Y O U T H   C O N C E R T O   A U D I T I O N S               *  PIANO  *  VOCAL  *  INSTRUMENTAL  *
The Heartland Symphony Orchestra invites talented young musicians from the Brainerd Lakes and Little Falls areas to participate in its annual Youth Concerto Auditions.  The HSO Youth Auditions are a unique and challenging opportunity for serious music students to prepare and perform a solo orchestral piece before adjudicators and to possibly be chosen to perform that piece with the orchestra at its spring concerts in April.  The winners will also each be awarded a $100 scholarship to further their musical training.  Dedicated young musicians through high school age are encouraged to participate in the areas of voice, piano, string, wind and percussion instruments.  There are two age divisions for this competition:  9th grade and under and grades 10-12.  The auditions are open to students living in HSO’s service area and there is no fee to participate. 

This Year HSO Youth Concerto Auditions will take place the morning of Saturday, January 31, 2009 at St. Francis Music Center in Little Falls, MN.  Only works from the standard literature with orchestral accompaniment limited to the instrumentation of the HSO will be allowed, and memorization for the auditions is highly recommended.  In order to participate, students must complete and submit an application by January 10, 2009, but are encouraged to request the competition rules and regulations as early as possible in order to be fully prepared in time. 

Students, parents or music teachers who are interested in more information or registration materials may send an email message to info@heartlandsymphony.org or call 1-800-826-1997.  This activity is made possible in part by a grant awarded to the Heartland Symphony Orchestra by The Laura Jane Musser Fund.

2008 HSO JUNIOR CONCERTO WINNERS
Beth Hauer	Madeleine O. Steup
The HSO’s senior concerto winner is Beth Hauer of Little Falls. Beth, 17, is the daughter of Chuck and Jane Hauer of Little Falls, and a junior at Little Falls Community High School. Beth has studied the euphonium for 7 years. Beth credits her music teachers, Dwight Nelson, Steve Anderson, her family and especially her deceased grandmother, Joan Schumacher, for all the enjoyment she has had with her musical instruments. In addition to the euphonium, she also plays the trombone, cello and piano. This high-energy girl is very active in several musical activities in high school and her church. She also finds time to be on the varsity Cross-Country, Nordic skiing and Track teams. She likes to reach out into the community as part of the school’s Target and Key Club organizations and by playing her euphonium for the residents at St. Otto’s. She has won several awards including superior ratings and best in site honors at state solo competitions. She was a member of the 2007 Minnesota All-State Band and has been a member of All-Conference Concert and Jazz Bands. When she graduates, she is planning on going to college and earning a degree in music education. This summer she is going to Europe with the Minnesota Ambassadors of Music.	The HSO’s junior concerto winner is Madeleine O. Steup of St. Cloud. Madeleine 14, is the daughter of Mathias and Carolina Steup. Madeleine is in the 8th grade and is home schooled. Madeleine has studied the violin for 5 ½ years. Her music teacher is Marion Judish. She credits her family and especially her father for her love of the violin. Madeleine is also involved with Cantabile Girl’s Choir at SCSU Preparative Program and the string quartet Artaria Chamber Music School. Madeleine is also involved with Cantabile Girl’s Choir at SCSU Preparative Program and the string quartet at Artaria Chamber Music School. Her other interests are chamber music singing, reading, baby-sitting, cooking and creative writing. She intends to continue to study music and study at conservatory in the future.

G U E S T  A R T I S T S
At least once each season Heartland Symphony engages a professional guest artist to perform with the orchestra in order to present works that feature a virtuosic solo instrument or voice or to add vibrant new sounds to our usual orchestration.  This practice also provides opportunities for HSO players to learn from and perform with highly trained musicians.   On occasion, a guest conductor may be sought as well, either to present a special type of music or to fill in for our regular conductor while on leave.  These artists often present HSO-sponsored music education clinics in local schools, while they are in the area.

It is also common practice for the HSO to partner with musical groups and sometimes soloists from the region to perform together in concert.  For example, the Central Lakes College Choir, The Legacy Chorale, the Trinity Lutheran Church Handbell Choir, the Brainerd High School A cappella Choir, and the St. John’s Boys’ Choir have all performed with the HSO in recent years.

A R T I S T S  I N  T H E  S C H O O L S
HSO’s own musical director/conductor and often times our special guest artists are made available for presentation of hands-on music education workshops in local schools, while they are visiting the area.  These music clinics are presented free to the schools and the students who attend them, but the artist’s time and travel expenses are paid by the HSO through special grant funding.  Students who attend the clinics are often presented with family discount passes to attend the upcoming concert performance of the artist they have spent time with.  Last season, over 600 young people participated. 

A visit to your school can be arranged by your administrator or music educator.  Inquiries about your public or private school participating in this program should be directed to Karol Charon at info@heartlandsymphony.org or 1-800-826-1997.

S C H O O L  M A T C H I N G  T I C K E T  P R O G R A M
Thanks to grant funding to the HSO, approximately 60 family tickets per concert (That’s 180 for the season!) are made available to area school music educators to distribute to deserving students as they see fit.  This is a matching program where the participating school receives 3 free family passes for every season family ticket purchased by the school, Parent-Teacher Association, faculty, staff, volunteer or donor.  Since this program has been active in the Brainerd Lakes area, literally hundreds of elementary and middle school age kids and their families have been to their very first ever live orchestral concert. These families, many of them low-income, have received a new, enjoyable cultural experience and an appreciation for classical music they would never have found otherwise. 

These tickets can be made available to any school district in HSO’s service area upon request and will be distributed each season on a first come first served basis.  For more information or to order School Matching Tickets for your school, call 1-800-826-1997.