The mission of the Williamsport Symphony Junior Strings is to offer an education in orchestral ensemble playing to young string players in the greater Williamsport area.
Mr. Nelson Rodriquez-Parada directs and conducts the group. Please see below his full bio. Feel free to contact him directly with any questions at [email protected]
The tuition to join WSJS s $55 for the Fall and Spring semester. Scholarships are available upon request. Please Contact Hind Jabbour at [email protected] for scholarship inquiry.
If you like to make a donation to WSJS or sponsor a student, please contact Janet Harris at [email protected]
Spring 2023 Schedule and Program
Spring 2023 Schedule
The WSJS will rehearse 6 times per school semester culminating in a performance.
Rehearsals from 4:00-6:00pm pm at Loyalsock Township High School Band Room
- 3/12, 3/26, 4/2, 4/16, 4/23 (All Sundays)
Dress Rehearsal: Sunday May 7, 2023, 1:00pm-3:00pm at the Community Arts Center.
Concert: Sunday, May 7, 2023 at the Community Arts Center at 4:00PM. It will be a combined concert with WSYO.
Spring 2023 Program
Spring 2023 WSJS Sheet Music Link
Air on the G String, Bach
Song of the Wellerman
Uptown Funk, Bruno Mars
Sleeper’s Wake, Bach
WSJS Music Director
Nelson Rodriguez-Parada currently serves as the Orchestra and Modern Band Director at the Shamokin Area School District in Coal Township, Pennsylvania. His mission as a music educator is to use music as a social and developmental outlet for everyone involved while giving students learning experiences to use throughout the rest of their lives whether or not they decide to pursue music professionally.
Rodriguez-Parada began his career in Riverview, Florida at Spoto High School as the Orchestra, Chorus and Modern Band Director. An avid supporter of community music performance, he founded and conducted the Tampa Music Society Orchestra. He also played with several jazz bands, wind ensembles and orchestras throughout central Florida, including Walt Disney World’s Encore Symphony Orchestra.
Before moving to central Pennsylvania, Rodriguez-Parada worked for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra as their General Manager of Training Programs, responsible for managing the Civic Youth Ensembles and the Detroit Symphony Youth Orchestra, serving over 1,000 students in orchestras, wind ensembles, choirs and jazz ensembles annually. He also founded and conducted in the Detroit Symphony’s Community Ensembles program, an orchestra and wind ensemble dedicated to giving adults lifelong music playing opportunities, regardless of prior experience.
Rodriguez-Parada is originally from Tampa, Florida and holds degrees in music education from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee and The Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford in West Hartford, Connecticut. In addition to his role at Shamokin, Rodriguez-Parada conducts the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra’s Junior Strings, teaches double bass and guitar at Susquehanna and Bucknell Universities, and plays regularly throughout the region for musicals and other concerts. He currently lives in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania with his wife Adrienne, daughters Lucy and Eliza, and dog Phoebe (who is a very good dog).
WSO Junior Strings Information
REHEARSALS
The WSJS will rehearse 6 times per school semester culminating in a performance.
FALL SCHEDULE:
Rehearsals from 4:00-6:00 pm at Loyalsock Township Band Room
- 10/2, 10/9. 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/6 (All Sundays)
Concert: Sunday, November 13, 2022 at the Community Arts Center at 4:00PM. It will be a combined concert with WSYO.
SPRING SCHEDULE:
Rehearsals from 4:00-6:00pm pm at Loyalsock Township High School Band Room
- 3/12, 3/26, 4/2, 4/16, 4/23 (All Sundays)
Dress Rehearsal: Sunday May 7, 2023, 1:00pm-3:00pm at the Community Arts Center.
Concert: Sunday, May 7, 2023 at the Community Arts Center at 4:00PM. It will be a combined concert with WSYO.
All dates are subject to change prior to beginning of semester.
QUALIFICATIONS
The orchestra is open to string students who may not be quite ready for the Williamsport Symphony Youth Orchestra. Students who are young high school, middle school, and advanced elementary school ages are invited to participate. Students should be studying privately or be involved in their school orchestra program.
PERFORMANCE LEVEL
The WSJS will play a variety of repertoire that is challenging enough that the group will have to practice, but also obtainable enough that ensemble techniques can be taught. The target repertoire is grade 3 and high grade 2 (Merle Isaac and Vernon Liedig arrangements for example).
AUDITIONS
No auditions are required to join the Williamsport Symphony Junior Strings. Please download the form below and mail to WSO office at 220 West Fourth Street, Williamsport, PA 17701.
WSO Junior Strings Application