PROGRAMS
The Cornelius Youth Orchestras provides performing opportunities for student musicians with existing playing experience and educational programming for aspiring young musicians with no musical experience. Our goal is to provide the means, resources, and opportunity for our community youth to take their first steps on their musical journey to performing on stage for vast audiences, all the while enriching students’ lives with all the many benefits of learning and playing a musical instrument.
PERFORMING ENSEMBLES
Featuring musicians from all four instrument families, the Orchestra is CYO’s premier group. The youth orchestra plays various concerts throughout each semester, performing repertoire for full orchestra. Rehearsals are from 6:30-8:30pm on Tuesdays at Bailey Middle School.
The Philharmonic is the perfect opportunity for beginning to intermediate level musicians to be introduced to the full orchestra experience! Under the direction of Jen Bassett, this group will perform a wide variety of musical genres. Rehearsals are from 6:30-7:30pm on Tuesdays at Bailey Middle School.
The CYO Brass Ensemble is our premier brass program connecting elite instruction with more experienced brass youth musicians in the local area. The ensemble is directed by Tom Burge, a member of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. Placement in the ensemble will be evaluated and determined by an audition via video submission. Rehearsals are on Mondays from 7:15-8:45pm at Bailey Middle School.
The CYO Woodwind Ensemble is our premier woodwind program and is an exclusive opportunity connecting elite instruction with more experienced woodwind youth musicians in the local area. The ensemble is directed by Sam Sparrow, a member of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and instructor at Queens University. Placement in the ensemble will be evaluated and determined by an audition via video submission. Rehearsals are on Mondays from 7:15-8:45pm at Bailey Middle School.
CYO’s intermediate brass ensemble is the perfect fit for brass students looking to learn ensemble skills. Students in the Junior Brass Ensemble will be given the necessary tools to achieve excellent fundamental technique while being introduced to chamber ensemble playing. The ensemble is directed by Andrew Fierova, a member of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and instructor at Davidson College. Rehearsals are on Mondays from 7:15-8:45pm at Bailey Middle School.
CYO’s entry-level woodwind ensemble is the perfect fit for wind students looking to learn ensemble skills. Students in the Junior Woodwind Ensemble will be given the necessary tools to achieve excellent fundamental technique while being introduced to ensemble playing. The ensemble is directed by Nick Ritter, a member of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. Rehearsals are on Mondays from 7:15-8:45pm at Bailey Middle School.
The CYO’s Sinfonia Strings Ensemble is a beginning to intermediate strings ensemble for student musicians under the direction of Julia Fierova and Jen Bassett. Students in Sinfonia Strings will be given technical instruction as well as the opportunity to experience and develop ensemble-playing skills in a fun and enjoyable environment among other strings musicians.
EDUCATIONAL CLASSES
CYO’s beginning strings class is the perfect fit for students just starting their music education journey. The goal of the Prelude Strings is to introduce and develop the skills needed for orchestral playing in a fun and enjoyable environment. Classes for the Prelude Strings are held on Saturday mornings (violin/viola) and Tuesday evenings (violin/viola & cello) at Bailey Middle School.
The Brass Challenge provides an incredible and unique opportunity for upper elementary and middle school brass players to receive instruction from some of the area’s finest brass musicians. This beginner-focused semester program features classes for trumpet, horn, trombone, tuba, and euphonium and boasts a faculty comprised of exclusively Juilliard alumni. Students are given robust instruction on fundamentals and valuable instrument-specific technical insights. Classes are on Mondays from 5:30-7:00pm at Bailey Middle School.
The Woodwind Challenge provides an incredible and unique opportunity for beginner woodwind players to receive instruction from some of the area’s finest wind musicians. This beginner-focused program features classes for flute, clarinet, saxophone, oboe, and bassoon. Students are given robust instruction on fundamentals and valuable instrument-specific technical insights. Classes are on Mondays from 5:30-7:00pm at Bailey Middle School.
The Percussion Challenge provides an incredible and unique opportunity for aspiring young percussionists to receive instruction from one of the Charlotte region’s finest percussionists, Stephanie Wilson. This beginner-focused program features instruction on the full range of percussion instruments. Students are given robust instruction on fundamentals and valuable instrument-specific technical insights. Classes are on Mondays from 5:30-7:00pm at Bailey Middle School.