The Youth Orchestra of Bucks County releaed a preliminary schedule for its third annual Master Class Series.

These musical enrichment events are offered free to high school and middle school students but registration is required since space is limited. Students do not need to be a member of YOBC to participate.

Additional information and online registration is available on the YOBC Web site. This master class series is supported in part by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. 

Here is the preliminary schedule:

Sunday, January 29, 2012
String Master Class
Presented by the Curtis Institute String Quintet
High School Level Master Class 3:15 – 5:45 pm
Middle School Level Master Class 4:50 – 7:10 pm

Sunday, February 19, 2012
Jazz Improvisation for Beginners Master Class
Presented by Jeff Baumeister, Instructor of Jazz Studies, Music Theory & Ear Training, Bucks County Community College 
High School Level Master Class, 2:00 – 3:30 pm

Sunday, February 26, 2012
Orchestral Percussion Master Class 
Presented by William Trigg, Professor of Percussion, The College of New Jersey
High School Level Master Class 5:00 – 6:30 pm

The day and times for a violin master class, led by Philadelphia Orchestra violinist Jason DePue, will be announced later.

The Youth Orchestra of Bucks County YOBC creates opportunities for young musicians to achieve artistic excellence through enriching classical music experiences. Students from all over the region come to YOBC every week to hone their skills and achieve their musical goals. In more than 20 years, YOBC has enriched the lives of more than 1,500 students.