New for our 2012/2013 season is our DAAYO Chamber Music Program. We have created small ensembles of 3-6 players to play chamber music for string quartet, string trio, and string quintette as well as music featuring woodwinds, and even classical guitar.
The chamber music program is restricted to students in our PO and SO programs due to the extra workload required to participate in this group. Each year we will produce 2 chamber music concerts for between 3 and 4 different ensembles at various events around the city. Participation in the group will require approval by the conductor to ensure the student is at an appropriate level for this type of ensemble playing. Typically, chamber programs are comprised of the section principles from their orchestras.
Playing in a chamber music group gives our students a chance to develop solo performance skills while still learning the extremely valuable skill of ensemble playing.
Music for the program will be comprised of traditional classical music from the Baroque through Romantic periods as well as modern arrangements of popular music like Journey, Kansas, and others.
Students in the various chamber music groups will practice with a coach for 1 hour each Sunday prior to orchestra practice. The middle school chamber program will practice from 4:30-5:30 pm and the high school program will practice from 3:30 - 4:30pm. The ensembles will practice for 10 weeks in the fall and winter semesters for a concert performance at the end. There are numerous opportunities for public performances at events around Dallas during the year as well.
Composer in Residence
Our chamber group has a composer working with the orchestra and writing a music specifically for them personalized to the skills and playing styles of the individual players. Given our Asian heritage, the music is classical music but has folk music influences from countries like China, India, Japan, as well as European folk music. Our goal is to have each quartet have one piece of music written for them each year, so each child in the program will have their own personalized part.
New for 2013/2014 - All Electric Quartet
We will be adding an all electric chamber group to the program next year. The kids will play electric violins, violas, and cellos and will play quartet arrangements of modern music. String Quartet arrangements from artists such as Queen, Led Zepplin, Coldplay, and others will be featured.