The Frederick Regional Youth Orchestra (FRYO), a non-profit organization, will hold membership auditions for its 2008-2009 season on Monday, April 28, 2008 at the Frederick Church of the Brethren, 201 Fairview Avenue, Frederick, Md.

Young musicians in upper elementary through high school (public, private or home-schools) who have at least one-year experience in strings, brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments are welcome to audition. Orchestra directors hope to fill openings this year for double-reed, low-brass, and stringed instruments vacated by graduating high school seniors.

Founded in 1978, FRYO enjoys a reputation for nurturing young musicians and providing them with music appreciation/theory and performance opportunities complementary to their school band and/or private lessons. The Orchestra’s repertoire typically includes classical pieces, seasonal music, and scores from movies and Broadway musicals.

FRYO students participate in one of three performance groups: the Philharmonic (under the direction of Elijah Wirth), a full instrumentation with strings, brass, woodwinds and percussion; the Symphonia (under the direction of Tom Mitchell), composed of strings and wind instruments; and the Wind Ensemble (under the direction of Nicholas Marini), composed of mixed brass, woodwind and percussion instruments.

Weekly rehearsals are held on Mondays during the school year from 4:30 to 6 p.m. for the Symphonia, 6 to 8 p.m. for the Wind Ensemble, and 6:45 to 9 p.m. for the Philharmonic. Rehearsals are held at the Frederick Church of the Brethren, located at 2nd Street and Fairview Avenue, across from the Schifferstadt Museum.

There is a $10.00 non-refundable audition fee for new members. Tuition for all students for the season is $250, plus a $100 per family fund-raising commitment. A small number of need-based scholarships are available. Please visit our Web site at www.fryo.org for information.