American Youth String Ensemble

Under the direction of Dr. Cheri Collins, the String Ensemble offers the youngest string musicians the fundamentals of ensemble playing as a gateway to orchestral performance. Students in AYSE are primarily of elementary and middle school ages. The ensemble introduces AYPO's youngest string 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. (Check out repertoire from the 2010-2011 concert season).