Our mission is to help young people to set goals, surpass them, and achieve excellence through the practice of classical music.
Changing Young Lives
Through Music
Lessons Opportunities
For more information, contact Courtney Chrestensen at Lessons@GoldenIslesYouthOrchestra.org
A Gift From the Community
Because of the limited orchestra classes in Glynn County Schools, the GIYO board uses money raised annually from local donors and family foundations to subsidize orchestra instrument lessons. To be eligible to participate in GIYO’s lesson program, a musician must be a member of good standing in either the intermediate or the advanced GIYO orchestra.
An annual gift from the Flynn Family Foundation has made it possible for GIYO to offer all-class, ensemble and individual lessons for the last three years at St Francis Xavier School. Among the activities of this year’s SFX Crusader Ensemble were performances on Veteran’s Day, at First Friday, Special Arts Day at Selden Park and at the end of the year, when the ensemble honored GA Class of 2019 graduate Brianna Milks, who had contributed over 150 hours of strings instruction at the school.
Pictured above are members of the SFX strings program and, at the left in her robe, Brianna Milks.
For the past three summers, GIYO members who have auditioned and been accepted at Jacksonville University’s Chamber Music Intensive have received GIYO grants which cover most of the cost of the weeklong stay. In exchange, these musicians perform throughout the local community as member of GIYO’s Chamber Ensemble.
Pictured above are the local musicians who attended during the summer of 2019.
Meet Some of Our Current and Summer Instructors
Benjamin Cork
is a 2020 graduate of Georgia Southern University with a degree in Violin Performance and Music Education. He is a member of the Magnolia String Quartet and Montana Skies.
Dr. Shannon Lockwood
is an assistant professor of cello and music theory at Jacksonville University. She holds a Doctorate in Musical Arts from the University of Cincinnati.
Courtney Chrestensen
received her Bachelors in Music Education and Viola Performance from Jacksonville University this May. She is presently teaching at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts.
Todd Lockwood,
the Jacksonville Symphony’s associate principal bass, holds his Masters and Performer Diploma from Indiana University.
William Page
received his undergraduate degrees in Music Education and Music Performance. He is the orchestra director at Richmond Hill Middle School. .
Zhane Waye
is a recent graduate of Frederica Academy and served as GIYO’s co-concert mistress for two years. She attends Wake Forest University.