The West Virginia Youth Symphony
"Instrumental in changing lives."
Our Story
The West Virginia Youth Symphony is a non-profit youth arts organization that supports four music ensembles that meet for rehearsal weekly and perform regularly throughout an academic year program. Currently, 126 students from 11 West Virginia counties, and 36 different schools are enrolled in the program. Of those students, approximately 40 students participate in an optional chamber ensemble program learning unique repertoire for smaller ensemble learning and performing.
Professional musicians from the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra and community are the conductors and coaches for the program. Master classes, field trips, run-out concerts and other special events may be included as funding permits. It is a fun and social musical learning adventure--with some of the most talented students and musicians from across the region participating! Students are presented challenging music to encourage musical growth and to provide a stimulating learning experience.
History of WVYS
The West Virginia Youth Symphony originated in 1949 when the Charleston Woman's Club organized the Kanawha Valley Youth Orchestra. It has operated continuously since then, becoming incorporated in 1968 as the Charleston Symphony Youth Orchestra and changing its name in 1991 to the West Virginia Youth Symphony. While the name has changed, the goal has remained the same - to provide opportunities for young people to perform in an orchestra setting.
Each year, about 125 young musicians participate, making it both the largest and the oldest youth orchestra in the state. Students come from as far away as Ohio to rehearse weekly in Charleston. Ages range from 7 to 20, and students from 36 public and private schools, plus college and home-school, are making music together each week.
The Youth Symphony has two all-strings groups, the Cadet Strings and the older Youth Strings, and the Youth Orchestra which includes our most advanced strings players joined by winds, brass and percussion. Each year the musicians have the chance to form a number of chamber groups with individual instruction, and these are presented in a Chamber Concert in late winter. All West Virginia Youth Symphony conductors and coaches are professional musicians with the West Virginia Symphony. As a result, the Youth Symphony aids the area economy by providing professional musicians with additional work, and the area culture by helping to keep these musicians in the region.
Mission
The West Virginia Youth Symphony (WVYS) seeks to provide the opportunity for individual growth of musically talented and motivated youth through the training and performance of the highest possible quality of orchestral and chamber music literature. The WVYS endeavors to develop pride and self-esteem in young people from all cultural backgrounds through their individual musical achievement and to instill values, discipline and learning abilities that will benefit them throughout their lives. The WVYS aspires to perpetuate support of professional classical music by enriching local culture and to increase the awareness of and participation in such music in underserved communities.
Goals
- Bring together the finest young musicians in the area to rehearse and performs together under inspiring leadership.
- Enable students to experience elements of a professional environment including competition, responsibility and concert hall performance.
- Develop performers and audiences for the future.
- Offer students opportunities to broaden their repertoire by playing music of varied and differing styles.
- Inspire other student’s interest in music as performers or listeners.
- Enrich and encourage local school music programs.
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