The Walla Walla Symphony Youth Orchestra (WWSYO) provides a unique opportunity to rehearse and perform in a full symphonic ensemble with strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. Musicians rehearse weekly with director Bruce Walker and perform 2–3 concerts each year.

Fall Session Schedule

• Wednesday evenings, 6:30–8:15 PM
• September 24 - January 21
• Occasionally rehearsals will be moved to Monday evenings at the same time, to avoid conflicts with the WWPS Music Department concert calendar
• You can Subscribe to the WWSYO Google Calendar for a full list of rehearsals and concerts, or view online without subscribing here.

Location

• Pioneer Middle School orchestra room.
• Special thanks to Ms. Woods for hosting us in the space, and to Ms. Jillson for use of the percussion instruments!
• Dress Rehearsal and Concert will be held at the WWCC Performing Arts Center.

Eligibility

• Designed for musicians in grades 8–12; exceptions can be made for younger students ready for the challenge of an advanced ensemble!
• To participate in WWSYO, students must also be enrolled in their school’s music ensemble, if one is offered. If instruction on your primary instrument is not available at your school, we encourage you to participate in another ensemble within your school’s music program.
• Students who are homeschooled full-time, or who are enrolled full-time in Running Start, the Opportunity Program, or online school (and do not participate in any other school programs), are strongly encouraged—but not required—to participate in a school music program.
• Participants must attend all rehearsals. Two excused absences are permitted per Session. Students missing more than two rehearsals may be asked to demonstrate their handle on materials and/or have a conversation with Mr. Walker about their future availability.
• Please contact us if you’re unsure about your eligibility.

Auditions

• Auditions are a casual part of the program, meant to help Director Bruce Walker learn more about each musician’s skill set and to assist with part assignments when there is more than one part per instrument. Students are welcome to attend rehearsals before completing an audition if they would like to “try it out first.”
• Audition Material: Prepare 2–5 minutes of music that demonstrates both technical and lyrical ability on your instrument.
• Auditions will be accepted throughout September and October for the Fall session. All students, including returning members, must audition each year. When registering for WWSYO, you will choose between a Virtual or Live Audition:
• Virtual Auditions: Record your audition on a phone, tablet, or other device. You’ll receive a link to submit your video in an email confirmation after you've submitted your registration. Videos may be submitted anytime between registration and September 30.
• In-Person Auditions: Request a live audition with Bruce Walker when you register. These will be scheduled after rehearsals during the month of October.

Communication

• We send weekly emails to all participants and their parents/guardians with rehearsal details, extra musical opportunities, free tickets to Walla Walla Symphony events, and other announcements.
• Please provide a working email address when you register. If you’d like to add additional email addresses to the weekly email list, please email emily@wwsymphony.org.

Spring 2026 Session

• Participants enrolled in the Fall Session will automatically remain enrolled for the Spring Session, which will be held February through May. Students not wishing to continue must contact the Walla Walla Symphony to un-enroll.
• Schedule and details about the Spring Session will become available by the end of the 2025 Calendar Year.
• Exciting things are coming this Spring! Stay tuned!

Questions

• Please direct all questions, as well as any schedule conflicts or absences, to emily@wwsymphony.org.

SPARK! is a free online composition course geared toward brand new through advanced young composers in grades 3-12.

The Fall Mini-Session will take place from Oct 19 - Nov 23, 2025.

Throughout each session, participants will meet via Zoom for private lessons with Kristin Vining to develop an individual project. Participants will also meet as a group at the beginning of the session for Orientation, and at the end of the session for a "Composers Workshop" to share theirwork with one another.

*Note: the Fall Mini-Session will not conclude with a Composition Showcase as other sessions do.*

The Course will consist of the following elements, all conducted online:

• ONLINE ORIENTATION (Oct 19, 4:00 pm PT)
  An introductory meeting with all participants to go over the different elements of the course, and give composers a head start on brainstorming their composition.
• PRIVATE LESSONS (flexible scheduling)
  Study music composition with Kristin Vining. In your lessons Kristin provides individual attention to help you start, develop, and complete your project. Schedule lessons at your convenience using an online Calendly sign-up form.
• COMPOSERS WORKSHOP (Nov 23, 4:00pm PT)
  Informally share your works with your composing peers in this Composers Workshop! Because the mini-session does not include a Composition Showcase, this is the culminating event of the SPARK! Fall Session.

You will receive an invitation to schedule your private lessons and a link to the Zoom Orientation event after completing your registration.

SPARK! is a free online composition course geared toward brand new through advanced young composers in grades 3-12.

The Winter 2026 Session will take place from Jan 11 - Feb 20, 2026.

Throughout each session, participants will meet via Zoom for private lessons with Kristin Vining to develop an individual project. Participants will also meet in groups once each month to explore improvisational and compositional techniques together. By the end of the course, the participants will have an original musical composition ready to share at an online music showcase. 

The Course will consist of the following elements, all conducted online:

• ONLINE ORIENTATION (Jan 11, 4:00 pm PT)
  An introductory meeting with all participants to go over the different elements of the course, and give composers a head start on brainstorming their composition.
• PRIVATE LESSONS (flexible scheduling)
  Study music composition with Kristin Vining. In your lessons Kristin provides individual attention to help you start, develop, and complete your project. Schedule lessons at your convenience using an online Calendly sign-up form.
• GROUP CLASS & COMPOSERS WORKSHOP (Jan 25 and Feb 8, 4:00pm PT)
  Both events are encouraged but optional for all participants. Meet other young composers, build your composer toolbox, study music theory & explore composition techniques, and workshop your compositions-in-progress.
• ONLINE SHOWCASE (Feb 20, 5:00 pm PT, 4:30 call time)
  Share your new work! Friends and family are invited to join. Present a PDF and computer-generated sound file of your new composition. Hear an excerpt of your piece performed live by a WWS musician! This event is recorded and the recording is shared with all participants. 

You will receive an email confirmation once you complete registration, containing links to the Orientation, Group Classes, and Private Lesson Sign-Up Calendar. Please email emily@wwsymphony.org if you don't receive this confirmation after completing your registration!

SPARK! is a free online composition course geared toward brand new through advanced young composers in grades 3-12.

The Spring 2026 Session will take place from March 22 - May 1, 2026.

Throughout each session, participants will meet via Zoom for private lessons with Kristin Vining to develop an individual project. Participants will also meet in groups once each month to explore improvisational and compositional techniques together. By the end of the course, the participants will have an original musical composition ready to share at an online music showcase. 

The Course will consist of the following elements, all conducted online:

• ONLINE ORIENTATION (March 22, 4:00 pm PT)
  An introductory meeting with all participants to go over the different elements of the course, and give composers a head start on brainstorming their composition.
• PRIVATE LESSONS (flexible scheduling)
  Study music composition with Kristin Vining. In your lessons Kristin provides individual attention to help you start, develop, and complete your project. Schedule lessons at your convenience using an online Calendly sign-up form.
• GROUP CLASS & COMPOSERS WORKSHOP (March 29 and April 19, 4:00pm PT)
  Both events are encouraged but optional for all participants. Meet other young composers, build your composer toolbox, study music theory & explore composition techniques, and workshop your compositions-in-progress.
• ONLINE SHOWCASE (May 1, 5:00 pm PT, 4:30 call time)
  Share your new work! Friends and family are invited to join. Present a PDF and computer-generated sound file of your new composition. Hear an excerpt of your piece performed live by a WWS musician! This event is recorded and the recording is shared with all participants. 

You will receive an email confirmation once you complete registration, containing links to the Orientation, Group Classes, and Private Lesson Sign-Up Calendar. Please email emily@wwsymphony.org if you don't receive this confirmation after completing your registration!

SPARK! is a free online composition course geared toward brand new through advanced young composers in grades 3-12.

The Summer 2026 Session will take place from June 29 - August 3, 2026.

Throughout each session, participants will meet via Zoom for private lessons with Kristin Vining to develop an individual project. Participants will also meet in groups once each month to explore improvisational and compositional techniques together. By the end of the course, the participants will have an original musical composition ready to share at an online music showcase. 

The Course will consist of the following elements, all conducted online:

• ONLINE ORIENTATION (June 29, 4:00 pm PT)
  An introductory meeting with all participants to go over the different elements of the course, and give composers a head start on brainstorming their composition.
• PRIVATE LESSONS (flexible scheduling)
  Study music composition with Kristin Vining. In your lessons Kristin provides individual attention to help you start, develop, and complete your project. Schedule lessons at your convenience using an online Calendly sign-up form.
• GROUP CLASS & COMPOSERS WORKSHOP (July 6 and July 20, 4:00pm PT)
  Both events are encouraged but optional for all participants. Meet other young composers, build your composer toolbox, study music theory & explore composition techniques, and workshop your compositions-in-progress.
• ONLINE SHOWCASE (August 3, 5:00 pm PT, 4:30 call time)
  Share your new work! Friends and family are invited to join. Present a PDF and computer-generated sound file of your new composition. Hear an excerpt of your piece performed live by a WWS musician! This event is recorded and the recording is shared with all participants. 

You will receive an email confirmation once you complete registration, containing links to the Orientation, Group Classes, and Private Lesson Sign-Up Calendar. Please email emily@wwsymphony.org if you don't receive this confirmation after completing your registration!