Oct. 9, 2012 — The Susanville Symphony Society’s Youth Orchestra and Academy of Music are set to begin their 2012 season featuring expanded music instruction opportunities and one orchestra performance.

Students can sign up for the orchestra, beginning band or beginning strings instruction.

Youth Orchestra students must be able to read music. Students in beginning instruction classes will learn to read notes.

Youth Orchestra registration and the first rehearsal are at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2 in room 9 at Meadow View School in Susanville. Registration for music instruction classes is at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4 at the same location.

The registration fee is $50. Instruments are available on loan at no charge, however there is a $25 refundable deposit. There are no additional instruction fees.

Through the year, beginning band will be taught Thursdays from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. Beginning strings class is Thursdays from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. Orchestra rehearsals will be Tuesdays at 6 p.m. All classes will be held in room 9 at Meadow View School.

“We hope that young musicians and young-at-heart musicians will join us, moving from instructional classes to the Youth Orchestra and finally into a chair in the Susanville Symphony Orchestra,” said Carol Fontana, who is the director of the academy, a music instructor, youth orchestra conductor and Susanville Symphony concertmaster.

Fontana has more than 30 years experience teaching music to students of all ages. She was the first music program coordinator for the Lassen County Office of Education, teaching classroom music and band in seven schools across the county.

Prior to the formation of the Susanville Symphony, Fontana created and conducted the Roop Street Strings, a student orchestra in Susanville. She continues teaching privately and at Long Valley Charter School.

Fontana holds a bachelor of arts degree and lifetime credential in music education from California State University, Chico.

For more information about the academy and the orchestra, call 257-3153 or 310-8111.