Surrey Symphony Society

Over the past fiscal year for the Surrey Symphony Society we have offered in-person educational instruction for youth to play musical instruments in four large orchestras and many small chamber groups. Each student who auditioned successfully was assigned to an orchestra depending on their skill level from low to high – Prelude Strings Intermezzo Strings Symphonic Strings Senior Orchestra. Rehearsals ran every Saturday morning at our rental facility Surrey Christian Secondary from September to May. Students rehearsed in full orchestra with their conductor as well as in instrument groupings with sectional instructors. Voluntary help by parents was used throughout the year such as in rehearsals setting up chairs taking attendance and helping with scholarship competitions. More than 25 volunteers also assisted at each of our two main concerts such as setting up the stage for each orchestra taking tickets at doors and supervising students backstage and in the audience. In October and the following February free and open-to-the-public Open Houses featured students performing some of the pieces of music they had been working on since they started each term. Students in the Symphonic Strings and Senior Orchestra participated in a 2-day overnight music retreat in the fall for intensive rehearsals and much appreciated socialization. Professional sectional instructors and conductors as well as volunteer chaperones (one per room of 7 students) and volunteer leader ensured a well-run productive fun retreat at Charis Camp in Chilliwack BC. A similar Junior weekend retreat at Charis Camp for the two junior orchestras – the Prelude Strings and Intermezzo Strings – took place October 28-29. The younger Prelude students had a fulfilling day retreat on the Saturday with morning and afternoon sectional and full rehearsals as well as lunch before heading back to Surrey. The Intermezzo Strings students had a very successful 2-day overnight experience with professional