Commitments

Download the 2008-09 Audition Application

Commitments

Each musician pays a tuition fee to participate in Youth Symphony programs and brings in two business sponsors. Parents agree to volunteer ten hours of service to the Youth Symphony or make an equivalent financial contribution. Fees cover about 30 percent of the overall budget. Because the Youth Symphony is strongly committed to creating opportunity for every qualified musician, scholarships are available to assist all qualified musicians with financial needs.

Rehearsals take place weekly during the school year on Sunday afternoons. Most concerts will be on Sundays, with a few exceptions. Please check our current concert season for more details. Members must also participate in their school band or orchestra programs, if available. Private study is encouraged.

School Program Participation: The Musician agrees to participate in his/her school music program if available, on the instrument that he/she plays in the Youth Symphony. For example, a Musician who plays a string instrument in the Youth Symphony must be in the school orchestra, if available, and a Musician who plays a wind, brass or percussion instrument in the Youth Symphony must be in band, if available. Alternatively, the Musician may request that his/her school music educator provide information to the Youth Symphony that would justify a waiver of this requirement by the Youth Symphony. The Youth Symphony grants waivers infrequently and only in extraordinary circumstances.

Fee Commitment for 2008-2009

Ensemble

Ensemble Fee

Business Sponsor

Parent Volunteer

Due by:
   August 10, 2008 Due by:
   December 3, 2008 Due by:
   May 23, 2009

Symphony Orchestra

$375

2 @ $60 per family

10 volunteer hrs. or $125

Academy Orchestra

$345

2 @ $60 per family

10 volunteer hrs. or $125

Philharmonic Orchestra

$325

2 @ $60 per family

10 volunteer hrs. or $125

Symphonette Orchestra

$245

2 @ $60 per family

10 volunteer hrs. or $125

StringOrchestra East & West
                      $245 2 @ $60 per family
10 volunteer hrs. or $125

Family Plan: Families with more than one Musician pay full tuition on the most advanced. Each additional Musician receives a 20% discount on the ensemble fee.

Scholarships: Scholarships are available to each student whose family can demonstrate financial need. Scholarship applications will be available after the audition process is complete.

Payment Plans: A deferred payment plan is available. Payment plans may be made in three installments, due August 6, September 15 and November 5. Please call the office at 913-722-6810 if you are interested.

Penalties for late payments: There will be a $25 penalty added to accounts not paid in full (including Business Sponsors) by December 3, 2008, unless a payment plan has been arranged. After December 3, the late fee will be $40.

ALL YOUTH SYMPHONY FEES, INCLUDING ORCHESTRA FEES, BUSINESS SPONSOR FEES AND THE PARENT VOLUNTEER CONTRIBUTION, ARE NOT REFUNDABLE.

Business Sponsors: The Business Sponsor program contributes financially to help lower the cost of the program and makes our community aware of the Youth Symphony. Youth Symphony families are required to obtain two $60 business sponsors. Business sponsor contributions are due in the Youth Symphony office by December 3, 2008. If a family is unable to obtain the business sponsors, the family is responsible for the entire $120 fee. Two business sponsor request letters and two business sponsor cards are enclosed.

Helpful Tips for Soliciting a Business Sponsor:

•Select a business that you and your family patronize.

•Tell the business about what your participation in the Youth Symphony means to you.

• Give the business a business sponsor thank-you letter and card. Make sure you sign the letter and put your name on the card in the space provided. The card must be returned with the business sponsor contribution to ensure that you get credit for the contribution.

•Tell the Business Sponsor that all contributions are tax-deductible and will be acknowledged in the Spring Concert Programs.

Business Sponsor Thank you letter

Business Sponsor Card