On April 20, 1991 a steering committee was formed to help implement a youth symphony for Auburn and surrounding communities. The committee included Gary Young, John Mauer, Kay Coder, Coral Mertins-Sims and Auburn Civic Symphony conductor, Mr. Clyde Quick.
On June 17, 1991 Elton Geist and Kay Coder met with the Auburn Civic Symphony Association and Monroe DeJarnette, The ACS's Manager to ask for suport for the AYS. They agreed to help suport the AYS by providing some funding for the AYS Conductor's salary and include AYS as a committee under the non-profit umbrella of the Auburn Civic Symphony and Auburn Chamber of Commerce.
The Steering Committee decided the Auburn Youth Symphony would be designed for the purpose of:
(1) the enhancement of the children's lives with a positive activity and the enhancement of our
community with an activity which is positive rather than drug or violence oriented.
(2) to develop a sharing and interacting relationship with the public schools fine arts departments.
(3) the focus of the orchestra should be for the children's musical growth and not on performances.
(4) a youth symphony in Auburn would also lead to an enhancement of the Auburn Civic Symphony
through better listerners and future players.
(5) the first year would be comprised of strings only, supplemented with wind and percussion as needed. A timeline was set to coordinate a fuller orchestra in the second or third year.
(6) the members would be children from Auburn and surrounding foothill communities.
(7) a conductor would be selected as soon as possible for the orchestra.
The philosophy statement that eventually was written into the Auburn Youth Symphony bylaws states: that "the Auburn Youth Symphony was established in 1991 to provide a community orchestral progam for youth. The Auburn Civic Symphony Association, sensitive to the musical needs of the communities it serves has drawn upon its unique resources in establishing the Auburn Youth Symphony Orchestra. This orchestra will offer an enriched musical experience by creating a venue for students to explore and express their talents and abilities."
On August 10, 1991 a Steering Committee consisting of Kay Coder-Chairperson, Margaret Choppin, Phyllis Miller, Gary Young, Elton Geist, Monroe DeJarnette and Clyde Quick met at the Auburn Chamber of Commerce and held interviews for the position of Conductor of the Auburn Youth Symphony. Mr. Jay Sydeman was selected as Conductor and a meeting was set August 29, 1991 and took place at Sweetpeas Restaurant to discuss and finalize student auditioning procedures.
Rehearsal History:
The first year (1991) AYS rehearsals were held downstairs at Music & More Arts Academy, 1130 High St. Auburn. Orchestra members were encouraged to attend a series of music theory and sight reading classes taught by Kay Coder one-half hour prior to orchestra rehearsals. The orchestra outgrew the space at Music & More and Placer High School offered their band room for rehearsals.
From 1993-97 the AYS rented the Auburn Grace Brethern Chruch's main sancturary for rehearsals and performances. Each year an anonymous church member donated half of the rental fee. When the church was sold in 1998, the AYS began using Music & More's DeWitt Theatre with the Board's approval and at the request of the Conductor, Dr. Horatio Edens.
