EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Young Performers Concerto Competition

The IVSO Young Performers Competition provides the opportunity for outstanding young instrumentalists, grades 6-12, to compete for performing with the Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra.

Auditions: January 05, 2013 -2012-13 IVSO competition application

The winners of both divisions will perform with the IVSO at the School Concerts on March 1, 2013 and at the March 9, 2013 Subscription Concert.

2013 Young Performer's Competition Winners

 Faith Sommer                                    Lydia Johnson

IVSO Young Performer’s Competition 2013 Winners

 Senior Division Winner Lydia Johnson is the daughter of Tim and Linda Johnson of Ottawa. The twelfth grade homeschool student has studied flute with Sue Gillio for the past eleven years and participates in the Illinois Valley Flute Ensemble. She has participated in the Summer Flute Retreat for the past nine years, performing in the master class of Gerald Carey. Lydia has participated in the IVSO Young Performers Competition the past four years and was the Junior Division First Runner Up in 2009. She is planning on attending Colorado Christian University this fall and intends to major in secondary education history with a minor in music.  

 Junior Division Winner Faith Sommer, age thirteen, is the daughter of William and Amy Sommer of Spring Valley. She has studied violin for six years with Katherine Roy through The Music School in Oglesby. She became a member of the Illinois Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra this year and holds the Assistant Principal second violin seat. Faith is in seventh grade at John F. Kennedy School, where she is a member of the band. She has enjoyed providing accompaniments for the JFK Winter Program and the 2012 eighth grade graduation, competing in the JFK Idol school talent competition for the last four years, and performing in a string trio for area churches during Christmastime and at other special events such as the Maud Powell Festival.

2012 Junior Division Winner:

Danielle Jameson: Flute

Danielle Jameson, age 13, is the daughter of Stephen and Melissa Jameson of Earlville. She has studied flute with Sue Gillio for 6 1/2 years and participates in the Illinois Valley Flute Ensemble at Opus 111 Music Studio in LaSalle. Danielle is a homeschooled eighth grader who also enjoys playing the piano and a variety of sports.

2012 Senior Division Winners:

Mora Novey & Jocelyn Schueler: Flute Duo

Mora Novey, daughter of Tom and Anne Novey, has played the flute for six years and has studied privately under the direction of Cynthia Isenhower for two years. Currently a junior, Mora is a member of the Somonauk High School band and the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra. She has participated in IMEA District 8 festival her freshman and sophomore years, placing as the principal flautist in the band her sophomore years. She aspires to study flute performance in college.

Jocelyn Schueler is a junior at Ottawa Township High School and is the daughter of Crystal Johnson and Scott Schueler. Jocelyn has been playing the flute for seven years and has studied privately with Cynthia Isenhower for the last three years. Jocelyn has been a member of the Ottawa Wind Ensemble for two years and is currently the principal flute. She has also earned a position in the IMEA District 2 band for the last two years. Jocelyn is the principal flute the The Flute Studio's Senior Ensemble. She plans to major in Music Therapy and continue her flute studies in college.

School Concerts

The IVSO annually presents two educational concerts for approximately two thousand 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students.

Elementary schools receive a resource kit including information about the orchestra, conductor and soloists, and valuable information about the composer and the works to be performed. Music Teachers and/or classroom teachers are able to use this material to help prepare the students for the concert in order to optimize their musical experience with the orchestra.