SEYSO

SEYSO is a Symphonic Orchestra for children/young adults which provides orchestral training for young musicians through a series of monthly workshops, three substantive annual courses and major public performances.

There is a large staff of specialist tutors and a team of experienced conductors. Members also benefit from the expertise of local, national and international guest directors, giving them access to an extensive range of musical genres featuring the great classics as well as modern and baroque works.

SEYSO collaborates with other youth and adult organisations, choral, dance and theatre groups, to provide a hugely broad range of musical genre and opportunities. We also work with local Cultural Development and Arts Councils to obtain discounts on other events not coordinated by ourselves.

As well as coaching in all aspects of orchestral musicianship, SEYSO offers advice on instrument care and maintenance, tuning and intonation, posture and deportment, practice techniques and careers in music.

There is a friendly and relaxed social atmosphere over a wide age range. (Over 18s can remain members as long as they are in further education.)

Our participants include an enormous age range of individuals in education from Primary to Higher Education. One of our unique attributes is the provision of orchestral training for students as young as 8 years, where the younger ones benefit from the participation of their older and more experienced role models. Across all ages, students acquire an understanding of the contribution of other individuals in the Organisation. We feel that this form of participation in a full symphony orchestra develops communication, presentation, teamwork and leadership skills, in a manner that few other groups can replicate.

Membership of SEYSO is open to orchestral instrumentalists from about grade 3.

SEYTO

For beginners up to about grade 3, an associated group SEYTO, meets at approximately the same times and usually on the same premises.

SEYTO shares the friendly and relaxed social atmosphere, offering beginners the opportunity to work and perform alongside SEYSO and make a natural progression up to it.

Further Details

If you need further details not on the website, please call the SEYSO message line, text or email :

Message line 1 : 01268 743069
Message line 2 : 01702 207912
Mobile : 07958 193390
seyso_team@hotmail.com

Registered Charity
Number : 1057748

All aspects of orchestral training

Established over 40 years ago, SEYSO is a cross-schools organisation set up to give aspiring young musicians all manner of orchestral training and the thrill of participating and performing in a full symphony orchestra.

The general theme this year is The History of Music.
There will be guest directors and sessions on Early Music, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Modern and Contemporary Music, Dance Music, Choral Music and The History of Cultural Music (including African, Polynesian, Reggae, etc.).

Events in the next few months :

 

Spring Course and Concert

Wednesday 11th April 10.30am-1pm & 1.45pm-4pm
Thursday 12th April 10.30am-1pm & 1.45pm-4pm
Wed & Thurs at Rayleigh Evangelical Church, Rayleigh SS6 7JQ
Friday 13th April 2pm-4pm and 7.30pm Musical Jokes Concert
Mill Hall, Bellingham Lane, Rayleigh (Friday)

 

Orchestral workshops

Sunday 20th May 1.15pm (SEYTO 1.45pm) – 5pm + AGM
Southend High School for Boys, SS0 0RG (TBC)

Sunday 24th June 1.15pm (SEYTO 1.45pm) – 5pm
Southend High School for Boys, SS0 0RG (TBC)

 

 

 

Photos of Christmas Concert etc. – Click a photo to see more photos.

 

Annual Provision

8 workshops

Typically Sunday afternoons at the end of September, October, November, January, February, March, May and June. Repertoire is studied in sectionals and full orchestra with a short performance to parents and friends at the end of the afternoon, to which both SEYSO and SEYTO contribute.

3 courses with major public performances

Typically at Christmas, Easter and Summer. SEYSO courses are usually over 3 to 5 days, with SEYTO over 2 to 5 days on the same premises.

Special events

We have performed at private functions and in special events to help raise funds for charity. We have played on Southend Pier, at the Southend Bandstand, in the barn of a local farm (with a picnic supper to follow), and we’ve teamed up with other performing groups at churches, theatres, schools and other venues across the South Essex area.

 

Membership

Membership of SEYSO is £100 per academic year or, for SEYTO, just £65 per year.

Membership renewals become due on 31st August. A pro-rota charge is made for individuals joining part way through the academic year.
There is 20% discount for younger siblings and no charge to students who have left secondary school, with whom we like to keep contact and invite back to take part in events between terms like the famous Christmas Concert on 23rd December.

Newcomers are charged (a reimbursable) £5 per morning or afternoon trial session.

Fees should be paid by cheque, made payable to SEYSO, and posted or handed to a member of staff.  Alternatively, you can hand your fees in at the registration desk at a Sunday workshop.

If you have difficulty paying the subscription then it is possible to pay :

1. In three instalments.  The first instalment should be paid by 25th September.  Subsequent payments should be made by means of post-dated cheques handed in with the first instalment.  These will be presented to the bank as their dates are reached. (20% reduction for younger siblings does not apply.)

2. By monthly standing order. For the eleven months from October to August next year, SEYSO membership is £9.25 a month and SEYTO membership is only £6.00 a month.

Further details on the payment methods and application forms etc. can be downloaded from the Forms page using password: seyso

 

SEYSO / SEYTO Members’ Information – Events in detail

(*SEYTO Repertoire workshop start times 1.45pm)

 

 

 

Spring Course and Concert

Wednesday 11th April 10.30am-1pm & 1.45pm-4pm
Thursday 12th April 10.30am-1pm & 1.45pm-4pm
Wed & Thurs at Rayleigh Evangelical Church, Rayleigh SS6 7JQ
Friday 13th April 2pm-4pm and 7.30pm public concert
Mill Hall, Bellingham Lane, Rayleigh (Friday)

 

Orchestral workshops

Sunday 20th May 1.15pm (SEYTO 1.45pm) – 5pm + AGM
Southend High School for Boys, SS0 0RG (TBC)

Sunday 24th June 1.15pm (SEYTO 1.45pm) – 5pm
Southend High School for Boys, SS0 0RG (TBC)

 

ESSEX CONCERT ORCHESTRA – Concert for “Help For Heroes”
Saturday 14th July 2018 – 7.30pm
Mill Hall, Bellingham Lane, Rayleigh SS6 7ED
(Some SEYSO members will be invited to participate.)

Summer School of Performing Arts

Monday 13th – Friday 17th August – 9.30am-12.00pm & 12.45pm-3.30pm
Southend High School for Girls, SS2 4UZ,
Friday 17th August – 7.00pm public concert
Friday at St Bernards High School, Westcliff, SS0 7JS

 

 

Sunday  2018 1.15pm – 5pm (SEYTO start 1.45pm)
The Sweyne Park School, Sir Walter Rayleigh Drive, Rayleigh, Essex SS6 9BY Directions
Southend High School for Boys (Music Block), Prittlewell Chase, Southend, SS0 0RG

 

 

Recent events:

See recent events and photos of  SEYSO Christmas, Pier and bandstand