Welcome
The LYO, founded in 1958, provides an extraordinary musical experience for young people from grade school through age 21. This season the LYO is made up of three orchestras and various ensembles in which students advance according to their own musical progression and interests. There are musicians from diverse schools and counties in the Louisville & Southern Indiana metro area.
Musicians are required to participate in their school instrumental music programs and must take private music instruction. Financial scholarships for instruction are available and awarded based on need. Performance opportunities provide a wide range of meaningful experiences from September through May each year. Potential members, families, patrons, media, and others can view the LYO's current video.and Season Highlights for 2019-20.
A word from the Music Director
Welcome to everyone joining the LYO for our 62nd season! I assume all of our LYO members have noticed some new names for our ensembles this year! A word of explanation is in order. Our audition numbers, while very robust, were somewhat different from last year, due (we feel) to schools being closed, and general concerns about coronavirus.
So, we have done a re-structuring of our ensembles, to try to meet the abilities of our musicians, and to create the most artistically satisfying, safe, educationally sound experiences possible. There are three performing orchestras-
Renaissance Orchestra - the most advanced, full orchestra ensemble of the LYO, performing the most challenging literature possible, held to professional standards
Camerata Orchestra - an ensemble of experienced musicansperforming advanced string orchestra literature
Esprit Orchestra - an orchestra od intermediate-level musiciansd, performing age-appropriate string orchestraliterature.
I am very excited to start the season, and I look forward to seeing everyone on Sunday!
Doug Elmore
Music Director
Louisville Youth Orchestra
Preview of 2020-21 Season
Classical Series
Great Struggles, Great Triumphs
Sunday, November 15, 2020
4:00 pm
Location TBA
A Little Song and Dance
Sunday, November 22, 2020
4:00 pm
Location TBA
American Masters
Sunday, March 7, 2021
4:00 pm
Brown Theater
(with guest artist, Christian Howes)
(Grammy Award winning jazz violinist)
Old and New Friends
Sunday March 14 or March 21, 2021
4:00 pm
Location TBA
Pops Series
Mistletoe, Merriment and Miracles
Sunday, December 13, 2020
4:00 pm
Location TBA
And They’re Off!
Sunday, April 25, 2021
4:00 pm
Iroquois Amphitheater
Discovery Series
From Many, One
Monday, March 8, 2021
10:30 am
Brown Theater
Come Grow With Us!
We understand audiences are thinking carefully about future performance ticket purchases. The LYO wants you to know that as we navigate this difficult period the safety of our students, parents, audience and staff is uppermost in our minds. We will be confirming locations with the utmost care.
Music is a pathway which kindles our passions, expands our curiosity and links us to our community, world and each other. The LYO has chosen to highlight each of our concerts with a least one minority composer in an effort to bring us all closer together during our 62nd consecutive season.
We can’t wait to see you back at our exceptional Louisville Youth Orchestra performances offered by our phenomenal student artists. We look ahead to brighter days filled with great music, fun and time spent with those who bring you joy. We will be adding concert locations and additional particulars about our events as the days move forward. We also have a plan in place to video our performances should circumstances dictate that concerts halls be closed. You will have the opportunity to hear and see these fantastic youth musicians even if not live. Please check back for more details
Thanks for Your Support
Online contributions are greatly appreciated. You can charge a gift of any amount to most bank cards or to PayPal. Click the Donate button to begin a secure transaction. If you prefer, you can also set up a monthly recurring donation charged to PayPal. See more ways to help on the Be a Patron page. Please designate any preference in how your donation is acknowledged.
The Louisville Youth Orchestra has met the Better Business Bureau’s 20 Standards for Charity Accountability and is a BBB Accredited Charity. Click here to view the LYO’s full charity report.
The LYO depends on the generosity of patrons to make programming possible. We are grateful to all private contributors as well as the following agencies for helping to make this season successful:
The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, provides operating support to the Louisville Youth Orchestra with state tax dollars and federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts..
The Louisville Youth Orchestra is made possible in part with the support from the generous donors to the Fund For The Arts.
The League of American Orchestras is dedicated to helping orchestras meet the challenges of the 21st century.