Homer OPUS Earth Day Concert
A Celebration of Music and Nature with the Homer Youth String Orchestra Club OPUS players
HYSOC Fall 2024
August 27 – November 19
HYSOC Spring 2025
January 13 – April 22
Registration will be for both semesters.
Participation Fees will be payable in one or two installments. If student does not participate for the second semester, we will need to be notified of the early resignation to receive a refund.
$150 per semester or $275 for the 2024-2025 season
YOUTH Overture Strings, Scherzos & Students playing in Codas
Additional family members are discounted at half price.
First semester FREE for 3rd graders!
We do our best to keep costs affordable for all.
Financial Aid is available based on need.
Remember, down beat starts at scheduled time, this means instruments are tuned and students are ready to play. Please arrive at least 15 minutes before rehearsal time.
Parents remember to pick up students promptly. We do not supervise after classes.
Overtures (Grade 3) Schedule
Tuesdays 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Scherzos (Grades 4-12) Schedule
Tuesdays 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Codas Schedule
Mondays 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
HYSOC Youth Classes will be at West Homer Elementary School-music room.
HYSOC Coda students will have class in the sanctuary at Christian Community Church.
The Mission of the Homer Youth String Orchestra Club is to foster the orchestral arts for our Homer area youth.
Starting out with just five students in 2004, the Homer Youth String Orchestra now has a group of about twenty-five, ranging in age from five to eighteen years. Children are selected only by their desire to play, and do not need to audition to become part of the Homer Youth String Orchestra. Students from a variety of string instructors in our community are welcome to participate.
We currently have four groups: Scherzos for our younger or beginning students, Allegros for our older or intermediate students, Tuttis for arrangements suited for all orchestra students and Codas for adult wishing to learn a string instrument or enhance their skills.
Students rehearse once a week through the school year and have opportunities to perform in various venues in the community. While the preparation of music for performances is one goal of rehearsals, it is not the sole purpose of our time in class. The main emphasis during class rehearsals is the further development of fundamental techniques essential to the orchestral performance experience, such as basic posture, basic actions, tone productions, rhythm, note reading, ear training and basic musicianship (understanding of basic terminology).
Our goals are:
- To teach students to master skills that will enable them to perform music well on their chosen instrument, leading to lifelong enjoyment and personal fulfillment through music.
- To develop students’ understanding of and appreciation for music and a vehicle for creative self-expression and as a key to understanding past and present human experience.
- To teach students artistic modes of problem solving, which bring analytical and developmental tools to every situation.
- To teach students to adapt to and respect others’ ways of thinking, working and expressing themselves.
- To teach students to analyze and interpret nonverbal forms of communication and make informed judgements of cultural products and issues.
- To develop the ability to respond to music through writing and to evaluate musical performances using a set of established criteria.
These values and skill will be taught through the development of perform abilities and theoretical and historical knowledge of music.
Senior Center Holiday Concert
Join HYSOC’s Codas ensemble for an moment of holiday cheer.
Holiday Concert
Join OPUS for some holiday cheer at the Nutcracker Faire. Playing on the commons stage
It has been eight years since I first started participating in the Homer Youth String Orchestra. I can still remember my first day standing in the West Homer Elementary School’s music room, terrified to be sharing a stand with a high school student. I remember leaving that day thinking that I was so glad it was over and I never wanted to go back again. However, I kept going back every week. I made friends and started to enjoy playing music with others.
If I had stopped going on my first day, I would have never found my love of music which would follow me throughout high school and potentially through college. I would have never found the courage to push myself out of my comfort zone, and explore new things. I would have never met such amazing mentors as Lisa Schallock, Daniel Perry, and Ben Wu who have all demonstrated great patience in my progression of playing, and instilled an appreciation of music. And most importantly I would have never met such influential peers who have enriched my relationship with music and inspired me to keep pursuing music.
It is safe to say that my life would have been so very different if I had never participated in Homer Youth String Orchestra. I am glad that I go to be a part of the sound that this wonderful group produces. I know that it will benefit me for years to come.
Neviya Reed
Graduating Senior 2022
When asked, “What has playing orchestral music meant to me?” I am reminded of my role in the Homer Council of the Arts Shakespeare Play: Twelfth Night. In the play, Duke Orsino says, “ If music be the food of love, play on…” One interpretation of this line is that he was hoping that excess music might relieve him from his obsession with love. Playing in the orchestra and talking lessons from Lisa Shallock was relief from my obsession with learning. I have a very inquisitive mind and music soothes my thoughts. It was a time in my week where I gained perspective on the world. I could let my mind relax and I could take on a new venue of learning. I liked the relaxing breath that I could take when I played my cello with the accompaniment of others. It was a precious time in my week. I learned to appreciate string instruments and the beauty of a string orchestra. I realized as soon as I picked up my cello that it would be my friend and companion for life. It was with pleasure that I played it in the symphony since fourth grade. I appreciate the friendships that came from playing in the orchestra and the many mentors who have encouraged me. I am expanding my cello repertoire outside of orchestral music but I know that the Homer Youth Symphony Orchestra has given me a gift for life.
Nolan Bunting
Graduating Senior 2016
1) Orchestral music for me was a way to experience new music that I had not been exposed to. The music I have learned and played has been a lot of fun, and really opened me up in terms of musical knowledge.
2) I would tell a beginning musician to never give up, and to always keep practicing. But most importantly, I would remind them to have fun, and enjoy the music.
3) After I graduate in high school, I plan to play with the Kenai Peninsula Orchestra over the summer. During the winters, I will most likely be in Fairbanks, going to college, and I plan to minor in music. Hopefully there will be some musical groups that I can join while I am living up there. Past that, I have no idea what will happen.
Miles Catlin
Graduating Senior 2016