NOVAE SINFONIA FALL 2025

announcements:

Novae Sinfonia students are invited to join Prelude Ensemble & Symphony Orchestra who will be going on a two day tour to Disneyland in January 2026! The down payment for the trip is only $300, due by Friday, October 31st. Please note that if we don’t have enough sign-ups by then, the tour is at high risk to be cancelled.


Family and friends may join at a lower rate than the student performer package, with a further discount for Magic Key Pass holders. (Non-performers only; student performers must purchase the full package.)

October 31st, 2025 - Deposit - FINAL DAY TO SIGN UP
$300 (+ $10 processing fee)

November 16th, 2025 - Final Balance*
$450 (+ $14 processing fee)

*or remaining balance, fundraising credits applied

STUDENT - $450 final payment (+ $14 processing fee) = $464 due November 16th
CHAPERONE/FAN - $370 final payment (+ $12 processing fee) = $382 due November 16th
CHAPERONE/FAN WITH MAGIC KEY PASS** - $55 final payment (+ $2 processing fee) = $57 due November 16th

OR STUDENTS can make a one-time payment in full for $750 (+ $24 processing fee) = $774 due October 31st
OR CHAPERONE/FAN make a one-time payment in full for $670 (+ $22 processing fee) = $692 due October 31st
OR CHAPERONE/FAN WITH MAGIC KEY PASS make a one-time payment in full for $355 (+ $12 processing fee) = $367 due October 31st


**ONLY $355 FOR NON-PERFORMERS WITH A MAGIC KEY PASS. PRICE ONLY VALID FOR NON-PERFORMERS, STUDENTS PERFORMING MUST PURCHASE A PACKAGE, EVEN IF THEY HOLD A MAGIC KEY PASS.

Chocolate for the World’s Finest Chocolate fundraiser will be available to pick up this Sunday before and after rehearsal! Each box sold earns student $23 toward either their tour tuition or regular SCVYO tuition.

PRACTICE ASSIGNMENT FOR 11/2/25

Hello Novae,

Thanks for a great rehearsal yesterday! 

For this week-

BERCEUSE:

 - Violin 1 - practice pickup to Rehearsal 4 with a metronome (60bpm) thinking about bow distribution. Remember to start in a place that will allow you to be at the frog on the downbeat. 

PLAYFUL PIZZ:

 - Goal tempo is 100BPM (to the dotted quarter - 2 clicks per bar). Practice this week with metronome - including counting and entrances.

DANSE INFERNALE:

 - Winds/Brass - double check your counting / entrances between 11-12, I'm missing a lot of the folks that play on beats 2 and 3 (this includes Oboe)

 - Horns - good job driving the tempo at Rehearsal 11 - let's internalize that!

 - Strings - reminder that for the very end we are getting rid of the tie, and playing a single short note

 - Everyone - Try playing along with Violin 1 Recording this week! (Violin 2/3, you can also work with the recordings of your parts - linked below)

DANSE MACABRE:

 - Flute - m. 31 - this sounds great! Don't let the trills get you behind, always play ornaments before the beat. 

 - Oboe - Letter A - this entrance is slightly late - practice along with the recording and work on anticipating

 - Violin 1/2 - Letter G - really spend some time working on this section with a metronome. Remember that we changed the dynamic to piano! There are practice recordings breaking down this spot (Violin 1 Letter G) (Violin 2 Letter G)

 - Everyone - Try playing along with Violin 1 Recording this week! (Violin 2/3, you can also work with the recordings of your parts - linked below)

FINALE:

 - let's keep the short separated articulation we found at the end!

Recordings:

Violin 1 Danse Infernale Practice Recordings

Violin 2 Danse Infernale Practice Recordings

Violin 3 Danse Infernale Practice Recordings

Violin 1 Danse Macabre Practice Recordings

Violin 2 Danse Macabre Practice Recordings

Violin 3 Danse Macabre Practice Recordings

This Sunday the CalArts conductors will be visiting during part of rehearsal with Professor Nick Deyoe. If anyone is interested in getting up on the podium, there will be an opportunity toward the end of rehearsal. 

Have a great week and happy halloween!

Tempo Reference:

Danse Macabre 60bpm to the bar (or 180bpm to the quarter), and then 72bpm for the animato at m. 415. 

Danse Infernale

Goal tempi.

Beginning-Rehearsal 10: 130BPM

Rehearsal 10 (Piu Mosso): 150BPM

Rehearsal 12: 100BPM (in 2)

Rehearsal 14: 150BPM (in 3)

4 measure before Rehearsal 17: Accelerando really picks up!

Rehearsal 17: 180BPM

Berceuse - 60bpm

As requested, for those who would like to organize your music in program order, here it is:

  1. Holberg Suite Mvt. 1 (string orchestra only)

  2. "In the Hall of the Mountain King"

  3. "Berceuse" (In the Berceuse & Finale Part, beginning-rehearsal 11)

  4. "Playful Pizzicato" (string orchestra only)

  5. "Danse Infernale"

  6. "Danse Macabre"

  7. "Finale" (In the Berceuse & Finale Part, rehearsal 11-end)

parts

Beginning-Rehearsal 10: 130BPM

Rehearsal 10 (Piu Mosso): 150BPM

Rehearsal 12: 100BPM (in 2)

Rehearsal 14: 150BPM (in 3)

4 measure before Rehearsal 17: Accelerando really picks up!

Rehearsal 17: 180BPM

 
 
 
 
Parts

Berceuse - steady 60bpm

Finale (2:48 in video) - starts around 60bpm, but each iteration gets a little faster. We will take roughly the same tempi as the recording.

Parts

Goal tempo = 60-70 bpm to the bar. Work up to this with a metronome!

*note that this recording is different from our arrangement

“In the Hall of the Mountain King” from Peer Gynt Suite │1867

edvard grieg (1843-1907)

Parts
parts

Strings – practice the first section (up to the trio) at 90bpm to the dotted quarter (2 clicks per bar).

parts

ATTENDANCE POLICY


As an orchestra, our collective sound is determined by the effort of every individual in the ensemble, and our ability to prepare a wonderful concert relies on the presence in rehearsal of every musician. 

We have a lot of music to learn in a short amount of time, which means each week we are making changes to timing, bowings, articulation and more. When we are missing section members or individual parts, it’s difficult to progress as a group, because we end up spending a large portion of rehearsal time re-learning things we covered in previous rehearsals.

For this reason, we are clarifying our policies around tardiness and attendance.

TARDINESS:

Rehearsals will always begin on time - this means you should plan to arrive with ample time to unpack, warm up, and be in your seats ready to play at least 5 minutes BEFORE the start of rehearsal. (We recommend arriving at COC at least 15 minutes before the start of rehearsal). 


In order to avoid unnecessary disruptions to rehearsal, moving forward we will close the door at the start of rehearsal. Late arrivals will be asked to wait outside for the first 10 minutes of rehearsal, during which time they can unpack their instruments, and get their music, stand and pencil ready to go. 10 minutes after the start of rehearsal, all latecomers will be admitted at once and ask to quickly and quietly take their seats. 

ABSENCES:

Students are allowed a maximum of 3 excused absences per semester. After this point, ensemble directors will initiate a conversation with the student and parents to determine if the student will realistically be prepared to perform in the final concert. 

If you plan to be absent, or have to miss a portion of rehearsal, please submit the ONLINE ABSENCE NOTIFICATION FORM at least 24 hours in advance, whenever possible. 

IMPORTANT DATES

First Day of Rehearsal:

September 7th, 2025 3:00-5:00PM, Rancho Pico Junior High

December Concert:

December 6th, 2025, Canyon High School Performing Arts Center