Made up of mostly middle school students, our String Orchestra is comprised of violin, viola, and cello sections. They rehearse weekly with our Music Director and Conductor, Jim Palmer, and also alongside our Academy Director and Associate Conductor, Laszlo Stan.
The Symphonic Orchestra is our largest program, consisting of mostly high school students. This program features a fully symphonic make up, including strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion sections. They perform standard repertoire and rehearse weekly with our Music Director and Conductor, Jim Palmer.
At the start of the 2024-25 season, the YOGC received a generous grant from The Bradley-Turner Foundation to pilot “The Youth Orchestra Academy.” Muscogee County students who have not had the resources to participate in YOGC were nominated for the program by their school Music Directors. Under the direction of our new Associate Conductor Laszlo Stan, the Academy students receive small group coaching, individual support, and an ensemble experience. This program is designed to expand the reach of YOGC and provide talented young musicians with the opportunity to develop their musical skills.
Each season a few of our students are formed into various ensembles to continue honing their instrumental craft by learning to play as a small group. YOGC contracts specialized coaches to instruct these ensembles weekly, and they perform at our seasonal concerts, as well as several community events throughout the year.
Every first week of June, we are privileged to host over fifty area students who desire to learn more about their stringed instrument. We employ multiple string coaches from around the state to coach, mentor, and direct these students, and we finish off with a bang at our annual String Camp Concert at the end of the week. If a String Camp student wishes to be a part of the String Orchestra the following season, they do not have to audition!
