Saginaw Bay Youth Orchestra

Join Saginaw Bay Youth Orchestra on May 3rd, 3 PM at The Temple Theatre for the final concert of their 2025/2026 season! We are incredibly proud of our students and their progress.
Tickets are available online at https://templetheatre.com/event/sbyomay2026/

Congratulations to Saginaw Bay Youth Orchestra alumni and SBSO musician Taylor Clark on receiving the Scott J Seeburger Young Artist Award from Saginaw Arts & Enrichment!

Story by Janet I Martineau

At age 23, she is a busy self-employed violinist/composer with a handy bachelor’s degree in business management.

Meet Taylor Ann Clark, the 2026 recipient of the Scott J. Seeburger Young Artist Award administered by the Saginaw Arts & Enrichment Commission.

On May 6, during the commission’s 36th All Area Arts Awards, Clark will officially receive the $1000 stipend that goes with the award given to support the budding careers of Saginaw County artists between 17 and 30. There were seven applicants this year.

“I am working on my third self-produced album with my own compositions, and I will use the money to hire professionals to mix and master and it,” says Clark, who lives in Thomas Township.

“My first two were a do it yourself. And I hope I will be able to use some of the money to make a video at Dow Gardens in June.”

Clark has operated her own company, titled Taylor Ann Music LLC, since 2021 in a fascinating journey which was set in motion many years ago.

“At seven years old, my grandparents gave me a (quarter size) violin as a Christmas gift and frankly I didn’t know what to do with it at that time. A year later my mother set up lessons for me.”

Rod Bieber, a long time violinist with the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra, and Ellen Burtch, a strings teacher at Nouvel, were among her instructors.

Saginaw native Clark also went through the Saginaw Strings elementary-age program, and from 7th grade through 12th grade was a member of the Saginaw Bay Youth Orchestra and became its concertmaster.

She released her first music album in 2023 and her second in 2025. She describes the music she writes as “jazz, neo soul, lo-fi jazz, with a little hip hop. Lots of different influences, with a little bit of classical in there, too. It’s fun to experiment.”

Her music is available across several digital platforms.

What keeps Clark really busy though is playing mostly solo “gigs” for corporate events, weddings, and a variety of social functions.

For art exhibition openings, she says, like a recent one at Midland Center for the Arts, she views the style or nationality of the featured artist and tries to select music that personalizes it to the artist. She and pianist/harpist/singer Hillary Huebler Corbin have teamed up to play at the annual Covenant Kids Gala at Horizons.

Weddings take her to various places like Mackinac Island, the Gem Theater in Detroit, and recently at a rooftop venue in the San Diego area. Mother’s Day might find her at country club buffets.

“I really like doing weddings on Mackinac Island because that is a unique experience, often in intimate and smaller venues. Tight-knit. Beautiful.”

And once a month she plays music for dinners at Veedu Indian Kitchen and Lounge in Midland.

For the past two years Clark also has played in several Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra concerts, and this week for a pair of Beethoven choral concerts performed at Midland Center for the Arts and Saginaw Valley State University.

Gig bookings are either solo violin or with backing tracks and the occasional partner like Corbin. And so far she plays what is called cover music, not any of her original music.

Clark attended elementary and high school at Community Baptist Christian School in Shields and received her bachelor’s degree at Northwood University in Midland.

Asked where she would like to be in her career 5 to 10 years from now Clark says she would like to be doing small tours performing her original music, traveling with fellow musicians, traveling further to wedding gigs.

“I am thinking of maybe forming a band at some point and renting a place like Midland Center for the Arts for a show. It’s just working out all the logistics” — which is where that business degree might help.

Yeagi Kim Broadwell, a violin player with the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra and a co-conductor of the Saginaw Bay Youth Orchestra, wrote a support letter for Clark’s Seeburger nomination.

In it she said, “Taylor Clark is precisely the kind of artist this award was designed to support — talented, driven, and on a clear upward trajectory.

“I came to know Taylor when she was serving as concertmaster of the Saginaw Bay Youth Symphony, and at that time she stood out to me not only for her technical command of the violin but for her poise, leadership and musical maturity well beyond her years.

“Beyond her performance accomplishments, what truly distinguishes Taylor is her artistic identity. Through her creative work composing and exploring her own stylistic direction, she demonstrates a level of artistic curiosity and authenticity that is rare in emerging artists.”

Take the next step in your musical journey.
Saginaw Bay Youth Orchestra is now scheduling auditions for all instruments for students grades 6-12. Grow your musical skills through 7 weekly rehearsals with guidance and instruction from our staff, culminating in a full concert at The Temple Theatre, the same performance stage used by Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra.
Contact us now at [email protected] for more information or to schedule an audition.
Audition deadline is March 5.

🎶 We are thrilled that our Youth Orchestra musicians had the opportunity to play at the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra concert tonight! They did a fabulous job presenting both the prelude and intermission music. We are so proud of their hard work and professionalism. Thank you to the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra for welcoming and supporting our young musicians—it was a wonderful experience for everyone!

VIOLIN & VIOLA Day at CMU! Registration deadline is Sunday, January 25th, at 11:59 pm.

Details:
Sunday, February 1st, 2026
The School of Music at Central Michigan University is proud to announce the 2026 CMU Violin & Viola Day, designed for talented middle & high school upper strings students! Registration deadline is Sunday, January 25th, at 11:59 pm.

CMU Violin & Viola Day 2026 CMU School of Music invites high school violin and viola students to Violin & Viola Day 2026. Learn more about registration and event details.

Please join us in welcoming Nellie Osantowski as a new co-conductor of the Saginaw Bay Youth Orchestra! 🎻

Nellie is the orchestra director at White Pine Middle School and Heritage High School and has worked closely with students through Saginaw Strings. A registered Suzuki Method teacher and lifelong Mid-Michigan musician, she brings a deep passion for string education and student mentorship. In addition to classical training, she is an accomplished fiddler, performing in French Canadian, Irish, and bluegrass styles and sharing that rich musical tradition with students through performance and education.

We are excited for our students and families to learn from her and grow under her leadership. Welcome to SBYO, Nellie! 👏

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Yeagi Kim Broadwell as a new co-conductor of the Saginaw Bay Youth Orchestra! 🎶

An internationally trained violinist, educator, and music leader, Dr. Broadwell brings a wealth of experience from stages across Asia, Europe, and the United States. She currently teaches at Saginaw Valley State University and performs with several Michigan orchestras, including our very own Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra! We are excited for our students to learn and grow under her inspiring leadership!

Please join us in giving Dr. Broadwell a warm welcome! 👏

Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra | Bringing Music to Life

We are so proud of the Saginaw Bay Youth Orchestra tonight and their wonderful performance with the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra in the Holiday Concert, Saginaw Stars! 🌟

The SBYO did a phenomenal job — what a treat to play alongside such professional musicians .🎻✨

It was truly a great concert. Bravo to everyone involved! 👏🎶

Bundle Up! Stay safe! See you at 2:00!