three tiers of quality string education in a collaborative setting
When we took a hiatus in spring of 2020 due to COVID-19, we decided to take the opportunity to reimagine the IVYSO from the ground up. While the vision we have for the IVYSO goes far beyond the next five years, we've stumbled on a three-stage* reopening strategy that will lead us to where we were before COVID knocked the world into chaos...but better, bigger, and stronger.
One note: in this context, when you see a grade followed by a number, this refers to the musical grading system for ensemble music, not their grade in school
Stage 1
The focus was simple: start rehearsing again. We decided to do this as a string orchestra, building a solid string core that we can eventually rebuild a full orchestra program around. We were able to kickstart this phase in September of 2021, returning to rehearsals after a year and a half away.
Stage 2
Stage two focuses on the implementation of a starter strings class, the Prelude String Ensemble, that mirrors the orchestral programming available in schools and prepares students for playing in the Sinfonia string orchestra. The Illinois Valley has a rich tradition of band education beginning around 4th grade. We know that once we get our full orchestra up and running again, our string students will need a similar level of exposure to collaborative playing to be able to keep up with their wind, brass, and percussion counterparts. This program thus meets multiple goals.
*Stage 2.5
In the process of building the Prelude String Ensemble, we realized that we had a small problem: students wanted to come back the next year, but we didn't have a program for them to go into—they weren't quite ready for Sinfonia, but running them through Prelude again wouldn't be helpful. So in 2024, we rolled out the Intermezzo String Orchestra. This middle-level string ensemble will fill the grade 1-2 gap between Prelude and Sinfonia.
Stage 3
Stage 3 is a ways off yet and depends on several factors, such as the growth of the string community in the Illinois Valley and the continued improvement of the string students in our program. While our original goal was Fall 2024, it is possible we are still as many as 5 years away from being able to go full Stage 3. This is what a fully rebuilt IVYSO will look like:
The top players and graduates of our Sinfonia String Orchestra will be invited to join a full orchestra program for grade 3 level instrumentalists and higher. Sinfonia will remain an intermediate-level strings-only ensemble and the Intermezzo String Orchestra will remain a beginner-level strings-only ensemble playing music graded 1-2.5.
The Prelude String Ensemble will continue to operate and continuously find new string players straight from the elementary schools in hopes they continue through our program as they grow up.
One note: in this context, when you see a grade followed by a number, this refers to the musical grading system for ensemble music, not their grade in school
Stage 1
The focus was simple: start rehearsing again. We decided to do this as a string orchestra, building a solid string core that we can eventually rebuild a full orchestra program around. We were able to kickstart this phase in September of 2021, returning to rehearsals after a year and a half away.
Stage 2
Stage two focuses on the implementation of a starter strings class, the Prelude String Ensemble, that mirrors the orchestral programming available in schools and prepares students for playing in the Sinfonia string orchestra. The Illinois Valley has a rich tradition of band education beginning around 4th grade. We know that once we get our full orchestra up and running again, our string students will need a similar level of exposure to collaborative playing to be able to keep up with their wind, brass, and percussion counterparts. This program thus meets multiple goals.
*Stage 2.5
In the process of building the Prelude String Ensemble, we realized that we had a small problem: students wanted to come back the next year, but we didn't have a program for them to go into—they weren't quite ready for Sinfonia, but running them through Prelude again wouldn't be helpful. So in 2024, we rolled out the Intermezzo String Orchestra. This middle-level string ensemble will fill the grade 1-2 gap between Prelude and Sinfonia.
Stage 3
Stage 3 is a ways off yet and depends on several factors, such as the growth of the string community in the Illinois Valley and the continued improvement of the string students in our program. While our original goal was Fall 2024, it is possible we are still as many as 5 years away from being able to go full Stage 3. This is what a fully rebuilt IVYSO will look like:
The top players and graduates of our Sinfonia String Orchestra will be invited to join a full orchestra program for grade 3 level instrumentalists and higher. Sinfonia will remain an intermediate-level strings-only ensemble and the Intermezzo String Orchestra will remain a beginner-level strings-only ensemble playing music graded 1-2.5.
The Prelude String Ensemble will continue to operate and continuously find new string players straight from the elementary schools in hopes they continue through our program as they grow up.
Sinfonia String Orchestra
The Sinfonia String Orchestra began, in its current form, fall of the 2021-22 season. It is directed by our Strings Director, Rhoda Kay Roberts. The String Orchestra rehearses weekly and has two full concerts a year, one at the end of each semester.
String Orchestra meets Tuesday nights during the school year from 7 - 8:30pm at La Salle-Peru High School.
Seating hearings for the 2025-26 season will be held early in the season and excerpts, forms, and applications will all be posted under the Sinfonia tab above (click here).
String Orchestra meets Tuesday nights during the school year from 7 - 8:30pm at La Salle-Peru High School.
Seating hearings for the 2025-26 season will be held early in the season and excerpts, forms, and applications will all be posted under the Sinfonia tab above (click here).
Intermezzo String Ensemble
The Intermezzo String Ensemble is for young string instrumentalists playing late beginner to early intermediate level music. The bulk of the students in this program are graduates of Prelude String Ensemble in 5th or 6th grade, but admission is not restricted based on previous enrollment in IVYSO programming or on age/academic grade level.
Intermezzo String Orchestra meets Tuesday nights from 5:30 - 6:30 at La Salle-Peru High School.
Seating hearings for the 2025-26 season will be held early in the season and excerpts, forms, and applications will all be posted under the Intermezzo tab above (click here).
Intermezzo String Orchestra meets Tuesday nights from 5:30 - 6:30 at La Salle-Peru High School.
Seating hearings for the 2025-26 season will be held early in the season and excerpts, forms, and applications will all be posted under the Intermezzo tab above (click here).
Prelude String Orchestra
Designed for 4th and 5th graders, Prelude is designed to guide you and your student from the very beginning: choosing an instrument all the way to their first performance! That means NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY! Dedicated students will achieve grade 1-level playing after the year's enrollment.
Prelude String Orchestra meets Monday nights during the school year from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. at the Paintbox Gallery at Music Suite 408 in Peru, Illinois.
Interested students and their family are requested to attend an in-person Info Day event where families can choose the instrument they'd like to pursue for the year and learn about our rental partnership with The Music Shoppe, Inc. This event will be held Saturday, September 28th from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the LaSalle Public Library! Click the Prelude tab above or here to learn more.
Prelude String Orchestra meets Monday nights during the school year from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. at the Paintbox Gallery at Music Suite 408 in Peru, Illinois.
Interested students and their family are requested to attend an in-person Info Day event where families can choose the instrument they'd like to pursue for the year and learn about our rental partnership with The Music Shoppe, Inc. This event will be held Saturday, September 28th from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the LaSalle Public Library! Click the Prelude tab above or here to learn more.
Full Orchestra - on hiatus
The Illinois Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra is still on hiatus in stage 2.5 of our rebuilding plan. When in operation, IVYSO's full orchestra is the only music program of its kind for students in the Illinois Valley. We hope to reinstate this part of our program sooner rather than later, but exact timing will depend on interest and the development of the other two groups.