Winston-Salem Symphony Youth Orchestras

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Winston-Salem Symphony Youth Orchestras

The Winston-Salem Symphony Youth Orchestra (WSSYO) is comprised of four ensembles for aspiring music

History of the WSSYO:

The Winston-Salem Youth Symphony (WSYS) was founded in 1973 by co-conductors Lynn Peters (then Principal Double Bassist of the Winston-Salem Symphony) and Nancy Kredel under the auspices of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. It began as a string orchestra; winds were added the following year. Peggy Wheeler became Assistant Conductor when Nancy Kredel left in 1978. Other assistants included Richard Cook, Minnie Lou R***r, Danny Green and Fred Rierson. The Winston-Salem Symphony joined the UNCSA in sponsoring the WSYS in 1994 when Robert Franz became the youth orchestra’s second Music Director and the Education Director for the WSS. A string orchestra, the Junior Youth Symphony, was formed in the same year with Latoya Sammons as conductor. Other conductors of the Youth Symphony include Richard Cook (1997-98), Skip Taylor (1998-2001) and Sabrina Howard (2001-2002). David Hagy, the Orchestra Director at Wake Forest University and Music Director of the Salisbury Symphony, was Artistic Director from 2002-2008. In 1999 Margaret Rehder became the conductor of the Junior Youth Symphony later called the Repertory Orchestra. In 2002 the official name of the organization became the Winston-Salem Youth Orchestras with the more experienced orchestra remaining the Youth Symphony and the Repertory Orchestra becoming the Youth Philharmonic. In 2008, after an extensive audition process, Matthew Troy was hired as Music Director of the Youth Symphony after previously serving as Assistant Conductor from 2004-2008. In 2007 the Youth Orchestras became an official part of the Winston-Salem Symphony Association with added resources of the WSS Music Director Robert Moody and Executive Director Merritt Vale. The Winston-Salem Symphony, the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA), and Wake Forest University continue to offer invaluable resources and sponsorship of the Winston-Salem Symphony Youth Orchestras program. Parent volunteers contribute many hours to help the orchestras function. UNCSA and Wake Forest University provide rehearsal and performance space as well as the use of percussion and other instruments. The WSSYO are now governed by the Youth Orchestras Council made up of parents, teachers, and other community members who oversee their activities and development.

06/14/2024

What an exciting week full of music and fun! The WSSYO Summer Festival is being held this week at UNCSA and the students have been participating in full ensemble, chamber music, and the WSS Instrument Petting Zoo!

We hope you will join us tomorrow, Saturday, June 15 at 11:30am in Watson Hall on UNCSA campus for their summer performance 🎶

06/06/2024

2024-2025 Season Audition Requirements UPDATED!
Registration and Audition Fee Payments AVAILABLE ONLINE!
Visit symp.ws/youth

11/14/2023

We did it! The YOP launched its 23/24 concert season with the Fall Extravaganza, featuring all four WSS Youth Orchestras ensembles. Be sure to catch our next performances on Saturday, December 16, as the Youth Philharmonic performs in Salem College's Hanes Auditorium at 4PM; chamber ensembles will be part of the festivities for this year's Christmas for the City at Benton Convention Center between 1PM and 6PM. See you there!

📸 J Farley Photography

07/09/2023

06/15/2023

More great pics from our Youth Orchestra Summer Festival this week! Join us on tomorrow at 5:30pm for our concert in Watson Hall on UNCSA campus 🎻🎵

06/14/2023

The WS Symphony Youth Orchestra Summer Festival is this week and the kids and conductors are having a blast! Check out some of these pics from this morning’s rehearsal with our youngest YO ensemble Premiere Strings and Chamber Sinfonia! Concert Friday at 5:30 in Watson Hall at UNCSA.

04/14/2023

This weekend at RiverRun International Film Festival - Giuseppe Tornatore, the director of Cinema Paradiso, has created a tribute to the renowned composer Ennio Morricone through a compilation of interviews and archival footage. The film features conversations with various individuals, including directors, screenwriters, musicians, songwriters, critics, and collaborators such as Hans Zimmer, Bernardo Bertolucci, Oliver Stone, Quentin Tarantino, and Bruce Springsteen, highlighting Morricone's significant impact on the realms of film and music. The screening is on Sunday, April 16 at 3:30 PM at UNCSA Main Theatre.

Address

WSS Youth Orchestra Program 301 N Main Street, Suite 1901
Winston-Salem, NC
27101

Website

http://www.wssymphony.org/youthorch/

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