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
Programs
For additional information about our programs, click on the program titles below.
Philharmonia, conducted by Maestro Jorge Peña, is our auditioned full orchestra for area musicians ages 12-21. The orchestra performs three concerts a year – Winter and Spring Concerts and a Fundraising Recital. This orchestra plays classical and pops music at Level 4 and up. Students are expected to practice daily. Students rehearse Mondays from 5:30-8:30PM during the school year. Students are also expected to attend sectionals each semester and attend Orchestra Summer Camp in July.
For further information about the Philharmonia Orchestra, please contact Lucie Tracy, Philharmonia Coordinator at
The GIYO Chamber Ensemble offers our top musicians the opportunity to perform in a small group at local churches, service organization meetings, and civic celebrations. Membership is open by invitation only and is an honor open only to experienced players. The Ensemble rehearses weekly although members are expected to prepare music ahead of time.
If you wish to schedule a performance, please contact
Jose Dubon-Tovar, Ensemble Conductor and Coordinator, at
ensemble@GoldenIslesYouthOrchestra.org.
The Symphonette
The Golden Isles Youth Orchestra offers young strings musicians with at least one year of classroom instruction the opportunity to audition for a place in Symphonette, its beginning orchestra. Participation in Symphonette can also qualify beginning musicians for the GIYO subsidized private and semi-private lesson program.
For further information, please contact Jose Dubon-Tovar, Conductor and Music Director, at
STRING-on! is an outreach program for fifth grade classrooms focusing on classical music and playing a stringed instrument. Science concepts, such as sound velocity, vibration, pitch, wave, frequency, the Dopler effect, amplitude and sound pressure, are taught as part of this ears-on and hands-on program.
For further information, please contact Suzanne Morrison, General Manager, at
Suzanne@GoldenIslesYouthOrchestra.org .
We are also pleased to offer the Golden Isles Youth Orchestra's Summer Intensive on the campus of The College of Coastal Georgia, located in Brunswick, Georgia, which is only twenty minutes from St Simons Island and Sea Island. Our camp offers professional instruction from musicians from all over the world. Attendees who are rising 9th graders and above have the option to stay in the college’s beautiful residence hall. Younger students may participate in camp as day students. Current Philharmonia members, students interested in joining the orchestra or those who are visiting the area may attend camp. Auditions are required and there is a fee to attend. Also during the summer, we offer a beginner and intermediate day camp at Frederica Academy. Various other weeklong camps and lessons opportunities are available
For further information, please contact Suzanne Morrison, General Manager, at
Suzanne@GoldenIslesYouthOrchestra.org .
Lessons Opportunities
The GIYO board uses money raised annually from local donors and family foundations to subsidize strings lessons and select winds lessons. To be eligible to participate in GIYO’s lesson program, a musician must be a member of good standing in either the Symphonette or Philharmonia orchestras.
For more information, please contact Lucy Tracy at
Lessons@GoldenIslesYouthOrchestra.org
The GIYO Board recognizes our outstanding seniors with the annual Fetter Award. These awards are based on a scholarship application which opens in March of their senior year.
For further information, please contact Suzanne Morrison, General Manager, at
Suzanne@GoldenIslesYouthOrchestra.org .