Auditions

As much as I don't want to hold auditions, it's a requirement if we are to meet some of the goals defined in the mission statement. Yes, it's competitive (which is why I hate it), but I can't think of an alternate way to fairly screen musicians. The format of the audition will be pretty simple. Part of the time, we'll just talk with each other. This gives me a chance to get to know you at a personal level, learn about your musical background, and hear why you want to join this symphony. It also offers you the opportunity to get to know me and ask questions about what this group is about. Then, I'll ask you to play some fairly short excerpts which you'll receive ahead of time via fax. After we part ways, you'll learn the results of your audition within a week or two. Some of you may be wondering what caliber of musician we're seeking. It's a difficult question to answer. The word I like to use is "accomplished". I hesitate in making any sweeping requirements. Generally speaking, most applicants have taken private lessons and have some sort of symphony experience. Not fitting into this profile by no means precludes you from auditioning. If you've put in the time to read this website and fill out the application, the least I can do is meet you and listen to you play.

Rehearsals

We rehearse once a week on Mondays from 7:15pm to 9:30pm, with food served immediately after the rehearsal. Our schedule typically follows the University of Washington's quarter system. Usually, we'll begin the Monday following the first week of instruction and ends two weekends before the finals week. Rehearsals are at Trinity Lutheran Church, located just north of Capitol Hill on 10th Ave.

Trinity Lutheran Church
1200 10th Ave E
Seattle, WA 98102
(206) 324-1066

Repertoire

The musicians in the symphony have a strong voice as to what we play. In line with our mission statement, we play music that's fun, challenging group and then prune down that list based on a number of criteria including musical difficulty, sheet music cost, and instrumentation.

Performances

Not only do performances enrich the community's appreciation of symphonic music, they also provide our group with tangible goals to work toward. We generally do one concert per quarter. Now we could do more that one per quarter, but only if a strong majority of the group wants to go this route.

Cost

There is no cost to join PSSO, though we graciously accept any gifts you offer. We are a 501c3 non-profit corporation, so your donations are tax-deductible and often matched by large corporations.

E-Mail and the Internet

Computer technology is going to play an vital role in the infrastructure of our symphony. Members are required to have web browsing and e-mail capabilities. Not only does this keep the group more connected, it also eases the logistics of my job. For instance, let's suppose we need to cancel a rehearsal due to inclement weather. Without e-mail, we'd have to use some sort clunky phone chain. But if everyone is on e-mail, I need only send one message to the entire group.

Volunteers

One thing I've already learned about putting together a symphony is that it's a TON of work. Are you somebody who has a passion for symphonic music? Can you devote a few hours per week to keep our engine running smoothly? If so, be sure to let me know. Your efforts would not go unrecognized. As far as I'm concerned, volunteers contribute as much as any other musician. You'd be an orchestra member just like everyone else.