East Texas Youth Orchestra, Inc.

The mission of the East Texas Youth Orchestra, Inc. (ETYO), is to provide exceptional musical experiences in arts education through a diverse set of programs providing performances that enrich its members and the community. ETYO accomplishes this mission by providing students with education, experience, encouragement, excellence, enrichment, and enjoyment.

"ETYO has inaugurated After School String Clubs for 5th Grade Students. Help us sustain the joy of young people playing music."

This year the East Texas Youth Orchestra has created three After School String Clubs in local schools to give interested students a head start in learning to play a violin, viola, cello, or bass. ETYO hopes to expand the program to other elementary schools to provide additional students with the opportunity to play challenging orchestral music with new friends who also appreciate music and the arts. Today's East Texas Youth Orchestra engages over 100 student string, wind, and percussion instrumentalists in performances each year that enhance the quality of life throughout East Texas. The ensembles--the Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestras, the Jazz Academy Lab Band, and preparatory groups-- rehearse weekly to prepare for upcoming concerts. As a supplement to music education in the schools, ETYO brings exceptional music to life by presenting performance challenges that build trust, encouragement, and responsibility among young people.

Testimonials

A student who plays violin in our Symphony Orchestra joined ETYO this year.  Unfortunately, her high school does not have an orchestra program, so as a 9th grader who has a passion for playing in a music group, she plays French horn in her high school band.  Her high school director and fellow band members are so proud of her playing the violin in ETYO, they brought a entire busload of students to hear her play on the December 7 concert.

One member of ETYO struggled with depression, low self-esteem and loneliness. Yet, she looked forward to weekly orchestra rehearsals and preparing for concerts.  She credits her relationships in ETYO, especially the encouragement of Maestro Torres, with helping her find her voice as a musician, and more importantly as a whole, healthy person.

A former student who is now a music educator: "I'm delighted to see TYO (now ETYO) continuing to thrive and grow. I'm about to begin my 18th year as a high school orchestra director, and I continue to play professionally in the DFW area, as a member of a string quartet, a member of the Dallas Bach Society orchestra, and as a jazz singer."