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RYO is an extra-curricular opportunity for young musicians to bolster instrumental school curricula with orchestral experience. RYO students need to be playing at a minimum of Level III at the previous year's NYSSMA festival. Co-founder Matt Rotjan points out that not every student will land a coveted position in All-County, and RYO gives students a way to experience that kind of collaboration.
"RYO is still figuring out who we are," said Rotjan. " We are safe yet exploratory. It's dynamic -- we look for input from our students, the parents. We're experimenting with a variety of music, from classical to jazz to pop."
Tuition for 12 weeks costs $160. Families who have more than one child enrolled receive a 10% discount per child. The 501 C3 non-profit recently secured a $500 grant from the New York State Chapter of the American String Teachers Association. The grant helps offer half scholarships for students on reduced lunch programs and full scholarships for children on free lunch plans.
For more information, contact Rockland Youth Orchestra at RocklandYouthOrchestra@gmail.com.
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