year. Pike Creek section also available.
PREREQUISITE: Consent of the instructor; strong reading and ensemble skills; younger students may be considered on an individual basis
ENROLLMENT: Entire academic year
TUITION: $155 per 8-class semester (biweekly)

FLUTE CHOIR
Grades 5 to 9 or any flutist at the intermediate level (Dr. Paula Nelson)
Tuesdays, 6:15-7:00 p.m.
Starting September 20
This ensemble offers intermediate flute students a fun and supportive environment for developing ensemble skills—including listening, tuning, blending, breathing and following a conductor—while also improving technique, tone and sight-reading ability. Performance opportunities occur throughout the year.
PREREQUISITE: Telephone interview with instructor or recommendation of private teacher
ENROLLMENT: One or both semesters
TUITION: $234 per 15-week semester

ADULT FLUTE ENSEMBLE
Adults 18 years and up (Melinda Bowman)
Tuesdays, 3:00-4:00 p.m.
Starting September 20
Exploring music in a variety of styles, this ensemble offers the upper-intermediate to advanced adult flutist the enjoyment of making music with others, along with the opportunity to hone technical and ensemble skills toward the goal of an expressive performance. One or two public performances occur per semester.
PREREQUISITE: Telephone interview with instructor or recommendation of private teacher
ENROLLMENT: One or both semesters
TUITION: $198 per 10-week semester

GUITAR & MANDOLIN ORCHESTRA
10 years to adults  (Christopher Braddock)
Mondays, 6:45-7:45 p.m.
Starting September 19
Accustomed to playing alone, guitarists often overlook the importance of developing ensemble skills. Using a diverse repertoire of classical, jazz, folk and pop music scored for two or more instruments, this ensemble helps guitarists learn to play music with other musicians while also reinforcing good practice habits and providing a basic introduction to music theory and history. In addition, playing mandolin is a great way for violinists and violists to add new flavor to their music-making, as the instrument is essentially a violin with frets. Students have opportunities to compose original pieces for the group and to improve their improvisational skills.  Open to acoustic and electric guitarists, as well as mandolin players and bass guitarists.
PREREQUISITE: Consent of the instructor; enrollment in private study
ENROLLMENT: Entire academic year
TUITION: $215 per 16-week semester
MATERIALS: To be purchased by student

NEW! ▶ BRANDYWINE FIDDLERS
6 years and up (Shelley Beard Schleigh)
Saturdays, 3:15-4:15 p.m.
Starting date & schedule TBA
This premier, prize-winning fiddle ensemble features young violinists (Suzuki or traditional) performing Irish, Scottish, old-time and bluegrass fiddle tunes. The Fiddlers rehearse approximately 12 times per year and will participate in state and national competitions, high-profile performances and fundraising and outreach events for the school and community, often collaborating with the Matson Run Pickers. Enrollment is limited to a maximum of 10 students.
PREREQUISITE: Students selected by instructor
ENROLLMENT: Entire academic year
TUITION: None

NEW! ▶ MATSON RUN PICKERS
10 to 18 years (Christopher Braddock)
Saturdays, 3:00-4:00 p.m.
Starting date & schedule TBA
This prize-winning ensemble explores a variety of American folk music styles—from old-time and gospel to bluegrass and “newgrass”— along with the instruments of a traditional string band: guitar, banjo, mandolin, dobro, fiddle and bass. Students will be coached on musical style and improvisation, as well as technique and reading skills. The Pickers rehearse approximately 12 times per year and frequently collaborate with the Brandywine Fiddlers in performances and competitions.
PREREQUISITE: Students selected by instructor
ENROLLMENT: Entire academic year
TUITION: None

JAZZ COMBO
14 to 18 years (Christopher Braddock)
Tuesdays, 7:15-8:45 p.m.
Starting November 8
Open to all instrumentalists, this ensemble focuses on small group playing in a variety of jazz styles, including standards and ballads, New Orleans parade tunes, bossa nova, klezmer, funk and jazz-rock fusion.  Students will be coached on improvisation and part-writing and will play a central role in determining the arrangements of the songs and selecting music. Local jazz authorities and luminaries will be invited to work with the Jazz Combo throughout the year.
PREREQUISITE: Placement audition; older or younger students may be considered on an individual basis
ENROLLMENT: Entire academic year, beginning after marching band season
TUITION: Semester 1: $121 for 8-week semester; Semester 2: $227 for 15-week semester


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ORCHESTRAL ENSEMBLES


DELAWARE YOUTH ORCHESTRA
9 to 15 years (Christina von Duyke)
Saturdays, 1:30-3:00 p.m.
Starting September 24 for strings or November 12 for winds/brass/percussion
Expand your musical experience! This training orchestra prepares young musicians for the large ensemble experience through a repertoire of light classics and popular music. Students learn ensemble and listening skills and social interaction through playing with others in sectional and full rehearsals.  Performance opportunities occur throughout the year.
PREREQUISITE: Placement audition; older or younger students may be considered on an individual basis
ENROLLMENT: Entire academic year (schedule determined by conductor)
TUITION: Semester 1: $227 for 15-week semester (strings) or $121 for 8-week semester (winds/brass/percussion); Semester 2: $227 for 15-week semester (all)

DELAWARE YOUTH SYMPHONY
14 to 18 years (Dr. Michael Larkin)
Mondays, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Starting September 19 for strings or November 7 for winds/brass/percussion
Build your orchestral repertoire! This performance-oriented orchestra helps students develop ensemble and listening skills through appropriate classical works and "pops" literature, with an emphasis on style, tone, phrasing and articulation, as well as strategies for good ensemble intonation and balance. Performance opportunities occur throughout the year.
PREREQUISITE: Placement audition; older or younger students may be considered on an individual basis
ENROLLMENT: Entire academic year (schedule determined by conductor)
TUITION: Semester 1: $302 for 15-week semester (strings) or $162 for 8-week semester (winds/brass/percussion); Semester 2: $302 for 15-week semester (all)

WILMINGTON COMMUNITY ORCHESTRA
Adults 18 years and up (Dr. Timothy Schwarz)
Mondays, 7:30-10:00 p.m.
Starting September 12
Are you a music enthusiast? This accomplished amateur ensemble performs music from the standard symphonic and concerto repertoire, with four concerts throughout the year. Featured soloists include Music School faculty members, acclaimed guest artists and winners of the orchestra’s annual Concerto Competition for Young Musicians.
PREREQUISITE: Individual placement assessment; call for appointment; seating assignments determined through voluntary auditions
ENROLLMENT: Entire academic year (schedule determined by conductor)
TUITION: None


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CHORAL ENSEMBLES


DELAWARE CHILDREN'S CHORUS
Grades 5 to 8 (Marybeth Miller)
Wednesdays, 5:00-6:30 p.m. (Grades 5 to 8)
Starting October 12
This premier children’s choir, for students with some choral or musical experience (unchanged treble voices), uses diverse repertoire to teach musicianship, with an emphasis on sight-singing, ear-training and three- and four-part singing. Performance opportunities occur throughout the year.
PREREQUISITE: Placement audition; older or younger students may be considered on an individual basis
ENROLLMENT: Entire academic year
TUITION: $200 $284 per 16-week semester (special discount this year!)

SELECT CHORAL ENSEMBLE
Grades 9 to 12 (Dr. Michael Larkin)
Wednesdays, 7:30-9:00 p.m.
Starting September 21
Calling all high school singers! This select SATB ensemble focuses on aspects of choral and vocal technique using repertoire from all eras, including some popular music and vocal jazz. Ensemble singing, blend, balance, diction, stylistic accuracy and expressive content are thoroughly explored. Performance opportunities occur throughout the year. A tour of Europe is planned for 2013.
PREREQUISITE: Placement audition; older or younger students may be considered on an individual basis
ENROLLMENT: Entire academic year
TUITION: $284 per 16-week semester

SELECT CHAMBER CHOIR
Grades 9 to 12 (Dr. Michael Larkin)
Wednesdays, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Starting October 5
An auditioned chamber choral ensemble of 8 to 12 members selected from the larger Select Choral Ensemble.  Repertoire includes great choral chamber music ranging from the Renaissance madrigal to quality arrangements of contemporary popular music and jazz.
PREREQUISITE: Consent of the instructor; enrollment in Select Choral Ensemble
ENROLLMENT: Entire academic year
TUITION: $88 per 14-week semester

DELAWARE WOMEN'S CHORUS
Adults 18 years and up (Joanne Ward)
Mondays, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Starting September 12
Dedicated to choral excellence, DWC provides an artistic and nurturing experience for women who love to sing and have some choral background, through the exploration and performance of the rich choral repertoire for women’s voices. Rehearsals focus on choral and vocal technique as it pertains to the female vocal mechanism, as well as the development of music literacy. Performance opportunities occur throughout the year, both at the Music School and throughout the tri-state region.
PREREQUISITE: Individual voice assessment; call for appointment
ENROLLMENT: Entire academic year
TUITION: $210 per 16-week semester
NEW! ▶ DISCOUNT: Refer a friend and both you and your friend will receive $15 off tuition for the first semester!

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PIKE CREEK SATELLITE LOCATION


CELLO CHOIR
12 years to adults (Jennifer Crowell Stomberg)
Fridays, time TBA
Biweekly, starting date TBA
Focusing on intermediate and advanced repertoire spanning the musical spectrum from Baroque to popular, the ensemble meets biweekly with performance opportunities throughout the year. Wilmington section also available.
PREREQUISITE: Consent of the instructor; strong reading and ensemble skills; younger students may be considered on an individual basis 
ENROLLMENT: Entire academic year
TUITION: $155 per 8-class semester (biweekly)


Satellite Location Addresses

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BROWSE ENSEMBLES

Ensembles Overview

Wilmington Branch
   •  Chamber Music & Small Ensembles
   •  Orchestral Ensembles
   •  Choral Ensembles
   •  Pike Creek Satellite Location

Milford Branch
   •  Small Ensembles
   •  Dover Satellite Location

Auditions

Policies & Information

Register today!
registration form
2011-2012 Information Guide


The Music School of Delaware is proud to be an active partner in the IN Wilmington Arts Campaign.

Programs are made possible, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency dedicated to nurturing and supporting the arts in Delaware, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.
 
Programs at The Music School of Delaware