The LYO business office is located in the St. Matthews Pavilion 4121 Shelbyville Rd, Second Floor. Rehearsals are conducted at the Youth Performing Arts School at 1517 South Second Street, the St. Matthews Pavilion, and the Oldham County Arts Center in Crestwood, KY.

It shall be the purpose of the Louisville Youth Orchestra to afford a quality musical experience for its young musicians, and to provide the opportunity to perform for the benefit of the community regardless of race, creed, gender or economic circumstances.

The LYO is a member of the Fund for the Arts and the American Symphony Orchestra League.

The Louisville Youth Orchestra invites all young musicians under age 21 to audition for membership.

• Membership in each of the orchestras shall be decided through an audition. Playing ability and balance of instrumentation shall be the determining factors in the selection of members. Membership is not automatically renewed.
• All LYO members are required to participate in their school instrumental music programs orchestra or band).  Home-schooled students and students who attend schools that do not have a school band/orchestra are exempt.
• All orchestra members are required to take private music lessons.
• A limited number of scholarships are available based on financial need.

The LYO uses the One Call Now automated phone call system to notify Symphony, Repertory, Concert, Serenade, and Percussion members of important information such as cancellations due to weather, unexpected schedule changes, etc.

Members will receive a call at the number(s) they designate whenever there is a message from their conductor or from the LYO.  Members designate their numbers and receive complete information when they register for membership.  Some summary information is provided below:

Retrieving Recent Message:

• If you are away you can retrieve your most recent Phone Tree Message(s) by calling:  (877) 698-3261 or (866) 321-4255.  (These are toll-free calls.)
• At the greeting press 1, and then enter the phone number that One Call Now normally calls to reach you. Be sure to enter one of the two numbers you selected for the LYO Phone Tree.
• If your message requires a touch-tone reply, press the appropriate key for your answer.

When You Move or Change Phones

• If you need to change your Phone Tree number(s), please contact your orchestra's Production Manger.  Contact information below.

Getting Help

• If you encounter a problem using the Phone Tree, you may email the administrator, John Norris at phonetree@lyo.org .

In keeping with the purpose of the LYO to provide a quality musical experience for its members, it is the belief of the LYO staff that all students are responsible to their colleagues, themselves, and ultimately to the music itself. Therefore, once selected to become a member of the LYO, it is the responsibility of each member to:

• attend all rehearsals and performances.
• be in their seats at least 15 minutes before the start of any rehearsal.
• have practiced and prepared the music before each rehearsal.
• turn in absence forms in a timely manner (at least one week ahead).

It is this type of serious commitment to your orchestra that will help to ensure a quality musical experience for ALL members of the orchestra.  The only excusable absences from a rehearsal include:

• serious illness
• death in the family
• religious holidays
• school performances on the same instrument you play in LYO
• and college auditions/visits (seniors only)

Reasons that are NOT excusable include, but are not limited to: family vacation, non-performance school trips, attending other concerts and rehearsals/master classes, other entertainment events.

The following guidelines will be enforced under the LYO Attendance Policy:

• There shall be no more than three (3) excused absences per LYO season.
• There shall be no more than one (1) excused absence per performance cycle.
• There shall be no unexcused absences.
• The dress rehearsal for any concert is mandatory for all members.
• Any excused absence where an attendance form is not submitted at least one week in advance (except for illness/emergency) will be considered an unexcused absence.

When an LYO member has any unexcused absence, OR their second absence during a performance cycle, OR their fourth absence for the season (i.e. they have not followed the Attendance Policy), their Director has the discretion to take any of the following actions: a short one-on-one “audition” before the next rehearsal, a suspension from that upcoming concert, or suspension for the season (in cases of excessive absence). The decision of that Director and/or the Music Director will be final. Please be responsible and follow through with the commitment you’ve made to your colleagues and the LYO.

• It is the player’s responsibility to take their music folder home to practice and to bring the music folder to every rehearsal/performance.
• You are required to have a pencil with you at all rehearsals.
• Proper behavior is expected at all times.
• An absence form must be filled out and turned in to your Production Manager one week in advance for all absences. In cases of an illness or family death, the absence form must be turned in at the next rehearsal.
• Consult your weekly memo after each rehearsal and check the LYO website and your personal e-mail frequently for scheduling changes and updates.
• No refreshments are allowed in rehearsal rooms/concert halls.
• No member is allowed to leave the grounds during breaks.
• If for any reason an LYO member is not to return to a rehearsal location with the group after an outing, it is necessary to inform your Production Manager in writing and in advance.
• When performing away from your rehearsal location, each LYO member is to bring a music stand that has his/her name on each piece.
• All music contained in the folder is the personal responsibility of the player. It is each player's responsibility to report missing music to the librarian immediately. Player will be charged for lost copies.

Parents/Guardians are expected to be on-site for pickup of members at the end of rehearsals/performances. Members left waiting at rehearsal/performance sites cost the LYO extra custodial fees and are imposing upon LYO staff members’ time. Parents/Guardians who pick up members late will be charged $1.00 per late minute. Members who have not paid this assessment will not be admitted to the next rehearsal.

The LYO occasionally plans tours for its members. Members involved will be assessed additional tour fees above the usual membership fees during these years. Limited scholarships may be offered for those members in financial need of assistance.

All percussionists are required to assist with the moving of percussion equipment both to and from concert locations. Any percussionist who does not actively participate in this responsibility may be dismissed from the LYO at the discretion of the Music Director.

In order to provide a professional and uniform appearance, the following dress code is required for concerts. Any attire which detracts from the music is considered unacceptable. Deviation from the following dress code may result in a player not being allowed to participate in a given performance. Decisions in this regard are at the discretion of the Louisville Youth Orchestra staff.  No perfume, cologne or aftershave may be used during rehearsals or performances.

All fees and dues associated with the Louisville Youth Orchestra are non-refundable.

Executive Director
Melody Welsh-Buchholz: info@lyo.org

Music Director / Symphony Orchestra Conductor
Jason Seber: jaseber@hotmail.com

Repertory Orchestra Conductor
Craig Swatt:  craigswatt@earthlink.net

Concert Orchestra Conductor
Chris Lerner: violinteacher@insightbb.com

Presto!/Allegro Instructor / Co-Production Manager (Concert/Percussion)
Elise Kotheimer:  aekoth01@gmail.com

Expansion Orchestra Instructor
Paola Manrique:  pamanr01@hotmail.com

Percussion Ensemble Coach
Mark Tate: tatemn@cs.com

Music Librarian / Co-Production Manager (Symphony/Repertory)
Kara Hubbard:  khubbard@insightbb.com

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Please contact us via the following manner and in the following order:

1. Call the office at 502-896-1851 and leave a message.
2. Call the Production Manager for your orchestra or ensemble:

We are living in an age of noise. Since it is possible to have music or watch television at home while eating and talking, too many take such behavior with them to public places. The concert experience should be something very special.  Artists love being appreciated. They adore applause, but they also are grateful for quiet, attentive audiences.

Therefore, the LYO has adopted “The Ten Commandments of Audience Behavior” to which we expect all members to adhere.

1. THOU SHALT NOT TALK: The first and greatest commandment.

2. THOU SHALT NOT ARRIVE LATE OR LEAVE EARLY: It is unfair to artists and the public to demand seating when one is late or to depart early. All performances have scheduled times. Please adhere to them.

3. THOU SHALT NOT LEAVE CELL PHONES OR PAGERS ON:
The concert is being recorded and no one wants to hear your
cell phone ring on their CD.

4. THOU SHALT NOT CLAP BETWEEN MOVEMENTS: While our artists love to hear the sound of your appreciative applause please wait until the entire work is completed. If you are not sure when the work ends consult your program for the number of movements in any particular piece.

5. THOU SHALT NOT HUM, SING OR TAP FINGERS OR FEET: The musicians don’t need your help, and your neighbors need silence.

6. THOU SHALT NOT RUSTLE THY PROGRAM: Restless readers and page skimmers aren’t good listeners and greatly distract those around them.

7. THOU SHALT NOT WEAR LOUD-TICKING WATCHES, JANGLE JEWELRY OR OPEN CELLOPHANE-WRAPPED CANDIES:  Owners are usually immune, but the added percussion is disturbing to all.

8. THOU SHALT NOT SIGH WITH BOREDOM: If you are in agony, keep it to yourself. Your neighbor may be in ecstacy – which also should be kept under quiet control.

9. THOU SHALT NOT READ: To listen to a concert means just that. Program notes should be digested before or after the performance.

10. THOU SHALT NOT CHANGE SEATS, MOVE TO BE WITH FRIENDS OR SEARCH FOR A BETTER LOCATION: Once the concert begins, stay put! Movement in the audience is disruptive to the perfomers and the listeners.