WWSYO provides an unique opportunity to rehearse and perform in a large, full-symphonic ensemble alongside other musicians from across the region. This ensemble includes strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. Musicians rehearse weekly with Bruce Walker, and perform 2-3 concerts each year.

Spring Schedule

Spring 2025 rehearsals will be Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8:15, from February 5 through April 30, with one Sunday afternoon "Rehearse-a-thon" on February 23 and the Spring Concert on May 5. 

A full rehearsal and concert calendar can be viewed on Google Calendar. (Note that one rehearsal and the Concert will be held on Mondays due to scheduling conflicts. This calendar is subject to change but that we hope to stick to it!)

Location

Most rehearsals are held in the Pioneer Middle School orchestra room. Thanks to Ms. Woods for the space! Occassionally, due to building use conflicts, a rehearsal may be held at the Walla Walla High School orchestra room.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible to participate in WWSYO, you must also be enrolled in your 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 of your school 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 matriculate to any other school programs offered), are strongly encouraged to participate in a school music program, but are not required to do so. 
Please contact us if you are not sure about your eligibility!

Although this program is designed for musicians in grades 8-12, exceptions can be made! We welcome registrations from younger musicians who are up for the challenge of a higher level orchestra.

Auditions

Auditions are a very casual part of the WWSYO Program, meant to help Director Bruce Walker to know the skill set of his ensemble and to help place students when there is more than one part per instrument. You're welcome to join the ensemble before you audition to "try it out first."

To submit your audition, please prepare 2-5 minutes of musical material which demonstrates your technical and lyrical ability on your instrument. You can record yourself playing this material and submit a "virtual audition" in this matter, or request a time to audition live for Mr. Walker.

Auditions will be taken throughout the month of February for Spring session - this means a student can join WWSYO for the first several rehearsals while still preparing an audition. All students will need to audition, even if they were enrolled in WWSYO in the previous year. Students who auditioned in the Fall are not required to audition again for the Spring.

Virtual Auditions: You can record yourself performing this material on a phone, tablet, or other device if you choose to audition virtually, and you will receive a link to submit your audition video via email upon submission of this form, at the email address you provide. You may submit your audition video any time between when you register and February 28th.

In-person Auditions: You may choose to request an in-person audition  with WWSYO Director Bruce Walker when you complete this registration form. These auditions will be held after rehearsals in February.

Communication

We seend weekly emails to all participants and their parents/guardians with general information about rehearsals, extra musical opportunities, free concert tickets to Walla Walla Symphony events and other partnering musical events, and other announcements. Please be sure to provide a working email address during registration, where you will receive these emails! If you wish to add any additional email addresses to the weekly email list, please let us know by emailing emily@wwsymphony.org.

Questions

Please direct all questions to emily@wwsymphony.org.

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

The Spring 2025 Session will take place from March 23 - May 2, 2025.

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 23, 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 30, 5:00pm  and April 21, 4:00pm)
  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 2, 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 invitation to schedule your private lessons and a link to the Zoom Orientation event after completing your registration.