Symphonic Honors Initiative Program
SHIP

The Symphonic Honors Initiative Program (SHIP) is an outreach program designed to provide orchestral experience for the exceptionally talented high school and middle school string players primarily in Coles County in addition to the surrounding counties. I invite these students to perform in concert performances with the Eastern Symphony Orchestra. I see this as an occasion to provide your child professional orchestral experience as a way of preparing them for future orchestral opportunities and the over-all college orchestral experience.

SHIP and now SHIP Jr. participate in the ESO orchestral rehearsals on Tuesday and Thursday from 4:00-4:50pm. SHIP also meets at 6PM on Wednesday Evenings right before ESO rehearses. At 7 PM they combine in a full rehearsal with the Eastern Symphony Orchestra. The Symphonic Honors Students will be finished with rehearsals no later then 9 PM (with the exception of dress rehearsals which will be from 7-10PM).  After which, The Eastern Symphony Chamber Orchestra will continue to rehearsal until 10 PM. SHIP Jr. will be excused around 8:00/8:15.

If you feel that you would like your child to participate and would like to be considered for the program please feel free to contact me. Thank you for supporting and having such an invested interest in the artistic growth of your child!

Sincerely,

Richard Robert Rossi
Director of Orchestral & Choral Activities
217-581-3111
rrrossi@eiu.edu

ESO 2007-2008 Concert Season Rehearsal Schedule

* = mandatory Dress rehearsal or last regular rehearsal)
NOTE: All regular rehearsals are on Wednesday. unless indicated
Note: Dress Rehearsal II for Nov. 10, 07
varies from other Saturday rehearsals 

FALL 2007
_____Aug. 29 (1st Wedn. regular rehearsal)
_____Sept. 5(regular rehearsal)
_____Sept. 12 (regular rehearsal)
_____Sept. 19 (regular rehearsal)
_____Sept. 26 (regular rehearsal)
_____Oct. 3 (regular rehearsal)
_____Oct. 10 (regular rehearsal)
_____Oct. 17 (regular rehearsal)
_____*Wed. Oct. 24 (Dress Rehearsal I) 7-10PM
_____*Sat. Oct. 27 (Dress Rehearsal II) 1-4PM

_____Sunday, October 28, 2007 Concert at 6PM
 Fright Night                       

_____*Oct. 31 (regular rehearsal)
_____*Wedn. Nov. 7 (Dress Rehearsal I) 7-10PM
_____*Sat. Nov. 10, 2007 (Dress Rehearsal II) 9AM-Noon       

_____Sunday, November 11, 2007 Concert 4PM

Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms

_____Nov. 14 (regular rehearsal)
_____*Wedn. Nov. 28 (Dress Rehearsal I) 7-10PM
_____*Wedn. Dec. 5 (Dress Rehearsal II) 7-10PM
_____Friday, December 7, 2007 Concert 7PM
Handel’s Messiah: ESCO

SPRING 2008

_____Jan. 9   (regular rehearsal)
_____Jan. 16 (regular rehearsal)
_____Jan. 23 (regular rehearsal)
_____Jan. 30 (regular rehearsal)
_____Feb. 6 (regular rehearsal)
_____*Wedn. Feb. 13 (Dress Rehearsal I)
_____*Sat. Feb. 16 (Dress Rehearsal II) 1-4PM

_____Sunday, February 17, 2008 Concert at 4PM

Stagestruck

_____Feb. 20 (regular rehearsal)
_____Feb. 27 (regular rehearsal)
_____Mar. 5 (regular rehearsal)
_____Mar. 19 (regular rehearsal during U of I Spring break)
_____*Wed., Mar. 26 (Dress Rehearsal I)
_____*Sat., Mar. 29 (Dress Rehearsal II) 1-4PM

_____Sunday, March 30, 2008 Concert 4PM

Vivaldi: The Four Seasons: ESCO

_____April 2 (regular rehearsal)
_____*Wedn. April 9 (Dress Rehearsal I) 7-10PM
_____*Wedn. April 16 (Dress Rehearsal II) 7-19PM

_____*Friday, April 18, 2008 TV Recording Session (in concert dress) at 7PM

_____Sunday, April 20, 2008 Concert at 4PM

Spring Concert:  Musical Journey through Time