2025-2026
Administrative Staff
Dr. Kyle Nielsen, Director, Osher School of Music and Head of Choral Activities
Noah Hall, Pre-College Activities Coordinator
Artistic Staff
Dr. Robert Lehmann, conductor, Portland Youth Symphony Orchestra and Southern Maine Symphony Orchestra
Dr. William Kinne, conductor, Portland Youth Wind Ensemble
Hanna Flewelling, conductor, Portland Youth Junior Orchestra
Linda Vaillancourt, conductor, Portland Youth Peoples String Consort
Contacting us:
Please contact Coordinator, Noah Hall, with any questions.
Phone: 207-780-5003
Email: usm.music.youth@maine.edu
Mail: Corthell Hall, 13 University Way, Gorham, ME 04038
Storm Line: 207-780-4800
Web Page: usm.maine.edu/osher-school-music/portland-youth-ensembles/
Schedule/Concerts
The semester rehearsal/concert schedule can be found at usm.maine.edu/osher-school-music/portland-youth-ensembles/ under the “OYE 2025-2026 Schedule” tab.
Concerts
- Saturday, September 6, 2025 at the Crewe Center for the Arts (Immersion Day: all ensembles required to attend)
- Saturday, September 13, 2025 at South Portland High School, PYSO only, Classic Rock Orchestra Pops Concert
- Wednesday, November 12, 2025 at Merrill Auditorium, Fall Concert
- Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at South Portland High School, PYSO only, Southern Maine Symphony Orchestra Concert
- Saturday, February 7, 2026 at the Crewe Center for the Arts, Concerto Competition Auditions (optional)
- Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at Merrill Auditorium, Spring Concert
- Saturday, April 18, 2026 at South Portland High School, OSOM Orchestra/Choral and Concerto Competition Concert (PYSO only)
- Tuesday-Thursday, May 19-21, 2026 at the Crewe Center for the Arts, 2026-2027 Osher Youth Ensembles Audition
Membership
Auditions for the Osher Youth Ensembles take place in May. Students will be invited to join based on audition results. For more information, please visit usm.maine.edu/osher-school-music/portland-youth-ensembles/.
Membership Dues
Dues are $350 per year. Families with more than one student enrolled are discounted to $300 per student. Dues are expected to be paid in full by the second rehearsal, Wednesday, September 18th, 2024. A $50 nonrefundable deposit is required upon registration.
Refunds
$300 will be refunded for students who decide to cancel their membership prior to Immersion Day. $250 will be refunded for students who decide to cancel their membership after Immersion Day, and prior to the second rehearsal. No refunds will be offered after the second rehearsal. Refund amounts are $50 less for multi-student discounts, respectively.
Ultracamp
Membership, payment, and communication, are all managed through Ultracamp. Upon invitation to the Osher Youth Ensembles, parents/guardians will be asked to create an Ultracamp account. This can be done at our Ultracamp Client Login. When creating an Ultracamp account, the Primary Contact is always a parent/guardian.
Attendance/Absences
Attendance
Attendance will be taken at all rehearsals/concerts. Students will be expected to check-in and check-out prior to and following rehearsals. Absences other than emergency/illness must be approved in advance by the ensemble conductor. Students are allowed two excused absences before membership will be reviewed by staff and faculty. While our attendance policy may appear strict, it is in support of our mission of excellence and professionalism.
Reporting Absences
Beginning in the 2025-2026 year, we will be using a Google Form to report absences. Please fill out our OYE Absence Form by 4:00 pm on the date of the missed rehearsal. If you have multiple students, please fill out a separate form for each student. Please do not email Noah or the ensemble conductors regarding absences.
Rehearsal/Concert Expectations
Rehearsals take place in the Crewe Center for the Arts at the University of Southern Maine, Portland Campus. Early evening traffic in Portland is notoriously dense. Please plan accordingly to avoid arriving late.
PYPSC/PYJO/PYWE: 5:45 – 7:15 pm
PYSO: 5:45 – 9:00 pm
The Crewe Center for the Arts is the current home of the Osher School of Music. Members will be using equipment/spaces of the OSOM and are expected to treat such materials with care and respect. Membership is an opportunity to experience professional musicianship in a collegiate setting. Rehearsal spaces will be straightened and re-set following rehearsal.
Each member must bring their instruments in excellent playing condition, sheet music folder, a pencil, required mutes, sticks and mallets, and necessary equipment, to all rehearsals and concerts. Markings made on original music parts must be erased before music is turned in after concerts. Music that is lost, torn, tattered, or stained, must be replaced and students will be billed for the full replacement cost.
Members are required to remain in attendance for the entire length of the concerts. It is important that members support each other by listening attentively to each group’s performance.
Parking/Drop-off/Pick-up
The University has implemented a new “Pay by Plate” system for on-campus parking. There is a one hour grace period once you enter campus. You must pay before the grace period is over or you will be fined.
More parking details will be posted in late summer 2025.
Concert Dress
PYWE/PYSO
The purpose of concert attire is to present a professional, uniform appearance. Concert attire should cover the shoulders, midriff, thighs, and back. If you are unsure whether what you have is appropriate, please ask well before the concert.
Option A: All-black suit or tuxedo, black shirt, black bow or necktie, black belt, black socks & black dress shoes.
Option B: All-black button-down collared shirt, black belt, black pants, black socks, black dress shoes.
Option C: All-black long dress or black blouse and long (below knees) skirt, black dress shoes.
PYJO/PYPSC
Option A: Black pants (no jeans), black long-sleeved shirt with long black tie, or black turtleneck, black socks, black shoes (no sneakers or Crocs).
Options B: Black long skirt or slacks (no jeans), black blouse or sweater, black socks, nylon stockings or black tights, black shoes (no sneakers, Crocs, or flip-flops).
Parents Committee
This is an opportunity for you to support your students, and give input for how you would like to see the Osher Youth Ensembles grow. Typically, the Parents Committee helps with Immersion Day lunch and coordinating post-concert receptions. Please contact Noah Hall if you are interested in joining.
Storm Closure Policy
The Osher Youth Ensembles do not rehearse when the University is closed. Closure information will be sent out via email as soon as a closure decision is made. You may also call the USM Storm Line at 207-780-4800. If weather and road conditions are questionable and the university remains open, we leave it up to each family to determine whether it is safe to drive and notify us of the absence through the OYE Absence Form.