TheYouthSymphonyOrchestrasofEastCentralIndiana(YSOECI),basedinMuncie,Indiana,is

comprisedofyoungstringandwindplayersfromthesurroundingcommunity.Participatingstudentsrange
inagefromchildtoyoungadult,andinskilllevelfrombeginningtoadvanced.Thisorchestraisaspecial
anduniqueopportunityforthesestudentstobeinvolvedinaperformingensemble.Manystudentsare
homeschooled,andonlyhaveexperienceperformingsolorepertoire,astherearefewyouthensembles
outsideofpublicschoolprograms.Thisensembleisalsoauniqueopportunityforallstudentstoparticipate
inafullsymphonicorchestra,sincemostschoolprogramsfeatureonlybandorstringorchestraensembles.
BallStateUniversitymusicmajorsfillouttheorchestra,sothattherearefullstring,wind,andpercussion
sections.Theorchestraisavaluableopportunityforallstudentstolearnandenhancemusicalskills,such
aslisteningtootherpartsandfollowingaconductor.
TheorchestraisorganizedandconductedbyanimmersivelearningclassatBallState
University.Assuch,studentswhoaremajoringinInstrumentalMusicEducationatBallStateUniversity
havetheopportunitytofacilitateayouthsymphonyprogramthatextendstotheentirecommunity.The
studentsprepareforrehearsalsbyreadingandreviewingarticleswithtopicssuchasrepertoireselection,
recruiting,andcreatingacomfortableplaceforstudentstomakemusic.Theimmersivelearningcourseis
verymuchfocusedonthesocialaspectofmakingmusic,andemphasizesthevalueoftheseopportunities
forthelocalyouth.BallStatestudentsalsohaveweeklymeetings,separatefromclass,rehearsal,and
articlereviews,wheretheymeetinorganizationalcommitteesinordertoplanfortheupcominglessons,
andtosetlongtermgoals,suchasattendingfestivals,bringinginoutsideartiststolearnfrom,and
applyingforgrants.BallStatestudentshavetheopportunitytoteachtheorchestrabyleadingwarmups
andconductingthefullensemble.WhentheBallStatestudentsarenotteaching,theyaresittingamongst
thestudents,fillinginanymissinginstrumentsintheorchestra,sothattheyouthhaveanopportunityto
rehearseandperformwithafullorchestra.Havingcollegiatemusiciansimmersedwithintheyouthorchestra
allowstheyouthtohearprofessionalmusicianship,andthecollegiatemusicianshavetheopportunityto
givetheyouthpersonalfeedbackandguidance.AlthoughtheYSOECIisorganizedandconductedbyBall
Statestudentsandteachers,theorchestraisnotadministeredbyBallStateUniversity,butissupported
financiallybyaseparateboard.
TheBallStatestudentsintheimmersivelearningprogramwouldliketoexpandtheorchestras
performingandlearningopportunitieshowever,theendeavorsthattheorchestraintendtopursuerequire
morefundingthantheorchestrahasavailable.Theboard,BallStatestudents,andyouthorchestra
membersareespeciallyinterestedinbringinginguestartistsforamasterclasswiththeorchestra,and
performancesthattheorchestraandsurroundingcommunitycanattendandbenefitfrom.TheYSOECI
wouldalsoliketoventureoutsideoftherealmoftraditionalWestern/Classicalmusic,andwiththefunding
thattheAltrusaGrantwouldsupply,theorchestrawouldbeabletoacquiresometraditionalorculturallyrich
repertiore,andcouldbringtraditionalandculturallyrichmusiciansinforamasterclassandperformance,
suchasNatalieHaasandAlasdairFraser.
Thestudentswouldlearnaboutthesocialaspectsofmusic,asitwaspresentinfolktradition,andas
itexiststoday.Theexperienceswiththeguestartistwillfosterstudentssocioemotionalskillsand
developmentasmusicalcitizens,astheywilllearnaboutthesocialtendenciesofdifferentperforming
groups.Recordingsoftheperformanceswilldemonstrategrowthfromtheprocessofperformingandbeing
evaluatedbyoutsideparties.
WeintendtousetheAltrusagrantresourcesinthefollowingways:

$500:SheetmusicpurchasesfortheYSOECI(Includingskilllevelappropriaterepertoire,festival
repertoire,andpiecesthatcanincorporateoutsideensembles.)
Asampleofaseasonofrepertoire,pricedbyLucksMusicLibrary:
ChildofAlice:InMemoryofaSummerDay$90
CarnivaloftheAnimals$85

JurassicPark$40
HarryPotterandtheDeathlyHallowsPart1,Selectionsfrom$60
ScottishAirandReel$45
Additionalpiecesforcommunityconcertsandcharitableevents,approximately$200
Thisrepertoiresamplingincludesaclassicalselection,atraditional(folk/cultural)selection,and
severalpiecesthepiquethestudentsinterests,whilecontinuingtochallengethem.Thissamplemusic
wouldbeusedforthemajorconcertsoftheseason,anddoesnotincludethemusicalselectionsnecessary
forcommunityconcerts,andcollectingandperformingforcharitableevents.
$700:Guestartistminiclinictoprovideanoutsideexpertiseforbothstudentsandinstructors,travel
costswouldbepaidforbytheboard,butastipendisrequiredtoattractartists,andtopaythemfortheir
performancesandmasterclasses.
Pendingfunding,someofthemusiciansweareconsideringinclude::
Dr.ThomasLoewenheimconductstheYouthOrchestrasofFresno.HeisalsotheHeadofStrings,Professorof
CelloatCaliforniaStateUniversity,Fresno.Dr.Loewenheimisknowninternationallyforhisequalsuccessasa
teacher,conductor,andperformer.
Ms.NatalieHaasandMr.AlasdairFraserareapairofAmericancellistandScottishfiddler,andhavebeen
recordingandtouringinternationallytogetherforseveralyears.Eachofthemteachesmasterclassesindividuallyat
festivalsaroundtheworld,andtheyarerepresentativeofcombiningboththeworldsoftraditionalmusicand
classicalmusic.
JasonReinhardtistheassistantdirectorofbandsattheUniversityofLouisianaMonroe,andhasworkedwith
manyathleticbandsandmarchingensembles.Becauseofthisexperience,heisinhighdemandasaclinician,
withawealthofknowledgeasensemblescommunicate,andleadershipopportunitiesastheyrelatetomusic.
$40forarecordingoftheperformanceinSursaPerformanceHall.

Successfuluseofthesegrantmonieswillbeevaluatedby(a)membersoftheYSOECIboard(b)parents
ofYSOECIstudents.Uponreceiptanduseofthegrant,wewillprovidetheAltrusaFoundation/CLUB????
withlettersfromYSOECIstudentsandparentstoattesttothesocialandmusicalgrowthexperienced
duringthefestival,sheetmusic,andguestartistminiclinic.