COMMUNITY YOUTH ORCHESTRA OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Programs

1. Finale Concert - May 2023Once again, CYOSC hosted the large auditorium at Santa Ana High School for the season finale. Tickets are sold for this event since the venue hire and additional professionals hired to cover any gaps in the orchestra are our biggest annual concert cost. Color programs were produced featuring the Solo Festival winners (2 flutists playing a double concerto) who performed their concerto with the Symphony Orchestra. Also featured in the program were supporters of the orchestra, seniors graduating from the program, and a message from the executive director. Ticket sales were high and the concert was a success. The final item on the program included all members of all three ensembles, including all the CSP students, on stage to perform a piece together. It was difficult to coordinate rehearsals all together in advance of this concert, but it was well worth the effort and it was a great experience for all the students.

2. Summer Camp - July 2023The summer camp was run at the Irvine Hebrew Day School, and students were placed into small ensembles with their peers to learn repertoire, ensemble skills, and general musical education. Although the camp was small, it was a great experience and allowed new students to participate and spend a week broadening their musical skills.

3. Auditions for the 2023-2024 season - August 2023After a summer spent advertising on social media and reaching out to teachers in our network, we had 87 students signed up and ran a successful week of auditions at the Irvine Hebrew day school. The auditions were well-attended and brought a healthy flow of new students into the program.

4. Rehearsals - September 2023 to Feb 2024As before the pandemic, CYOSC hired rooms at the Rancho Senior Center (City of Irvine) for our weekly rehearsals. Each week allowed students to participate in the ensemble they had successfully auditioned to join, learning new repertoire to prepare for the first concert, and developing their ability to play in a group with their peers.

5. Costume Concert - October 2023The opening concert of the season is always a fun one, with students and staff invited to dress up in their favorite costume and perform the first show of the new season. For new participants this is often their first experince of playing in an ensemble so it is the starting point of the season. It was a fun concert, hosted at the Quail Hill Community Center.

6. Holiday Concert - December 2023This second concert in our seaon's calendar was difficult to prepare for as many students are busy at this time of year and there were only a handful of rehearsals between this concert and the last one. Nevertheless it was a success. We also held a raffle fundraiser at the concert that raised $979 before transaction fees, and awarded three prizes. All prizes included a gift basket with donated gift cards as well as a ukelele (donated by Morey's), and the chance to conduct the Symphony Orchestra at the Finale Concert.

7. Concerto Competition - 1st Round - January 2024This year's solo festival was a great success with 20 participants ranging in age from grades 1-12. The standard of playing was high, with 13 students being invited to play at the Concerto Concert in February, and 1 winner invited to perform at the finale concert. This round was adjudicated by a panel of CYOSC staff. For the first time, the competition was opened up to students who were not current members of CYOSC. 2 outside students participated.

8. Concerto Competition Concert - February 2024The concert for the 10 participants from the first round who were invited to perform, was held at the Little Theater at Santa Ana High School. It was an excellent event where students got to perform their solo with a small orchestra of professionals CYOSC hired. This is an excellent opportunity for young musicians and is not readily available in most programs. The professionals hired to play in the orchestra were very impressed and this served as good marketing for our program.

9. March Concert - March 2024This was the third concert in our season and a good opportunity for the parents to see the growth their students had achieved so far in the year. The concert was a success and was well-attended by families and friends. We also began advertising for the CYOSC Summer Camp.

The 9 programs described on its FY2023 Form 990-EZ.