Tuition
Yearly participation fees for the YOCA orchestras and ensembles are as follows:

 

Important tuition fee changes for the 2010-2011 season:

(click here to read notice from the Board of Directors)

$350 - Full orchestra members: Youth Orchestra and Evans Orchestra
$275 - Junior Strings
$350 - YOCA Flute Ensemble and Flute Choir
$275 - Junior Flute Choir
$275 - Clarinet Ensemble
Membership in more than one orchestra/ensemble will qualify for a 50% discount on the lesser membership fee.

FEES DUE

Fees are due as follows: Yearly fee: Full payment due by the first full rehearsal in September, or Semester fee: 50% of fee is due by the first full rehearsal in September and 50% due the first full rehearsal in January.
A $10 late fee will be charged if fees are not paid by the third rehearsal a musician attends. Please make checks payable to YOCA. In order to insure proper credit, PLEASE put your child's name and orchestra/ensemble on your check.

The fees are non-refundable should a student leave the ensemble for any reason. Those participating in an orchestra and another ensemble pay the full orchestra fee plus one half of the ensemble fee.

Tuition can be mailed to: YOCA, PO Box 4845, Charlottesville, VA 22905. All questions regarding tuition and payments should be directed to the General Manager at yoca_evans@yahoo.com.

Tuition Assistance
Limited financial assistance is available and is based on need as determined by the Financial Aid Committee. Those wishing to apply for tuition assistance should send a financial aid application

to:

General Manager
Youth Orchestras of Charlotesville-Albemarle
PO Box 4845
Charlottesville, VA 22905

Applications must be received by September 1 of each beginning season.  Awards will be based on need, and then first come first serve basis.

Family Tuition Discounts
Tuition discounts may be available to families with multiple children enrolled in our ensembles/orchestras. The discount, which amounts to 25% off of the full tuition for each of the enrolled children, is awarded to families that otherwise would not qualify for any tuition assistance. Please note that tuition discount is not automatic and is determined by funding availability. Priority goes to families that demonstrate the most financial need.
Those wishing to apply for tuition discounts need to file just one financial aid application

that lists all who are enrolled in YOCA under the Student Information section, and mail to:

General Manager 
Youth Orchestras of Charlotesville-Albemarle
PO Box 4845
Charlottesville, VA 22905

Application must be received by September 1 of the concert season for which application is being made.

Questions regarding tuition assistance can be sent to the General Manager at yoca_evans@yahoo.com.

Youth Orchestra of Charlottesville and Albemarle County (YOCA) offers full and partial scholarships that provide local youths an opportunity to learn and play musical instruments

regardless of family financial circumstances.

ELIGIBILITY:
Children who are between ages of 8 and 14, reside in city of Charlottesville and neighboring counties, and have the desire to learn and play wind, brass or string instruments.

BENEFITS:
Depending on our level of funding and parents/guardians' gross annual income, qualified children may get full or partial scholarship. Benefits for full scholarship include free instrument rental and lessons from qualified instrument teachers. Partial scholarship will cover partially subsidized private lessons and/or instrument rental.

If a scholarship recipient auditions into one of YOCA orchestras or ensembles, the Scholarship Fund will pay for her/his full or partial tuition depending on the scholarship awarded. Transportation may be provided on a case-by-case arrangement.

REQUIREMENTS:
Attending all private lessons and daily practices are required.

Scholarship recipients are expected to audition for membership in one of the YOCA orchestras or ensembles within two years.


HOW TO APPLY:
1. Download a scholarship application form.

2. Ask social worker, music teacher, or parents/guardians to fill out the application form.

3. Have parent/guardian sign and date the application form.

4. Student should briefly explain, on a separate sheet of paper, why s/he wants to learn and play musical instrument or a similar topic of his/her choice, and attach it to the application form.

5. Obtain a letter of recommendation from music teacher, band director, or someone who knows the music potential of the child. The letter should include information about the student's classroom performance, work ethics, his/her potential, etc.

6. Mail completed application form and letter of recommendation to

YOCA Attn: Scholarship Program P.O. Box 4845 Charlottesville, VA 22905

A confirmation of application letter will be mailed to applicants as soon as application form and letter of recommendation are received.

Application deadline:	Full scholarship: September 1 of the concert year for which application is being made
	Partial scholarship: Any time of the year pending funding availability

Final decision will be made on or around 2nd week of September for full scholarship application. Applicants will be notified of the approval or denial soon after.

Program Description:

To assist Youth Orchestra members to attend summer camps to further advance their musical instrument playing skills/knowledge. The program is open to all Youth Orchestra members. Priority goes to those who have clear vision of his/her future music study plan and maintain a good YOCA attendance records. The amount awarded, ranging from $100 to $600, will be based on family income among other considerations.

Eligibility:

Youth Orchestras Members with good attendance records
Being auditioned and accepted to a summer camp

To Apply:

Please forward the following materials to:

1. Acceptance letter/notification/e-mail to the camp
2. Summer camp info: Name, address, contact, website, length of the camp, cost, payment address, if different from camp address
3. Music awards/honors received for the past three years - Photocopies accepted
4. Financial aid application form from YOCA website - Completed
5. Brief describe your future music study plan and explain how this camp will improve your musicianship
6. A note (regular or electronic mail) from The Youth Orchestras conductor about your attendance and participation attitude
7. A note (regular or electronic mail) from one of the following persons:
   school or private music teacher, band director/conductor about your attendance record, seats in school band/orchestra, practice logs, participation, attitude, and aptitude toward music study.

Deadline: June 1 of each year.

Award: A letter of award/denial will be mailed by Financial Aid Committee within 4 weeks after receiving your application. A check on your behalf will be mailed to the summer camp that you will be attending.

QUESTIONS:
You may direct all scholarship-related questions to the General Manager at (434) 974-7776 or yoca_evans@yahoo.com. We will try to answer your questions in a timely manner.