Fayetteville Symphony Youth Orchestra (FSYO)

Registration is currently closed. Information about summer camps will be available soon. Registration for FSYO will open again in August 2024. More information about FSYO programs can be found below.

Questions? Please email Stuart McLemore, Operations Manager, at operations@fayettevillesymphony.org.

The Fayetteville Symphony Youth Orchestra seeks to enhance music education for young musicians in the greater Fayetteville area by providing quality training, ensemble playing experience, and unique performance opportunities.

The FSYO is not just one orchestra; it is a program of five different ensembles that provide orchestral training through weekly rehearsals.

Participating in FSYO allows students to extend their training beyond private lessons and school ensembles to become a team member in an ensemble of many diverse young musicians.


FSYO Ensembles

Youth Orchestra

Youth Orchestra is for intermediate to advanced players who play one of the following instruments: violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, french horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, and percussion. Led by Tim Parsons and Kristin Stiteler, this ensemble will rehearse weekly on Sundays from 4-5pm. The Youth Orchestra will participate in three performances, one of which is a side-by-side concert with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra. Students placed in Youth Orchestra will also be expected to participate in Concert Band (wind and percussion students) or Chamber Strings (string students). 

Requirements:

  • Musicians must be at least 11 years of age, and no older than 21 years of age by September 1, 2023
  • Musicians must be a member of their schools band/orchestra if one exists
  • All musicians, returning and new, must complete an audition – audition information will be sent following registration

Concert Band

Concert Band is for intermediate to advanced players who play one of the following instruments: flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, french horn, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba, or percussion. Led by Tim Parsons, this ensemble will rehearse weekly on Sundays from 5:15-6:15pm. This ensemble will provide band students with ensemble playing experience and specialized instruction from qualified teachers. Students may also participate in Youth Orchestra. 

Requirements: Same as Youth Orchestra. 

Chamber Strings

Designed for intermediate to advanced string musicians (violin, viola, cello, or bass). Musicians should be fluent in first and third positions, developing extended positions, and demonstrate advanced bowing techniques. Members will refine dynamics, articulation skills and are introduced to challenging string literature. This ensemble focuses on cross-listening between sections, blend and balance, expressing various styles of music, and pursuing detailed, mature music-making. This ensemble is led by Kristin Stiteler and will rehearsal weekly on Sundays from 2:45-3:45pm. Members of this ensemble will also be part of the Youth Orchestra. 

Requirements: Same as Youth Orchestra

Cello Choir

Cello Choir is a unique experience for cello students led by Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra Cellist Barbara Gates. This ensemble will focus on repertoire for cellists and will perform at events within the Fayetteville community. This ensemble will meet weekly on Tuesdays from 4:45-5:45pm. 

Requirements: Same as Youth Orchestra. 

String Sinfonietta

String Sinfonietta is for string musicians (violin, viola, cello, or bass) with at least one year of playing experience. This ensemble is designed to improve playing techniques and prepare students for future participation in Chamber Strings and Youth Orchestra. Led by Laurel Wachtler, this ensemble will meet weekly on Mondays from 6-7pm. 

Requirements:

  • Musicians must be at least 7 years of age, and no older than 13 years of age by September 1, 2023
  • Musicians must have at least one year of playing experience. 
  • Musicians must participate in their school’s orchestra if one exists
  • Musicians must complete an audition – audition information will be sent following registration. **Please note that the audition is for placement purposes only, no students who meet the requirements will be turned away. 

Audition Information

Registration is currently closed but our most recent audition information is available for reference. Please note that wind and percussion repertoire will change before the next round of auditions.

Auditions are for placement into an ensemble and for placement within the ensemble (section and seating). Auditions are required.

Chamber Strings, Cello Choir, & Youth Orchestra String Players

SCALES

  • Perform, from memory, TWO 2 octave scales and arpeggios of your choice up to 4 sharps and 4 flats.
  • One of the scales must require that you shift.
  • You may perform each scale with any rhythm or bowing technique that you choose.

SOLO

  • Select a solo that best demonstrates your playing ability.  
  • You will perform 2 – 3 minutes of the solo, without accompaniment.
  • Etudes are also acceptable in place of a solo.  Orchestra parts are not acceptable.
  • The degree of difficulty of the chosen work is factored into the judging, but the execution of the piece is equally considered.
  • Your teacher may be able to help you select an appropriate solo. If you have difficulty selecting a solo, please email Kristin Stiteler at kstiteler@fayettevillesymphony.org and she will assist you.

Concert Band & Youth Orchestra Wind/Percussion Players

Click on your instrument to access the audition repertoire.

String Sinfonietta

  • Select a solo that best demonstrates your playing ability.  
  • You will perform the solo without accompaniment.
  • Etudes are also acceptable in place of a solo.  Orchestra parts are not acceptable.
  • The degree of difficulty of the chosen work is factored into the judging, but the execution of the piece is equally considered.
  • Ask your teacher for help selecting a solo or etude to play. Any piece from Essential Elements, Suzuki books, or any other book is acceptable. Selections can be as easy as Mary Had a Little Lamb and Ode to Joy. If you need assistance selecting a solo, please contact Laurel Wachtler at lwachtler@fayettevillesymphony.org.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Tuition is $250/year for all ensembles. Students who participate in multiple ensembles will only be charged one flat tuition fee. Tuition may be paid in full or in two installments. Limited financial aid is available by application only.

Regarding Financial Aid: The Fayetteville Symphony Youth Orchestra is a non-profit organization, and tuition provides just a portion of our operating budget. Contingent upon availability of resources, the Fayetteville Symphony Youth Orchestra strives to provide financial aid for applicants who are truly in need, and would otherwise be unable to participate. Financial aid applications will be made available when registration opens again.

Questions related to financial aid or tuition may be directed to Anna Meyer, Executive Director, at ameyer@fayettevillesymphony.org.


Instructors

Kristin Stiteler, Youth Orchestra Director

Kristin Stiteler is a native of Ohio and began playing the violin in 3rd grade.  She has taught both band and orchestra classes at all grade levels for over twenty six years in both Ohio and North Carolina.  She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from The Ohio State University where she studied both violin and jazz saxophone.  She also marched bass drum in The Ohio State University Marching Band, holding the distinction of being the first female bass drum player in the history of the band.

Miss Stiteler is an accomplished musician on several instruments and has performed regularly with multiple ensembles.  She has performed with several symphony orchestras in Ohio, North Carolina, and South Carolina since 1997 and she is currently in her 21st year of playing Viola with the Fayetteville (NC) Symphony Orchestra where she held the position of Principal Violist for several years

When not playing her viola, Miss Stiteler enjoys playing Celtic and American Folk music on mandolin, banjo, and guitar.  As a member of the Classical Mandolin Society of America, she has traveled to Wisconsin, Illinois, and New York City to perform as a member and a soloist with classical mandolin orchestras on both mandolin and mandola.  Most recently she traveled to Japan and Italy to perform with the Milwaukee Mandolin Orchestra

Miss Stiteler conducted the Cumberland County Youth Orchestra from 2002-2016, and has held several leadership roles at both the Region and County levels.  She has been invited to serve as Guest Clinician for All-County Ensembles in nearby NC districts, and is an active member of NAfME, NCMEA, American String Teacher Association, and the Classical Mandolin Society of America.

Miss Stiteler has taught orchestra in the Cumberland County School District since 2002 and is currently the orchestra teacher at John Griffin Middle School.

Tim Parsons, Youth Band Director

Timothy Parsons is a graduate from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke where he earned a bachelor degree in Music Education and studied percussion under Wayne Campbell, and Dr Tracy Wiggins. While at UNCP, Tim was a member of the Concert Choir, Pembroke Singers, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, a founding member of the Spirit of the Carolina’s Marching band, Percussion Ensemble and University Pep Band. 

Tim is currently the Director of Bands at Jack Britt High School in Fayetteville, NC. Throughout his teaching career his Concert Bands have received Superior ratings and his students consistently place in the SEDBA All-District Band and North Carolina All State Band. Tim has also served as the conductor for the Southeastern All District Band. Tim currently serves as a music arranger and drill designer for various high school marching bands in North Carolina. His marching band (Jack Britt HS) has won numerous First Place awards and have been named Grand Champions at several marching band competitions across the state. Tim currently leaves in Fayetteville NC with his wife Anna, their daughter Elle and their dog Pink.

Laurel Wachtler, String Sinfonietta Director

Laurel Wachtler, violinist, hails from New Mexico, where she graduated with a B.S. degree from New Mexico State University. She has played in numerous orchestras while following her Air Force husband’s career, including Phillips Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra of Southern Maryland where she was principal second violin. Upon arrival in Fayetteville, Laurel began performing with Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra and is in her 24th year.  She is a frequent performer with Florence Symphony, Wilmington Symphony, and Carolina Philharmonic. Laurel has been a part of the Snyder Memorial Baptist Church orchestra and The Singing Christmas Tree productions for 12 years. She has maintained an active private studio since 2010 teaching violin and beginning piano.

Outside of music, Laurel’s interests include flying airplanes, scuba diving, hiking, gardening, and singing with The Coventry Carolers. She is also a volunteer tax preparer for AARP’s Tax-Aide program.

Barbara Shipp, Cello Choir Director & Lower Strings Coach

Barbara Shippcellist, performs regularly throughout eastern North Carolina as both a soloist and chamber musician. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from East Carolina University and a Master of Library Science degree from NC Central University.  A former orchestra director for Pitt and Cumberland County Schools, she is now a freelance ‘cellist, private instructor of ‘cello, and co-director of Fayetteville Symphony Youth Orchestra and Sinfonietta. Barbara is a member of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, Fayetteville Symphony String Quartet, Carolina Philharmonic, Barton Wilson Symphony Orchestra, Crystal Coast Musicians and Elegant Ensembles. She currently resides in Fayetteville with her son, Ryan, and their many rescued pets.

May 2020 – Irish Suite, Part I – Leroy Anderson; Adapted by Douglas E. Wagner

April 2020 – Take Five

May 2018 – Theme from Jurassic Park

May 2018 – FSYO Concert Band, Amparita Roca


FSYO received start up funding from Cumberland Community Foundation and is Supported By:

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Featured Musician

Matthew Parunak – Bass Trombone

Matthew Parunak is a professional music arranger, visual designer, and trombonist from Chapel Hill, NC. Currently, he serves as music director for Orquesta K’Che Salsa band, bass trombonist for the Durham Symphony Orchestra under Maestro William Curry, and assistant band director at Jordan High School in Durham, NC. Matthew also serves as adjunct faculty at Elon University in Music Education, as well as brass staff with the University of North Carolina Marching Tar Heels.  He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Tuba Performance in 2008 and his Master’s Degree in Arts and Teaching in 2009, both from UNC-Chapel Hill. From 2009-2012, Matthew was the Director of Bands at Forbush High School and Forbush Middle School, where his marching and concert bands received consistent Superior and Excellence ratings.  As an active arranger and clinician, he has written more than 50 marching band shows for bands across the state of North Carolina, while consulting with many band programs across the state of North Carolina. Joanna Ross Hersey, former prinicpal tubist of the United States Coast Guard Band, commissioned Matthew to write an original theme and variations piece for solo tuba and wind ensemble. It was premiered in November of 2016 by the ECU Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Scott Carter.

To Educate. To Entertain. To Inspire.

The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1956 in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and is a professional, regional orchestra whose mission is to educate, entertain, and inspire the citizens of the Fayetteville, North Carolina region as the leading musical resource.  Praised for its artistic excellence, the Symphony leads in the cultural and educational landscape for Fayetteville and the southeastern North Carolina region.

The Fayetteville Symphony typically performs 8 concerts during any given season performing both at Methodist University and Fayetteville State University. Partnerships with other agencies include collaborative performances with Cape Fear Regional Theatre, chamber concerts at St. John’s Episcopal Church, as well as the city’s annual Independence concert with fireworks. The Symphony brings music to the schools and the community by performing educational concerts, as well as having its own Fayetteville Symphony Youth Orchestra, after school strings and summer music camps.

This organization is supported in part by a space grant from the BB&T Term Endowment of Cumberland Community Foundation, Inc.


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Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 302
Fayetteville, NC 28302

Office Location:
310 Green St., Suite 101
Fayetteville, NC 28301
P: (910) 433-4690
F: (910)433-4699
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info@fayettevillesymphony.org

Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra

310 GREEN ST., SUITE 101
Fayetteville, NC 28301

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