Why apply to the NVYO College Mentor - Performer program? Learn and perform excellent music with excellent people and excellent instruction; mentors receive NVYO membership free of charge, with top quality orchestral training and coaching, networking with professional musicians from around the region,  free snacks (!) and volunteer opportunities. Make a difference while you improve as a musician, and develop skills that will help you both now and in the future! Northern Valley Youth Orchestras' college mentor-performer program is available by university instructor recommendation only, to college musicians who play a symphonic instrument at a high level and are participating in their university ensemble(s), but would like additional symphonic experience and instruction and have an interest in helping indirectly mentor advanced high school musicians.  We have a preference for music education or performance majors, but any strong player will be considered!  For 2022-23, any NVYO alum who is in the area without a college ensemble to play in due to COVID-19 will be accepted. NVYO's flagship orchestra,  Symphony, rehearses Sundays Sept- November and January - March, usually in the evenings; NVYO Symphony performs unabridged symphonic music, both standard repertoire and new compositions.   NVYO Symphony is conducted by Dr. Kevin Sütterlin, who is also the director of orchestras at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN and conducts Fox Valley Symphony orchestra in Wisconsin and Memphis Sinfonietta (in Memphis.). Required 2022-23 performances are November 13 and March 5, with other optional performances in the community and region as they become possible.  Rehearsal site Empire Arts Center (downtown) with occasional rehearsals at UND. More information at www.nvyo.org, on Facebook.com/ NorthernValleyYouthOrchestras, and in communications upon acceptance into the program. ALL instrumentalists who play a standard symphonic instrument are welcome to apply for a mentor-performer placement. Needs can change throughout the course of the season based on programming, so we encourage all interested musicians to apply.  NOTE: rehearsals will be run with careful attention to any existing CDC and international aerosol study recommendations, and all musicians will be provided with a mask (wind/brass players will receive specialty masks and bell covers if required). Read more about our COVID - 19 protocols (subject to change.) on our website in the nvyo.org/present-members section.