West Seattle has its own community orchestra – and starting this Tuesday, it’s welcoming interested local musicians to join in for a new season. Here’s the latest news as shared by Westside Symphonette founder Toni Reineke:

Westside Symphonette announces: Two new conductors! A new orchestra! Three new string coaches! September 15—and every Tuesday!

Several new additions are in store for the Westside Symphonette Community and Youth Orchestras’ 2009-2010 season, beginning September 15, meeting at Chief Sealth High School in the Boren Building.

In addition to Toni Reineke, co-conductor and founder of the orchestra, the Symphonette is welcoming Julia Tai and Robert Duisberg, co-conductors [photos above]. Julia is a doctoral student at the University of Washington studying instrumental conducting with Maestro Peter Erös and violin with Ronald Patterson. She is co-concertmaster of the UW Symphony and the conductor of the UW Contemporary Ensemble. Robt Duisberg has been a composer and music director in Seattle for 30 years. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in composition and conducting from the University of Washington as well as a PhD in Computer Science.

The Symphonette is launching a third orchestra for beginning string players this fall. Symphonette Strings is for youth and adults who are just getting started playing the violin, viola, cello or bass. Through a generous grant from the Wallace Foundation, the string group will have adult coaches provided by the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras.

In addition to the Symphonette Strings, the Westside Symphonette will continue with the Junior Orchestra, for beginning to intermediate players, and the Senior Orchestra for more advanced players. The groups are open to all ages, youth through adult. Informal auditions are held for placement in the proper group. Each group performs publicly two to four times per year.

Come join the Symphonette! Openings are still available for this fall for every orchestral instrument. Please contact Toni Reineke at 206-243-6955 or tonireineke@comcast.net for further information.

ADDED SEPT. 15: Missed the times in the original report above – Toni says it’s 5:30 start time for junior orchestra and beginning strings, 6:45 for senior orchestra.