Double Double Workshop 2023

The Workshop is a day of classes and activities for oboe, bassoon, and bass students hosted by the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras. Students will have the opportunity to interact with world-renowned professional musicians and to come together to celebrate these unique instruments.

We welcome oboe, bassoon, and double bass students age 10-18 of all playing levels, beginning through advanced. Please note that due to COVID mitigations, this year’s workshop will be restricted to student participants and clinicians only. Visitors are not allowed in the workshop rooms, but are welcome to be in the communal Fine Arts Building spaces. Parents are invited to observe the Play Along at 3:30 pm.

The workshop will take place in the Fine Arts Building at 410 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, 60605. Upon arrival, take the elevator up to the 8th floor where you will find our welcome table.

The cost to attend the workshop is $20. Payment is collected at the bottom of the registration form via credit card payment. Group discounts are available. If you have any questions or issues paying online please contact Madalyne at mmaxwell@cyso.org.

A masterclass is kind of like a lesson in front of an audience. During the class, 3-4 students will play for a teacher who will give them guidance and suggestions on how to improve their performance.

Please bring a short solo piece or etude. It should be well-prepared to almost performance level. If you have questions, please bring those too! A masterclass is a great time to discuss any questions you may have with the group.

Absolutely! Double Double participants are welcome to observe masterclasses. You’ll learn a lot just by observing, and the audience is welcome to participate by asking questions too.

You will indicate your interest to play in a class on the registration form. If you forgot, but wish you play in a class, please e-mail Madalyne at mmaxwell@cyso.org.

Students will be notified by December 13.

The competition is an opportunity for interested intermediate and advanced students. Each student will play 3 orchestral excerpts for our panel of judges. The audition is behind a screen to be kept anonymous. From the audition, students will be chosen to perform their excerpts again in the afternoon orchestral excerpt masterclass. Winners will receive prizes donated from double reed and double bass companies around the country. The competition is a great opportunity to improve your auditioning skills in a friendly environment.

The excerpts will be emailed to students after your registration has been received. PDFs can be downloaded at the link at the top of the page.

Unfortunately due to COVID mitigations, this year’s workshop will be restricted to student participants and clinicians only. Parents will not be allowed in the workshop rooms, but are welcome to be in the communal Fine Arts Building spaces. Parents are however invited to observe the Play Along at 3:30 pm.

No, lunch is not provided. You can bring a bag lunch, or during the lunch hour you may leave the Fine Arts Building to grab a bite at one of the many options nearby.

We hope you can stay for the entire day! If you have a conflict, then yes, you may come for a portion of the day. Please make sure to notify us in advance, by emailing Madalyne mmaxwell@cyso.org.

Make sure to bring your instrument, even if you are not signed up to play for a masterclass. You’ll also want to bring your music if you are performing in a class or competing in the excerpt competition. For the lunch break, please either bring a bag lunch or money to purchase a lunch at a nearby restaurant.

At the very end of the day, we will put together a large ensemble of everyone at the Workshop. This year we’ll be playing Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 1 “Classical“. Please download the part for your instrument that best matches your skill level and practice it before the Workshop. Listening to a recording will also help you to prepare and feel confident with the piece. We need people playing all of the parts, so please learn the part that you’re most comfortable playing. Parts are available for download above this FAQ.

Do your best! Try to choose the part that best matches your skill level, but if it still feels too hard after practicing it, feel free to leave out a few notes or make some adaptations. Ask a teacher to suggest some ways to adapt the part or give you some helpful practice strategies.

Yes! Absolutely.

Unfortunately due to COVID mitigations, this year’s workshop will be restricted to student participants and clinicians only.

Public Transit
The Fine Arts Building is easily accessible by the CTA Red/Blue line Jackson stop, and the Orange/Brown/Purple/Pink line Harold Washington Library stop.

The Metra Van Buren stop is on Michigan Ave, right across from the Fine Arts Building.

Bus lines North – South along Michigan Avenue are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 20, 56, 60, 147, 151.

126 Bus runs East – West along Jackson to Michigan.

29, 62, 146 and 148 Busses drop off two blocks West on State Street.

Parking
Nearest parking to the Fine Arts Building is the Grant Park South Garage. Pre-purchase is available here to reserve a spot. See below for Grant Park South Garage location and entrances.