Founding Local Youth Orchestra/Symphony

[mwu52]

This might sound like a fairly unrealistic idea, but I've been thinking about starting a youth orchestra in my town. There's several factors that I feel make this a bit more reasonable:

• My town has a semi-professional symphony with members that I'm very close with, so support or even incorporation is possible
• I live in a medium sized college town, so number of participants isn't a huge concern
• My town is also more than an hour's drive from the nearest youth orchestra, which is obviously impractical, so a lot of serious musicians forgo youth orchestras entirely (I was previously a member of the aforementioned orchestra, but because the commute was too long, I had to quit)
• I frequently organize music community service opportunities for some groups that I work with, so I can potentially organize opportunities for the orchestra as well

Some major concerns I have are funding, the local college's lack of a music department, difficulty in spreading the word, and coordination. Also, I'm a high schooler, so I don't have significant resources to undertake this myself. As such, I have the following tentative first steps:

• Ask my school's orchestra director, a member of my town's symphony, for any advice that she has and to help me reach out to the symphony's organizers
• Email the organizers of the aforementioned youth orchestra for advice
• Gauge interest from my community

Although this might be a bit of a pipe dream, this is something that I'd really love to see happen, so if anyone has any advice or experience, I'd love to hear it! Thanks!

 

[Rue]

Just do it.

Once it gets started up, and people join, odds are the rest will fall in place.

Might take some time to sort itself out though. Be prepared for some growing pains.

You will need a rehearsal space. If necessary, people can bring their own music stands and (folding) chairs.

One thing that you will need, off the bat, is someone willing to conduct (volunteer at the beginning). To start, check with local church choirs. They have conductors. At least it would get you started.

There is material, to play, available for free on-line. And material can be borrowed. You will have to charge participation fees. That will help pay for new music, other fees, etc.  Then, once you get a core group established, there are grants available that can be applied for.

[Randall The Restorer]

What a great idea. I applaud your initiative and positive ambition.

Every size community in Canada and USA has young war refugees from Middle East and Ukraine.
Many of them are string musicians and/or luthiers. Translate your plans into the Arabic and Ukrainian languages and advertise within those communities.

I will pray for your success in this most worthwhile venture.

Feel free to PM me on this matter and your sore thumb.

God Bless You.

Sincerely,

Randy O’Malley

(son of Canada, grandson of Ireland, Ukraine, and Newfoundland; adopted son of Yahweh).