Pinellas Youth Symphony (PYS)
Background
PYS, short for Pinellas Youth Symphony, is a non-profit organization designed to give school-aged music students the chance to perform in various types and levels of orchestras. Practices and some concerts are held at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida, but the orchestras also perform at the Palladium in St. Petersburg. Jane Hine is the director of the organization, which has been running for 49 years. For the 50th Anniversary, the Senior Orchestra and Serenade Strings are planning to tour in Italy and Austria during June of 2008. PYS draws from a similar region as the Patel Conservatory Youth Orchestra (PCYO) and thus, some students play in both orchestras since PCYO practices on Monday and PYS on Sunday. The general trend in history has shown that while one orchestra waxes, the other wanes, but both orchestras have had their good and bad times. There exist some main differences between the two organizations. One of such differences is that PYCO has many more members, especially string players (AbOUT 2-3x more). PCYO is much more competitive in nature as well, while PYS is more relaxed and easy-going. Finally, PCYO focuses on the groups as a whole, while PYS pays more attention to individual decisions and integrity. PYS has produced many fabulous musicians who have often gone on to conservatories and even professional careers.
Orchestras
Symphonic Strings
Symphonic Strings was designed for beginning level string players, with some only playing 6 months upon entry. There are a very limited number of students in this orchestra. The general opinion of the public on this group is that the students have the potential to do well, but they undertake music that is too challenging or long. Sandra Kitts conducts this group, which rehearses on Sundays from 2:30 to 4:30.
Philharmonia Winds
"Phil. Winds" is a purely wind and brass orchestra consisting of beginning level student musicians. This group used to play with the Philharmonia Orchestra, but it was changed so that Senior Winds now plays with them. Phil. Winds now plays on the wind and brass ensambles concert instead of at the finale. Tony Fuoco conducts this orchestra, which meets Sundays from 2:30 to 4:30.
Philharmonia Orchestra
Phil. Orchestra, contradictory to its name, is a group of only string players (intermediate in level) that feeds into the Senior Orchestra. In the second semester of the 2006-2007 season, Phil. Orchestra voted to allow Senior Winds to play with them in concerts as opposed to Phil. Winds. This allowed the group to advance significantly, as noted by the audience at the Final Concert in May 2007. Dr. Susan Robinson leads this orchestra from 2:30 to 4:30 on Sundays.
Serenade Strings
A group of advanced string players, most of whom also play in Senior Orchestra, makes up the small Serenade String Orchestra. Totaling to only about 14 members, Serenade Strings plays like a large string quintet as opposed to an orchestra. The group was founded in 2003 by Mr. Lei Liu and was named in part after Tchaikovsky's Serenade. Serenade Strings is considered to be the most advanced group of string players in PYS and is second only to Senior Orchestra in fame. Mr. Liu still conducts this orchestra on Sundays from 2:30 to 4:30.
Senior Orchestra
One of the oldest youth orchestras in the state, the Senior Orchestra is a full orchestra consisting of percussion, strings, woodwinds, and brass instruments. This orchestra is highly esteemed within the Bay Area and many of its players wish to become professional musicians. Though it lacks string players in general, most of the few string players are very talented. The wind and brass sections, meanwhile, are very full and complete, with the exception of the oboe as there are few young oboists and still fewer oboists participate in orchestras outside of school. Dr. Susan Robinson also conducts Senior Orchestra, which practices on Sundays from 5:00 to 7:00. Recent history has seen this orchestra produce spectaular brass players due to the outstanding tutelage of area professionals such as Carolyn Wahl.