Under the direction of Laura Cahn, the American Youth String Ensemble offers strings musicians the fundamentals of ensemble playing as a gateway to orchestral performance. AYSE introduces musicians to the basic skills needed for ensemble playing, with a focus on the relationship between the various string parts, accurate rhythm and tempi, tone color, and orchestral procedure. Repertoire includes string orchestra works and arrangements of standard symphonic literature. This group learns literature at VBODA (Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association) grade levels four and five.