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About the Pacific Symphony Santiago Strings (PSSS)

The Pacific Symphony Santiago Strings (PSSS) is composed of young string musicians in grades 6 - 9 who live and/or study in Orange County. The group is conducted by Irene Kroesen, a respected veteran teacher of the Irvine Unified School District. Students who meet the age requirements, have private lessons, and play at the intermediate to advance level are eligible to audition. PSSS members are required to be members of their school orchestra. PSSS uses rotational seating so members are not assigned specific chairs within their section. This is done because it encourages cooperation and not competition. We also work to teach musical leadership to those students who are ready to develop this skill by rotating the principal positions for almost every concert.

Weekly Tuesday night rehearsals are held at Bernardo Yorba Middle School, Yorba Linda, CA. Representing over 20 different schools from all across Orange County, the Pacific Symphony Santiago Strings consists of 50 students who are selected through annual auditions held in late spring.

The string orchestra performs each year at the annual Orange County Suzuki Festival in November and in a joint concert with Prelude Chamber Strings in late November at Concordia University. In addition, the orchestra performs annually at Disneyland and presents their annual spring concert at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. The orchestra also goes on a three-day retreat in March for a challenging and intensive learning experience with guest clinicians joining the staff to teach and coach the orchestra.

The 2009-2010 season is the third season the Santiago Strings has been a member of Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles. The PSSS will return to Concordia University for their first two concerts and conclude the season with a performance in the prestigious Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall with the PSYO and the PSYWE on May 16th. Members of the PSSS benefit from instruction from highly-qualified professional music educators, as well as from a clinic with Maxim Eshkenazy, Music Director of the PSYO and Assistant Conductor of the Pacific Symphony. Additionally, students receive free tickets to Pacific Symphony concerts and exclusive access to Pacific Symphony rehearsals together with opportunities to meet guest artists.

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Highlights

The Pacific Symphony Santiago String Youth Orchestra was founded in 1991 to provide an outstanding educational music experience for young string students in Orange County. As part of the Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles program, PS Santiago members enjoy an exceptional educational experience that combines the knowledge of outstanding music educators with the unique opportunities provided by the association with the Pacific Symphony. These opportunities include:

• Concert performance in the Renee & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall
• Concert performances at Concordia University and Disneyland
• Side-by-side performance with the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra
• In-depth study of outstanding string orchestra literature
• Direction by a leading music educator and string specialist
• Weekend retreat at Palomar Retreat Center in San Diego, CA
• Admission to Pacific Symphony Classical Connections concerts
• Access to Pacific Symphony rehearsals
• Conducting clinic with Maxim Ashkenazy, (Music Director, Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra and Associate Conductor, Pacific Symphony)
• Coaching by respected professional educators and professional musicians from Pacific Symphony

History

The Santiago Strings Youth Orchestra was founded in 1991 by Lonie Bosserman and Margie Chan to provide a supportive and challenging musical opportunity for young string students in Orange County. The Orange County Chapter of the Suzuki Music Association of California/Los Angeles Branch was the sponsor of the orchestra at that time. The goal of Santiago Strings is to provide an experience that nurtures the confidence, poise, and musical sensitivity of talented young musicians through the study and performance of outstanding string orchestra literature.

Irene Kroesen, a respected and exceptional music teacher from the Irvine Unified School District and Chapman University has been Conductor of the group since it was established. In 2007, the Santiago Strings became one of three Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles, which include PSYO and PSYWE and was renamed the Pacific Symphony Santiago Strings.

Staff

* Pictures available on request.