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STUDENT RESOURCES
An inclusive environment to promote education and
creativity among students of all ages and skill levels
STUDENT RESOURCES
ELECTIVES
These opportunities complement the ensemble
experience for our current and prospective students.
San Diego Youth Symphony offers additional opportunities for enrolled students, as well as new students (new students not eligible for the concerto competition).
These complimentary offerings provide students with ways to immerse themselves in the musical experience and learn additional skills alongside the ensemble experience.
SDYS offers one yearly concerto competition. The winner performs their solo accompanied by a full orchestra at the Season Finale Concert in May while the finalists will perform at the Bravo event on Saturday, January 11 2:30pm at the Conrad.
Candidates for the competition must select a movement from a multi-movement concerto. Complete concertos will not be performed for the 2024-25 season. Your concerto movement may be no longer than 15 minutes. The competitions take place in two rounds. The preliminary round is for all candidates, and a limited number of candidates will advance to a public performance final round.
- Preliminary Round: Saturday, TBD Please note, preliminary rounds are NOT open to the public.
- Final Round: Tuesday, November (date TBD) Free event – public welcome!
- Location: TBD
- Application Fee: $50.00, payable on the MySDYS Portal
- Application Deadline: TBD
Submit application and $50 application fee.
Intended for middle school and high school age students, this workshop is for those composers who have been working less than two years and who have had beginning music theory (scales, intervals, key signatures, triads). This workshop will focus on developing the composer’s “toolkit” including aspects of motivic and melodic development, rhythmic development, crafting phrases, and beginning musical architecture. Students will also be introduced to the software and tools that assist them in working efficiently and effectively. By the end of the workshop, students will have completed a short work for two instruments that will be performed and recorded at the last meeting.
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- Instructor: Jordan Kuspa
- Location: Liberty Station Classroom (occasional zoom sessions TBD)
- Days/Times: Wednesdays 5:30-6:30
- Class Meetings: September 11, 18; October 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; November 6, 13, 20. Performance Workshop: December 4 (Extended class)
- Tuition Cost* for SDYS students: $375 Register Here
- Tuition Cost* for non-SDYS students: $450 Register Here
- Application & Tuition Deadline: TBD - Minimum enrollment must be met for class to run.
*Limited tuition assistance available; please contact the SDYS Team for more information.
Limited to sixteen high school students, this program is intended to prepare students to take the AP Music Theory exam (Note SDYS can not administer the exam; students will need to find an alternate way to take it). The program will cover all aspects of the AP Music Theory class and will feature weekly graded assignments to assist students in preparing for the exam.
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- Instructor:
- Location: Casa del Prado (occasional zoom sessions TBD)
- Days/Times: Tuesdays 5:30-6:30
- Fall Meetings: September 17, 24; October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; November 5, 12, 19, December 3
- Spring Meetings: February 11, 18, 25; March 4, 11, 18; April 8, 15, 22, 29; May 6
- AP Prep Test Session: May 13 (extended class)
- Tuition Cost* for SDYS students: $675 Register Here
- Tuition Cost* for non-SDYS students: $775 Register Here
- Application & Tuition Deadline:
TBD Mininmum enrollment must be met for class to run.
- *Limited tuition assistance available; please contact the SDYS Team for more information.
The Composition Lab is for those composers who have completed the fall Tools and Techniques workshop or who already have significant experience composing (preferably under the guidance of a private teacher) and/or background in music theory (school-based classes, etc.). The lab format will involve specialized topics, advanced harmony and counterpoint, contemporary composition techniques, and selected listening to modern composers and works. Students will craft a work for a small ensemble (to be determined) that will be performed and recorded at the last meeting.
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- Instructor: Jordan Kuspa
- Location: Liberty Station Classroom (occasional zoom sessions TBD)
- Days/Times: Wednesdays 5:30-6:30
- Class Meetings: February 12, 19, 26; March 5, 12, 19; April 9, 16, 23, 30, Performance Workshop: May 7 (extended class)
- Tuition Cost* for SDYS students: $375 Register Here
- Tuition Cost* for non-SDYS students: $450 Register Here
- Application & Tuition Deadline: TBD - Minimum enrollment must be met for class to run.
*Limited tuition assistance available; please contact the SDYS Team for more information.
YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
The SDYS Youth Leadership Council (YLC) brings together young leaders from
across SDYS programs to connect and contribute to the future of SDYS.
Led by SDYS musicians, and mentored by SDYS program managers, Kaitlyn Korogy and Dr. Lauren Rausch, the SDYS Youth Leadership Council brings together young leaders from across SDYS programs to connect and contribute to the future of SDYS.
GET INVOLVED WITH THE YLC
Youth leaders meet together twice a month to collaborate and utilize a secure, private group chat to share ideas in between meetings.
Commitment: Full season commitment
When: Select Sundays at 2:15 pm, View YLC Meetings Calendar
Where: Balboa Park Conference Room
*Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer breaks are observed
Eligibility
- Current SDYS musician in good standing
- Ages 14 and over
- Participants must have parent/guardian permission to join
Participant Rules & Agreements
- Be in good standing at SDYS
- Be respectful to everyone at SDYS and KeyNote
- Communicate clearly and often to all members, including advisors
- All ideas are welcome
- Commit to meetings and to the work of YLC
- Help others feel included and accepted
- Share any problems or concerns immediately with staff
This program is free for all current SDYS students. Registration is open year-round. (Once registered, students should expect to participate for the remainder of the season.)
2022-2023
YLC Seasonal Symphonies Concert
The SDYS Youth Leadership Council presents a concert at the Veterans Museum, featuring performances from SDYS musicians to celebrate the many fall and winter holidays.
2021-2022
YLC Mini-Concert: Filipino Celebration
The SDYS Youth Leadership Council presents a virtual mini-concert that celebrates Filipino culture, the culture’s contributions to the arts, and how it is spread in our local communities. Directed by YLC member, Nya Delcastillo, this mini-concert features performances from SDYS musicians, friends, and families. A note from the director: “To us Filipinos, representation is very important. Through this concert, SDYS and the YLC can show the instrumental aspects of traditional Filipino music and collaborate with other Filipino figures in our communities.”
2020-2021
YLC Presents: Works by Black Composers
Almost immediately following the creation of SDYS’ Youth Leadership Council, its members wanted to find a way to express their solidarity and extend their voices in support of the racial justice movements taking place across the country in the summer of 2020.
Conductor Appreciation Video
Throughout the pandemic, the Youth Leadership Council met weekly on Zoom, discussing ways to help SDYS students and staff. Right away, members wanted to find a way to thank SDYS conductors and teachers for their dedication and support as we all transitioned to learning and working from home. YLC members organized and compiled conductor appreciation videos, which were shared at our June 2020 virtual concert.
STUDENT MENTORS
Share your musical abilities, teaching skills,
and work with fellow musicians in the Conservatory.
Have you always wanted to gain teaching experience? Become a mentor at SDYS!
Are you looking for a way to share your musical abilities, teaching skills, and meet fellow SDYS or Community Opus Project students? Students in Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia, and Wind Symphony can apply to become a mentor in one of our many orchestras.
Teach, learn, and have fun being an SDYS Mentor
By enrolling, you can make new friends and get to know fellow musicians from SDYS by teaching together as a team of people. You will be able to work with Balboa Park ensembles on the weekend.
Our Mentor sessions begin in January each year. In order to receive year-end recognition in our concert programs, students will be required to mentor a minimum of 5 times (2 hours each time) throughout the season. Students who mentor 8 times or more will receive an SDYS certificate at the end of each season.
Mentors will be able to:
- Help teach and tune instruments
- Model within an ensemble
- Learn about becoming a music educator
- Fulfill high school volunteer hours
- Be recognized as a student mentor in year-end concert programs and receive an SDYS Certificate of Recognition upon completion
- Gain teaching experience as a mentor group
- Receive limited free SDYS concert tickets
For more information, please contact Tristan Akers at takers@sdys.org or call at 619-233-3232 x 4.
ChIMES GUEST MUSICIANS
Current Students
My SDYS Portal is the best place to find information on your attendance, enrollment and more. For help logging in, please contact a member of the Youth Symphony team at support@sdys.org or call at 619-233-3232 x 4.
Become a guest musician at an SDYS early childhood (ChIMES) music class!
We are looking for SDYS students to demonstrate their instrument for young children ages 0-5 and their caregivers. This is a fun experience that not only helps inspire and educate our youngest SDYS kids, but also counts for volunteer or community service hours!
Learn more about becoming a ChIMES guest musician
If you have any administrative questions about out Programs, please contact a member of the SDYS team at support@sdys.org or call at 619-233-3232 x 4.