Requirements for Participation in the SFYSA
SFYSA members must be enrolled as regular members of their school band or orchestra, if offered.  Students accepted into the program on a string instrument should be enrolled in their school orchestra. Students who are accepted into the program on a wind, brass, or percussion instrument should be enrolled in their school band.  We also strongly recommend that SFYSA members take private lessons on their instrument.  The SFYSA subscribes to the philosophy that a strong collaboration between the youth orchestra association, public/private school music programs, and private lesson instructors maximizes the musical growth of our members. 

Students must be fourteen years of age (by January 1st of the upcoming year) OR in grade nine to participate in the Youth Symphony Orchestra.  Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the conductor. 

Attendance Policy for all Programs
Musicians are expected to attend every rehearsal and dress rehearsal, and to perform in every concert.  Our attendance rules are strict in order to maintain the quality of our program.  Your commitment is to your fellow players and to the audience.  A phone call to the SFYSA office, cell phone or an e-mail to the conductor is required to request permission to miss a rehearsal a week in advance.
Unavoidable conflicts with the following constitute justifiable excuses:

Performances with school music organizations or other mandatory school functions
Confining illness
Religious worship commitment
Unavoidable family emergencies
Homework excuses are NOT acceptable - please plan ahead

Members who miss two or more rehearsals (excused or unexcused) may be asked to play key sections of pieces for the conductor. Students who have not kept up may perform in the concert only with the consent of the conductor. This will assure the conductor that the student is ready for the performance.  Failure to appear for any dress rehearsal or concert without an approved excuse may result in the automatic dismissal of the member.  If you foresee a conflict with a dress rehearsal or concert, you must bring it to the attention of the conductor in writing at least one month in advance. Absence from a dress rehearsal or concert will be approved only in extreme circumstances.

Call the office for information regarding cancellation of rehearsals due to inclement weather: 982-8483, 577-8108

Conduct
Each member is expected to be aware that s/he is a representative of the SFYSA.  The actions of individuals at all rehearsals, performances, and other functions are viewed by the general public as actions of the SFYSA group as a whole.  As ambassadors of the organization, members are expected to show responsibility and care in the use of the facilities and property of host schools, concert halls, the homes of hosts while on tour, etc., and to abide by the dictates of common courtesy.  Profanity, drugs, alcohol, tobacco products, and loud or inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated.  Behavior off the stage is as important as it is on the stage and each person’s behavior should reflect that person’s commitment to excellence.  Below is a list of guidelines for conduct at SFYSA events.

Please be in your seat, warming up ten minutes before rehearsal starts.
Please be prepared. Practice your parts at home so the rehearsal time can be spent  putting the various        parts together musically.  If you need help, ask your private teacher, conductor, or section coach.
When the conductor stops for a correction, please stop and pay attention to what is being said.
Do not talk or play while the conductor is working with another section in the orchestra.
In a concert setting, be attentive and supportive of another group that might be performing.
Be gracious in both accepting and giving praise.
Pick up after yourself.  Always leave things in better condition than you found them.
SFYSA students who possess, distribute, or consume drugs or alcohol at SFYSA retreats, rehearsals, performances, or trips may risk immediate expulsion from the organization.
Always be considerate and show respect for others.

Audition Policy
Primary auditions for the Youth Symphony Orchestra and the String Orchestras are held in May. All returning students must audition at this time. Auditions for open sections in YSO occur in late August. Auditions for the String Orchestras are in late August for new or former students. Jazz I and Jazz Ensemble II are in September.  At other times, auditions for open sections in an ensemble may be held at the discretion of the conductor for whom the student already plays AND the auditioning conductor. Students must notify the office if they change ensembles.  It is assumed that students are committing to play in their ensemble for the entire concert season/school year. New students enrolling in the second semester may audition for open sections in January.

Concert Dress
Youth Symphony Orchestra
Young Men:      Black slacks (no jeans)  and a black, button-down, long-sleeve dress shirt.  Black socks and black dress shoes (no sport shoes)
Young Woman: Black dress**, or black skirt or pants with black blouse. Black stockings and black dress shoes

Prelude, Intermezzo, Youth Philharmonia and Mozart y Mariachi
Boys:    Black slacks (no jeans) white dress shirt. Black socks and black dress shoes (no sport shoes)
Girls:     Black skirt** or pants, white blouse, black stockings and black dress shoes (no Sport shoes)   
      
**Skirts must cover the knees when the girl is seated.  No spaghetti strap blouses or bare midriffs, please.

Tuition Fees
           
            Youth Symphony Orchestra - $500.00
            Prelude Orchestra - $250.00
            Intermezzo Orchestra - $280.00
            Youth Philharmonia - $300.00
            Jazz Ensembles - $300.00
            Mozart y Mariachi - $400.00

Tuition is payable upon registration, or in two installments due September 10th and January 14th for Prelude, Intermezzo, Youth Philharmonia, Miles Davis Jazz I, and Charlie Parker Jazz II. Tuition is payable in three installments for YSO: $150.00 September 9, $175.00 November 30, $175 Jan 13. Mozart y Mariachi is payable in 8 monthly installments. However, at time of registration first and last months tuition is due. Enrollment is for the entire season, from September through May.  Students who drop out before the third rehearsal will receive a full refund.   Students who wish to apply for financial aid must pay a registration fee of $20.00, and turn in the completed Financial Aid application form by September 30th.

Late Payment Fees and Discounts
The SFYSA has many financial commitments to meet, and relies on timely tuition payments to meet these commitments. If you would like to pay by credit card, call the office at 982-8483.  Please pay on time, or call and make payment arrangements if you know there is going to be a problem! In order to re-register for the following season, the student’s account must be paid in full.  A late fee of $25.00 will be charged for any account that is 30 days past due.

No discounts apply if a student is receiving financial aid. Families with more than one child are eligible for a Sibling Discount and may deduct 10% of the tuition from each child’s tuition after the first child. (The “first child” is defined as the one who owes the highest tuition, the second child has the next highest tuition, etc.)

Students who are enrolled in more than one program are eligible for  a Multiple Program Discount and may deduct 10% off each program.

Students are eligible for either the Sibling Discount or the Multiple Program Discount. These discounts are not automatically applied to your account. The SFYSA fees are dictated by the fiscal responsibility of the organization:please apply these discounts to your fees only on the basis of need.  If you are eligible for a discount and you pay the full amount, you may take the amount you would have saved, as a donation. Please let us know if that is your preference. Thank you.

Financial Aid
It is the goal of SFYSA that every student who qualifies for the various SFYSA programs is able to participate.  Therefore, financial aid is available on a limited basis for those students who are truly in financial need.  Financial Aid applications are available by request through the SFYSA office. 

Financial Aid recipients must be musicians in good standing. The Financial Aid Committee will make decisions about who will qualify for these funds and what percentage of the tuition will be covered on a case by case basis, taking into consideration financial need and the student’s commitment to the program.  Awards are made in the fall semester for the academic year. New students enrolling for the second semester may apply for Financial Aid. The committee will make every effort to meet the request, but we do not guarantee that an award will be provided as awards will be issued based on the availability  of funds. Returning students on Financial Aid must re-apply each year.

Mentorships
Mentorships are available for advanced students who wish to share their expertise with less experienced musicians.  The participants receive a tuition discount of $5.00 for every rehearsal and concert in which they participate as a mentor or they may receive community service hours instead.  Conductors may choose to audition students for these positions.  An application must be filled out and accepted in order to receive credit. Applications are available at rehearsals, or by calling the SFYSA office at 982-8483.

Probation Policies
The terms of probation will be determined by the Conductor/Music Director and members of the Board of Directors. 

Disciplinary Probation 
If a SFYSA member engages in unacceptable behavior according to the conduct guidelines, but the behavior is not deemed serious enough for dismissal, that student may be placed on disciplinary probation.The terms of disciplinary probation will be determined by the conductor/music director and members of the Board of Directors.  During probation, if the actions of the student at any time are deemed inappropriate by SFYSA Board of Directors, he or she will be expelled from the Santa Fe Youth Symphony program.

Attendance Probation
Attendance probation is incurred when a student has three or more excused or unexcused absences in a semester, or misses a dress rehearsal or concert.  Further absences in the following semester or season may result in the dismissal of the member.  The terms of attendance probation will be determined by the conductor and Music Director. If a student is on attendance probation, s/he may perform in the concert only at the discretion of the conductor.

Musical Probation
Occasionally students may have difficulty keeping their musical skills up to the level required for their ensemble/orchestra. In these circumstances, the conductor may elect to place a student on musical probation.  The terms of musical probation will be determined by the conductor and members of the Board of Directors. The terms of the musical probation are as follows: The conductor of the SFYSA program, will make a monthly evaluation of the student’s progress.  Suggestions for improvement will be given at the time of the evaluation.  If, by the end of the semester, sufficient progress has not been made in the suggested areas, the student will be asked to play in a less difficult ensemble until their skills improve.  If a student on musical probation fails an audition, the student will be placed in a less difficult ensemble.