Dear Musicians & Families,

The new year brings each of us a renewed hope for a better tomorrow and plenty of time to make music together.

ESYO has been monitoring changes in daily COVID-19 numbers since the Tutti! Virtual Festival and remain committed to ensuring a safe-studio space for ensemble musicians and conductors. The Winter/Spring Concert Cycle for ESYO Ensembles will begin online using Google Classroom starting Sunday, January 24, 2020. We look forward to welcoming each of you back to Proctors beginning Sunday, February 7, 2020, for in-person rehearsals. You can view your ensemble's rehearsal schedule online at esyo.org/members/rehearsal-concert-calendar.

We know that we can keep our friends and family safe by wearing a mask, washing and sanitizing our hands, staying home if we are sick, and maintaining physical distance while making music together. Remember, if you can't attend a rehearsal due to COVID-19, you must notify your ensemble manager. If asked to quarantine, you may attend rehearsal online using ESYO Stream.

We are proud of the work you did in the Fall and cannot wait to hear what the new year has in store for you and your ensemble.

Sincerely,

-The ESYO Team

Dear ESYO Musicians & Families,

COVID-19 has challenged us to live, rehearse, and perform differently. Despite the challenges, it has been an absolute joy to witness your music-making each week. We are incredibly proud of your hard work this term and look forward to celebrating with you at the Tutti! Festival. We are also thankful for your continued commitment to "playing it safe" during this pandemic.

As expected, COVID-19 cases are rising in many of our communities, and we anticipate that positive cases of COVID-19 will continue to increase as cold & flu season progresses. ESYO will maintain its current safety guidelines while emphasizing the importance of wearing all required PPE, frequently washing your hands, and staying home if you are sick. Proctors and its facilities and restrooms remain closed to parents. ESYO made limited accommodations to support ESYO families that travel over 40 miles to attend a rehearsal. As a reminder, all members of the ESYO community who enter Proctors are required to complete the ESYO Health Questionnaire before arriving at rehearsal.

Thank you for your continued commitment to keeping ESYO sounding together, no matter what.

Sincerely,

The ESYO Team

Dear ESYO Friends & Family,

Rehearsals are underway at ESYO's safe-studio in Proctors. We've taken all the necessary precautions to ensure a safe season of joyful music-making. We are grateful to all the students and parents for making the start of our new season a success. We hope that you are enjoying sounding together as much as we enjoy hearing your music echo through the halls of Proctors.

By now, you've noticed that things are different. We've accessorized our instruments with some pretty inventive PPE. We've all grown accustomed to wearing masks, social distancing, and washing our hands more often. Some of us are even adapting to rehearsing online using ESYO Stream. As challenging as it is to play your instrument with these new changes, our ability to come together each week to play music with our friends is an opportunity that is not possible in many communities across the globe.   

Fall is here, and the traditional cold & flu season is right around the corner. Most of us have returned to school in some fashion and are increasingly meeting up with friends for the first time since March. For the health and safety of our friends and family and the wellbeing of the ESYO community, it is our collective responsibility to follow all recommended CDC health guidelines during rehearsal and outside of ESYO. COVID-19 is still a threat to health and wellbeing. We hope that you will continue to join together and play your part.

Here are a few important reminders. 

1. Instrument PPE is like a face mask. It is required, and for it to work, we must wear it properly.  
2. ESYO is serious fun! Bring your smile and excitement to rehearsal. It's ok to chat with your friends (and make new ones), but we must maintain a safe distance of 6ft or three Cellos between you and your friends. 
3. Share your love of music and not your germs. If you are sick or someone in your household is showing symptoms of COVID-19, stay home, notify your ensemble manager, and attend rehearsal online using ESYO Stream.
4. Be mindful of your health and complete the ESYO Health Questionnaire before each rehearsal. Be sure to bookmark the link in your web browser. https://esyo.org/health-questionnaire
5. Frequently wash your hands with soap and water. Generously use the sanitizing station set-up outside Key Hall or GE Theatre.

We look forward to seeing and hearing your play each week. We are excited to announce that all ESYO concerts will be recorded live on Proctors Mainstage and streamed online to a virtual audience. Preparations are underway for the Grand Opening of ESYO's first-ever Virtual Concert Hall. Tickets and information about virtual performances are to be released shortly. 

Sincerely,

Your ESYO Team

Dear ESYO Friends and Family-

ESYO is staying home now, so we can perform together later. But, this doesn't mean that ESYO has stopped - we've gone online.

Our conductors and teaching artists are using techniques familiar to their students and are giving listening exercises, practice challenges, and general support online using outstanding virtual platforms. Our goal is to keep our musicians as active and engaged as possible, online.

Starting April 6, 2020, Google Classroom will be the hub for all ESYO ensemble communication and online learning.

When the time is right we will return to the rehearsal room. Until then, we look forward to connecting with you online.  

Stay home- stay safe- stay committed- keep playing. We'll do the same.

All our very best,

-The ESYO Team

Updated 4/6/2020 at 8:30 A.M.

Dear ESYO Friends and Family-

ESYO is staying home now, so we can perform together later. But, this doesn't mean that ESYO has stopped - we've gone online.

Our conductors and teaching artists are using techniques familiar to their students and are giving listening exercises, practice challenges, and general support online using outstanding virtual platforms. Our goal is to keep our musicians as active and engaged as possible, online.

Starting April 6, 2020, Google Classroom will be the hub for all ESYO ensemble communication and online learning.

When the time is right we will return to the rehearsal room. Until then, we look forward to connecting with you online.  

Stay home- stay safe- stay committed- keep playing. We'll do the same.

All our very best,

-The ESYO Team

Updated 3/20/2020 at 3:30 P.M.

• We are challenged to learn - but not in a classroom
• We are challenged to practice - but not with a stand partner
• We are challenged to listen - but not to a conductor on a podium
• We are challenged to engage - but not face to face
• We are challenged to stay motivated in an environment where we might feel isolated and alone, but we know that we are not.

We hope you will join us in our endeavors to continue to move forward in a brand new environment. Maybe you cannot teach virtually, or aid in a students' practice, or help them listen more effectively, but you can wish us well, and follow our updates! You can let us know what YOU are doing to "stay on track" during this challenging time! It is not familiar, but we are committed.

Now. The spring. We are indeed postponing our spring concerts and events, but wait until you see what's next! We look forward to a big celebration bash when the time is right, and rest assured you will be at the top of the invite list! Our creative hats are on, and we are planning already. Got any ideas? Throw them our way! We'll put them in the mix and see what comes out on top.

Stay healthy - stay safe - stay committed - stay motivated. We'll do the same.

All our very best
- The ESYO Team

COVID-19 Message