VAMSO China Tour 2020 - Information Packet - Vancouver Academy of Music

VAMSO
China Tour
    2020

Information Packet

VAMSO China Tour 2020 – Information Packet
Dear VAMSO members,

Hope you had a great summer and welcome to our 2019/20 season. This is an exciting time as we
celebrate VAM’s 50th anniversary.

As part of the celebrations, Poly Theatre North America and Poly Theatre Management Group have
extended a special invitation for us to embark on an 8-city-performance-tour of China in July 2020. This
tour is a keystone of VAM’s anniversary celebrations and a chance to showcase VAMSO’s brilliance.

None of this would be possible without your commitment and dedicated hard work, and I would like to
take this opportunity to invite VAMSO members to consider auditioning for this exciting, musical
experience. The touring orchestra consists of a limited number of seats per section, and application and
audition details can be found in this booklet.

I wish everyone the best of luck this upcoming season and may your musical journey bring you to
exciting new places.

Musically yours,

Joseph Elworthy
President & CEO, Vancouver Academy of Music

Dear VAMSO members,

Thank you for being a part of our amazing orchestra. We are so proud of VAMSO for its role in training
young musicians and delighting audiences at its regular Orpheum performances. On the heels of a very
successful 2018/19 season, I am looking forward to a very special year ahead for VAMSO.

As part of our 50th anniversary celebrations, VAMSO has been invited to tour eight cities in China in the
Summer of 2020. This landmark tour is a unique opportunity for VAM students to experience
performing in major concert halls and for VAMSO to show off its musical talent to Chinese audiences. It
will also be an excellent cross-cultural learning experience and a way to demonstrate the power of
music in bringing together people from different backgrounds.

I hope you will consider auditioning for the Summer 2020 China tour and wish you the very best as you
embark on the new VAMSO season.

Best wishes,
Yuen Pau Woo
The Hon. Yuen Pau Woo
Chair, VAM Board of Trustees

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHINA TOUR CONCERT PROGRAMS ………………………………………………………………………………….. 4

CHINA TOUR SCHEDULE ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 5

PRE-TOUR REHEARSAL DATES …………………………………………………………………………………………… 5

AUDITION TIMELINE …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS ………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6

FEES ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 7

TOURING ORCHESTRA PERSONNEL …………………………………………………………………………………… 7

STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT …………………………………………………………………………………………… 8

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China Tour Concert Programs

Program 1:

Arr., Chinese folk song – TBC

Beethoven, Piano Concerto No. 4

Beethoven, Symphony No. 5

Program 2:

Arr., Chinese folk song – TBC

Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue

Dvorak, Symphony No. 9 ‘From the New World’

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China Tour Schedule

Vancouver to Beijing

Fly-out from Vancouver                                                28 June 2020
Arrive in Beijing                                                     29 June 2020
Full orchestra rehearsal                                              30 June 2020

Concerts:

     1.   Beijing Forbidden City Concert Hall                         1 July 2020, 7:30pm
     2.   Shenyang Shengjing Grand Theatre                            3 July 2020, 7:00pm
     3.   Tangshan Grand Theatre (Concert Hall)                       5 July 2020, 7:30pm
     4.   Weifang Grand Theatre                                       7 July 2020, 7:30pm
     5.   Zibo Grand Theatre                                          9 July 2020, 7:30pm
     6.   Suzhou Poly Grand Theatre                                   11 July 2020, 7:30pm
     7.   Nanjing Poly Grand Theatre                                  13 July 2020, 7:30pm
     8.   Shanghai Poly Grand Theatre                                 15 July 2020, 7:30pm
     9.   Hong Kong Haw Par Chamber Music Festival                    16-19 July 2020

Shanghai to Vancouver:

Flight from Shanghai to Vancouver                                     16 July 2020

OR

Shanghai to Vancouver via Hong Kong:
(for participants in Haw Par’s Chamber Music Festival)

Flight from Shanghai to Hong Kong                                       16 July 2020
Chamber Music Festival at Haw Par Music (VAM’s strategic educational partner)
Flight from Hong Kong to Vancouver                                      20 July 2020

Pre-tour Rehearsal Dates

Rehearsal (tutti)                       20 June 2020                  10am – 12:30pm &
                                                                      2:30pm – 5:00pm

Rehearsal (tutti/ sectionals)           21 June 2020                  2:00pm – 5:00pm &
                                                                      6:00pm – 8:30pm

Bard on the Beach concert (TBC)         22 June 2020                  TBC
Rehearsal (tutti)                       23-26 June 2020               6:30pm – 9:00pm
All rehearsals are at the Mary Olson Hall; rooms for sectionals TBD

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Audition Timeline

Important Dates:

Audition excerpts release                                  21 September 2019
Application & audition deadline                            10 January 2020
VAMSO China Tour offers released                           March 2020

Audition Requirements

In order to be eligible to apply and audition for the VAMSO China Tour 2020, you must be a
VAMSO member of good standing. This requires that VAMSO tuition must be paid no later than
30 September 2019.

Audition will be taken in video format, submitted online, and will be evaluated by a panel
comprised of the VAM CEO, VAMSO Music Director and Principal Conductor, as well as section
coaches. To submit an audition video, please:

    -   Review the audition requirements of your instrument or section
    -   Create an audition video and upload to a file sharing site (eg. Dropbox, YouTube, Google Drive)
    -   Ensure all required audition excerpts are included
    -   Visit us online at vam.ca/auditions and submit your video using the online form

Assessment Criteria:

Performance                                                50%

    -   Audition requirements (eg. orchestral excerpts)
    -   Must attend all June 2020 rehearsals
    -   Participation in the 2020 Haw Par Chamber Music Festival a bonus

Conduct                                                    50%

    -   Attendance
    -   Punctuality
    -   Performance Attire
    -   Personal Behaviour
    -   Professional Behaviour

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Fees

Breakdown:

Air fare and accommodation fees                  $2000
Tuition fee                                      $300
Total fees                                       $2300
      * 50% non-refundable deposit due upon acceptance of offer
      * Remaining balance due 1 May 2020

Hong Kong Haw Par Chamber Music Festival:

    -     Additional fees charged                TBC

Touring Orchestra Personnel

Number of spots open for audition:

Violins                                          18*

Violas                                           5*

Cellos                                           10

Double basses                                    2*

Flutes (1 doubling piccolo)                      2

Oboes (1 doubling English horn)                  2

Clarinets                                        2

Bassoon                                          1*

Horns                                            2

Trumpets                                         2

Trombones                                        2

Percussion                                       2

*excluding section leaders

                                                                  7

Student Code of Conduct

Personal behaviour:

    -   Students will conduct themselves in a manner that contributes to a safe and nurturing
        environment, conducive to a productive and enjoyable learning environment
    -   Fellow students, faculty, staff and volunteers are to be treated with courtesy and
        respect at all times. Aggressive or provocative behaviour will not be tolerated.
    -   Students are to be attentive to and follow the directions of staff and faculty while on
        tour.
    -   Exercise self-control before and after rehearsals and during breaks, so as to ensure the
        safety and wellbeing of yourself and others.
    -   Students are to be responsible for their belongings at all times.

Professional behaviour:

    -   Bring all issued sheet music to each rehearsal and performance, even when sharing a
        stand with a partner.
    -   Have a sharpened pencil during each rehearsal and mark the conductor’s directions in
        your part.
    -   Rehearsals and performances are a cell-phone free zone: all phones and electronic
        devices must be turned off.
    -   Students on tour are ambassadors of VAM and Vancouver, and are expected to conduct
        themselves in a manner that show regard to others and the host culture.
    -   Respect each other as musicians and as people. Behaviour that jeopardises the welfare
        and safety of the group will not be tolerated.

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