NSYWE is now accepting auditions for its 2024-2025 season.
It’s a pretty simple process:
- Complete an online registration form, and
- Download your audition music, and record and submit your audition files.
See the Auditions Page for more information.
Important information for the March Rehearsals
If you are unable to attend all or part of the rehearsal please let me know as soon as possible. Thank you to those students/parents who already let me know.
NSYWE Spring Schedule
March 16, 17 & 18 – St. Andrews United Church, Halifax
Because it a weekday, parking will not be free on all streets. Give yourself time to find a parking location.
Wednesday, March 16th
- 9:00 am – 9:30 am, Arrive and Set up
- 9:30 am – 1:30 pm, Rehearsal with Breaks
- 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm, LUNCH (on your own) Bring a lunch or go to a near by restaurant
- 2:30 pm – 5:00 pm, Rehearsal with Breaks
- 5:00 pm Clean up and Home
Thursday, March 17th – HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY!
- 9:00 am – 9:30 am, Arrive and Warm up
- 9:30 am – 12:00 noon, Rehearsal with Breaks
- 12:00 noon – 1:00 pm, LUNCH (on your own)
- 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm, Rehearsal with Breaks
Friday, March 18th
- 9:00 am – 9:30 am, Arrive and Warm up
- 9:30 am – 12:00 noon, Rehearsal with Breaks
- 12:00 noon – 1:00 pm LUNCH (on your own)
- 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Rehearsal and Clean up
April 8, 9 & 10 – Either Cole Harbour High School or the Dartmouth Music Centre
May 6, 7 & 8 – St. Andrews United Church, Halifax; the concert, with the Stadacona Band, will be on Sunday, May 8, 2022.
NSYWE Music and parts assignments
Most of the music and part assignments are up on the NSYWE website.
You must login to see your parts!
Zoë has sorted the percussion parts and I will send the percussionists a separate email soon
If you have any questions or your part is missing, please let me know. New players have been added.
We will be able to adjust parts in March.
Serenade is not available on the website yet.
NSYWE COVID Protocols
All NSYWE COVID protocols will continue for the March Rehearsals.
Please do a self-check for symptoms before each rehearsal. If you have any symptoms or are a close contact please do not come to rehearsal.
Proof of vaccination is not required.
Playing masks and bell covers are still required for ensembles during Phase 1 of reopening.
Because of the transmissibility of the Omicron variant, it is recommended that we upgrade to a K95, KN95 or KF95 playing mask if possible. I will have that quality of mask available for your use.
If you have any questions or concerns, please e-mail me.
NSYWE Music and Important Information for March
NSYWE Spring Schedule
(A full detailed schedule will be sent closer to the dates.)
March 16, 17 & 18 – St. Andrews United Church, Halifax
Wednesday, March 16th 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday, March 17th 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday, March 18th 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
If you can not attend all or part of the rehearsals, please e-mail or text-message me.
April 8, 9 & 10 – Location to be determined
May 6, 7 & 8 – St. Andrews United Church, Halifax
Concert – Sunday, May 8, 2022
NSYWE Music and part assignments
- Most of the music and part assignments are up on the NSYWE website.
- You must login to see your parts!
- Zoë will be sorting out the percussion parts and I will send the percussionist a separate email soon
- If you have any questions or your part is missing please let me know. New players have been added.
- We will be able to adjust parts in March.
- “Stillness” will be posted as soon as it arrives.
NSYWE Covid Protocals
All NSYWE Covid protocols will continue for March.
- Please do a self-check for symptoms before each rehearsal. If you have any symptoms or are a close contact, please do not come to rehearsal.
- Proof of vaccination is required. I will contact you individually if I do not have your proof of vaccination.
- Playing masks and bell covers are still required for ensembles during Phase 1 of re-opening.
Because of the transmissablity of the Omicron variant, it is recommended that we upgrade to a K95, KN95 or KF95 playing mask if possible. Please email me if you have any questions.
NSYWE Fees
- NSYWE ½ season payment is $150.
- I will contact you individually if you have not paid your fees for spring.
- NSYWE will never turn away an individual for financial reasons.
NSYWE 2022 Update
Hello Everyone,
I hope everyone is having a restful and safe holiday break.
As COVID and the omicron variant has changed our lives for the holidays, NSYWE will be rescheduling our rehearsals and concert.
Dr. Hopkins and I have been in discussions about when and where we can meet to reschedule our rehearsals and the concert with the Stadacona Band.
This will depend on the number of participants allowed and other Covid restrictions. I will keep watching to see if our future dates for 2022 are possible.
The January 7 – 9 rehearsal has been cancelled.
Dr. Hopkins will be contacting the Stadacona Band for possible future dates for the concert and I will be contacting St. Andrews Church and other locations for rehearsals when restrictions are lifted.
NSYWE MUSIC
Dr. Hopkins will be adding more pieces soon. And I will let you know when they are ready.
We will do everything we can to make sure we can go forward this winter or maybe this spring if necessary.
I will keep you updated on the latest NSYWE news.
If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me.
Thank you,
Hope
NSYWE Update for 2022 Rehearsals and Concert
I would like to wish everyone a peaceful holiday season and a Happy New Year.
NSYWE MUSIC FOR 2022
One piece of music, Magnolia Star, is up on the NSYWE website for January. The part assignments and the rest of the music will be up as soon as we can. Keep practicing over your holiday break.
NSYWE Photos and Recordings
Don’t forget to view the photos and recordings from the last concert and past NSYWE concerts and rehearsals. They can be found on the members only part of the NSYWE website. The live stream from our last concert is still available to view.. Thank you to Atlantic Live Stream for the wonderful production.
NSYWE DATES for 2022
The NSYWE Committee continues to monitor the COVID-19 situation and I will send an update and schedule after Christmas. St. Andrews Church is large enough to continue to rehearsal with social distancing, masks and bell covers. All rehearsals and a live-stream concert with the Stadacona Band are still being planned.
The current schedule – subject to change as noted above – is as follows:
- January 7, 8 & 9, St. Andrews United Church
- January 28, 29 & 30, Cole Harbour High School
- February 4, 5 & 6, St. Andrews United Church
If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to e-mail me.
Hope Gendron
IMPORTANT: Vaccine Declaration
Hello Everyone,
NSYWE has made a commitment to the health and safety of all participants involved in our program. Staff, students, volunteers and clinicians must follow the Proof of Vaccination policy stated below by the Nova Scotia government.
Please print, sign and return the NSYWE Vaccine Declaration to Hope Gendron on Friday, October 1, 2021 to participate in our upcoming October 22, 23 and 24 concert weekend.
If you have any questions or concerns please contact Hope Gendron.
Nova Scotia policy of Proof of Vaccination
“Starting 4 October 2021, you need proof of full vaccination to participate in discretionary, recreational and non-essential activities (like dining out, going to a fitness facility or going to a movie, theatre performance, concert or sporting event). Proof of vaccination isn’t required for children 11 and younger (they can attend activities with a fully vaccinated adult). People will be considered fully vaccinated 14 days after their second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine authorized by the World Health Organization or the 1-dose Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine.”
Children and youth
“Children who turn 12 between 1 January and 4 October 2021 have until 31 December 2021 to attend events and activities while they get vaccinated. Children who turn 12 after 4 October 2021 have 3 months from their birthday to get vaccinated. “
“If you’re 13 to 18 and have proof of vaccination that you received 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine you can participate in sport, recreation, arts and culture programming hosted by a business or organization. To continue participating, you must provide proof of full vaccination by 9 November 2021 (you need to get a first dose no later than 28 September and a second dose no later than 26 October). “
Thank you,
Hope Gendron
NSYWE Weekend Schedule, message 2 of 2 – Sept. 9
Covid-19 Aerosol Study for your information on the NSYWE Covid protocols.
The Aerosol Study webpage has been updated with a 35-minute video conversation on mitigations for Fall 2021 with Dr. James Weaver (NFHS), Dr. Mark Spede (CBDNA/Clemson), and Bob Morrison (Arts Ed New Jersey). This includes a variety of activities (Speech, Debate, Theatre, Music, etc) from the elementary to collegiate levels. (Please click here to watch and share the newest video.)
Please consider this check before leaving home.
Daily-COVID-checklist-en.pdf
- Masks must be always worn by all students and staff and prior to entering the rehearsal or concert venue.
- Distancing: 3 feet (1 metre) between performers
- Rehearsal time: 50 minutes followed by a 10-minute break between sessions.
What you need to bring to rehearsal
- Playing Mask: A surgical style mask with a slit in the centre or a homemade playing mask.
- Bell Cover: Two layer of Denier (Pantyhose) or a homemade bell cover.
- Spit Valves Hygiene: Empty away from others; have an absorbent disposable material to catch the condensation (Puppy Pad) or a (container with lid and paper towel) to collect condensation from instruments.
- Extra soft cloth, to keep your hands clean.
- Music Stand for your own use
- Music: Please bring a printed copy of the for your own use. No sharing of music.
- Instrument and Percussion: Your individual instrument; your own reeds, valve oil, and swabs; extra soft cloth to keep your hands clean; mallets and drums stick for your own use. (Lysol wipes will be provided if you need to share mallets.)
- Pencil: It is very important to mark your music with the conductors instructions and changes.
- Lunch and Snacks: lunch on Saturday and Sunday will be on your own; bring a lunch or walk to a nearby lunch venue. NSYWE will provide small snacks during the day. Individually packaged items, such as Hallowe’en type candy, chips, and fruit.
- Refillable water bottle
NSYWE will provide these items for each rehearsal:
- Rehearsal and Concert venues
- NSYWE Conductor – Dr. Mark Hopkins
- NSYWE Clinicians for individual instrument clinics
- Percussion coordinator specialist
- NSYWE Volunteer Committee Members
- All large percussion equipment for the day
- NSYWE T-shirt on your first weekend
- Hand Sanitizer at room entrance
- Lysol Wipes
- Kleenex
- Gloves
- First Aid Kit
- Extra surgical type masks
- Extra Puppy Pads
- Small Snacks – Hallowe’en type – self contained package
- Extra music
NSYWE Season Schedule
Please put all the future dates on your calendar!
2021
October 1, 2 & 3 – Rehearsal Weekend; Cole Harbour High School, Dartmouth
October 22, 23 & 24 – Concert Weekend – Audience and Live-streamed; St. Andrew’s United Church, 6036 Coburg Road, Halifax
2022
January 7, 8, & 9 – Rehearsal Weekend; St. Andrew’s United Church, 6036 Coburg Road, Halifax
January 28, 29, & 30 – Rehearsal Weekend; Location TBA
February 4, 5, & 6 – Concert Weekend with the Stadacona Band of the Royal Canadian Navy; St. Andrew’s United Church, 6036 Coburg Road, Halifax
If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me.
Fall Cleaning
We are going to clean up the website after rehearsals get started in the fall of 2021.
Any account that has not been accessed for two or more years may be deleted without further notice..
Once the last member of an ensemble year has been deleted, most images of that year’s ensemble may be deleted from the website, unless they are deemed archival in nature.
Concert performances, for the most part, will remain on YouTube.
NSYWE Concert Weekend, April 30, May 1 & 2
NSYWE April 30, May 1 & 2
Charles P. Allen High School
200 Innovation Drive Bedford, NS B4B 0G4
*IMPORTANT*
- NSYWE has use of the cafeteria and stage area only.
- We will not have access to the band room or any stands or equipment.
- C.P. Allen students will not be permitted in the band room to get their instruments.
- No audience will be permitted in the school.
NSYWE Weekend Schedule
(A detailed schedule will be emailed to you next week.)
Friday, April 30th 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Saturday, May 1st 8:30 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday, May 2nd 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Live Stream Concert 3:00 pm on Sunday
Musicians must bring to rehearsal and concert:
- Reusable Individual Mask when not playing
- Instrument and/or mallets/drumsticks
- Music Stand for your own use.
- Music (No sharing of music)
- Pencil
- Playing Mask
- Bell Cover *NEW* Recommended: three-layers of Denier (Pantyhose) or a homemade bell cover.
- Spit Valves Hygiene – Empty away from others, into a Puppy Pad or a container with lid and paper towel, to collect condensation from instruments.
- Water bottle and Snack
- Personal Hand Sanitizer
Lunch will be on your own: you must go outside to eat if you bring a lunch.
NSYWE will provide:
- Percussion equipment for the day
- Hand Sanitizer at room entrance
- Facial tissue (Kleenex)
- First Aid Kit
- Extra surgical type masks
- Extra Puppy Pads
- Individually packaged, small snack
If you will be late to rehearsal or if you are unable to attend any part of the rehearsal/concert weekend, please e-mail or text me (902) 497-3297 immediately.
NSYWE Auditions for 2021-2022 are now underway. Please see the next news post for more details. You don’t need to be logged in to access that page so tell your friends and your music teacher.
If you have any questions or concerns about the upcoming rehearsal/concert weekend, or the audition process, please e-mail or text (902) 497-3297 me.
Thanks.
Hope Gendron
2021-2022 Auditions Now Open
Audition music for our 2021-2022 season is now available on our website. We are accepting auditions until May 31, 2021.
- To join the Nova Scotia Youth Wind Ensemble, you must do three things:
Submit an Online Application Form, even if you were an NSYWE member in the past. No need to e-mail it; just submit your application online. - After your online application is received, you will receive an e-mail from NSYWE with your website registration details, including a temporary password. (If you were a member of NSYWE in 2020-21, you are already registered on the website but you must still audition.)
- Record and Submit Your Audition
There are three elements of your playing audition:
- Scales
- A musical excerpt of your choosing, up to one minute long
- Required excerpts (click on your instrument…)
You may find the excerpts a little less challenging than in the past; that’s because of the impact COVID-19 to school music programs and to our own season. We hope to have our regular season schedule and concerts return for 2021-2022.
As always, if you have any questions do not hesitate to contact me.
A question I hear a lot between our seasons:
I’ve graduated high school; can I still play with the NSYWE?
Absolutely! We often have members who are in university or taking a gap year; you are more than welcome to audition.
Watch for the link to our May 2, 2021, LIVESTREAM CONCERT