Charlotte, NC — April 4, 2024 — The Carolina Youth Orchestra Summer Festival (CYOSF) is thrilled to announce its inaugural three-day music educational experience, offering young orchestral musicians from the greater Charlotte region an unparalleled opportunity to further develop their musical skills in an exciting festival environment. Hosted at Davidson College from August 1st to August 3rd, 2024, this clinic promises to be an unforgettable experience for participants.
The CYOSF represents a groundbreaking collaboration between the prestigious Davidson College Music Department and regional community youth orchestras. Its primary aim is to provide aspiring young musicians with a platform to cultivate their skills, foster artistic growth, and forge meaningful connections within the musical community in the Charlotte region.
“We are excited to welcome aspiring young musicians to the Davidson College campus for the inaugural Carolina Youth Orchestra Summer Festival,” said Tara Villa Keith, director of the Davidson College Symphony Orchestra and chair of the Davidson College Music Department. “Our dedicated faculty look forward to sharing the thrill and joy of music making with students within this vibrant immersive experience.”
Throughout the three-day clinic, participants will have the opportunity to engage in intensive rehearsals, sectionals, and various workshops led by esteemed music educators and performers from the region’s leading music institutions. Under the mentorship of renowned faculty members, including Tara Villa Keith and Christopher James Lees, resident conductor of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, students will refine their technique, deepen their musical understanding, and expand their repertoire. “This initiative is an extremely exciting opportunity for student musicians from all over the region to connect during the summer and further their already impressive musical development,” remarked Christopher James Lees. “I’m thrilled to be a part of the inaugural festival in this growing area and am fired up to bring energy and enthusiasm for music to this event.”
The CYOSF will culminate in a public concert held at Davidson College’s esteemed Duke Family Performance Hall on Saturday, August 3rd, 2024, at 3:00 PM. This concert will showcase the remarkable progress made by participants during their time at the festival and offer them a chance to share their musical achievements with friends, family, and the wider community.
“CYOSF presents the opportunity for our local students to participate in a music festival without the financial or logistical burden of traveling to various parts of the country,” said Eric Boruff, music director of the Cornelius Youth Orchestras. “There’s an old saying that says the expert is someone who lives far away; at CYOSF, the experts are already here and they are super excited, motivated, and energized to invest in the next generation of musicians and community leaders right here at home.”
Registration for the inaugural Carolina Youth Orchestra Summer Festival is now open, and spaces are limited. Interested participants are encouraged to visit www.cyosf.com for more information and to secure their spot today.