Established in 1994, the Discovery Orchestra is an intermediate to advanced level, full orchestra for upper elementary, junior high and senior high school students up to eighteen years of age.  It continues the musical experience begun with the Preparatory Orchestra by providing an opportunity for young musicians to perform a wide variety of repertoire.

William R. Williams                   
Conductor
Conductor for the Preparatory and Discovery Orchestras, Williams is himself a graduate of the Junior Symphony, now known as the Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra.  Throughout his career, Mr. Williams has been very active in the music industry as a performer, recording engineer/producer and composer. He has been a violin/violist with the Santa Rosa Symphony since 1975. In 1979 he assumed the baton of Preparatory Orchestra and in 1994, the baton of the Discovery Orchestra.

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Auditions
Membership in the Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Ensembles (SRSYE) is achieved through annual competitive auditions. Audition appointments are approximately 10 to 15 minutes in length and can be scheduled by calling the Music Education Department.  All auditions require that scales, sight-reading and a prepared solo piece be performed without accompaniment. The prepared solo piece should be an excerpt from the standard repertoire, a solo work or etude, and should demonstrate present level of accomplishment.

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Payments, Discounts, and Financial Assistance

The entire tuition amount is due by the second rehearsal. If this is not possible, a payment plan can be arranged, but please be aware there will be a $25 payment plan fee per orchestra.  Those joining an ensemble after the start of the season will be told the date tuition is due in each instance.
 
For questions regarding any financial matters please contact the Lana Ramos by calling 707.546.7097, ext. 225.

A 10% discount is offered to families with two or more musicians in SRSYE or with a musician in more than one SRSYE. This should be requested as it is not automatically given.
 
A limited number of financial aid awards, to help with tuition expenses, are available each season.  You may obtain a financial aid application by requesting one from the Santa Rosa Symphony Education Department (707.546.7097, ext. 225), coming in person to the administrative offices, or by printing the form from here. Please complete it and send the necessary documentation and payment to the Santa Rosa Symphony, 50 Santa Rosa, Ste 410, Santa Rosa, CA  95404 or fax it to 707.546.0460 with a credit card payment or a check sent by separate cover. Incomplete applications can not be processed.
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Rehearsals (Information for each date is included under schedules)

Rehearsals are held most Saturdays in Forsyth Hall (the music building) on the Santa Rosa Junior College campus, located at 1501 Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa.  From 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. there is the weekly coaching for the strings section and biweekly coaching for the woodwinds or brass sections with the rehearsal for the full orchestra from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

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2007-2008 Season Performances (Complete performance information including additional performances on Schedule/Calendar)

Winter Concert - Saturday, January 19, 2008, 7:30 p.m., at the Jackson Theater, Sonoma Country Day School, 4400 Day School Place, Santa Rosa

Spring Concert - Sunday, May 18, 2008, 3:00 p.m., at the Jackson Theater, Sonoma Country Day School, 4400 Day School Place, Santa Rosa

Tickets may be purchased in advance through our box office by calling 707.54 MUSIC (707.546.8742), coming to 50 Santa Rosa Ave., First Floor Lobby, Santa Rosa or online at through 12 p.m. on the Friday prior to the concert date, or for full price at the door on the day of the concert.

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Exciting Offer - Free Santa Rosa Symphony Tickets!!!!
Santa Rosa Symphony youth ensemble members are eligible to receive free admission to SRS performances through the following two methods:

1. Requesting free tickets to the regular subscription concerts.  Ten pairs of tickets are available for each performance.  Call on the Wednesday immediately before each concert weekend regarding ticket availability.

2. Presenting their SRS youth ensemble membership card to the SRS Box Office in the Lobby of the Wells Fargo Center just prior to any Discovery Series Concert performance to receive two free tickets.  This is the 2 p.m. Dress Rehearsal Performance on Saturdays of concert weekends.

William R. Williams
Auditions
Tuition
Rehearsals
Performances
Free Ticket Offer
Contact Information

Contact Information

For more information regarding the Santa Rosa Symphony's music education programs, contact Lana Ramos at (707) 546-7097 ext. 225.

To make a donation to the Santa Rosa Symphony's education programs, please contact Connie Wolfe at (707) 546-7097 ext. 214.