Coachella Valley Symphony

Funding from the ACF will be used to continue to offer students intensive music studies, orchestral experiences and educational public concerts aimed at bringing orchestral music to youth audiences from across the CV, specifically by funding the position of our Youth Conductor for the Buddy Rogers Youth Symphony (BRYS). This project aims to bolster and expand our success with youth strings and orchestral music programs across the Coachella Valley. We have stepped in to fill the void as the only source of strings education in the participating schools through our after-school programs and through our youth symphony which spans the entire valley.

In 2019 we created a Concerto Competition for highly motivated students of music from ages 11 to 22. Winners of this competition were awarded a Scholarship (for music lessons) and were featured as soloists in concert with Maestro John Mario and the Coachella Valley Symphony. Also in 2019 we created a Youth Concert experience at McCallum Theatre as part of their Field Trip Series (May 21, 2019) that will reach over 2,400 students across the CV.

The Coachella Valley Symphony strives to offer live programs that are interesting, diverse and engaging. In 2018 we had over a hundred students participating and the demand continues to grow. By the end of 2019 we expect to have reached over 2,500 youth in the CV. Buddy Rogers Youth Symphony serves some of the most economically challenged youth in our valley by providing opportunities for students ranging in age from 8 to 18 in a full orchestral experience. Our Youth Programs are a critical and integral part of our organization: Youth are provided free group music lessons, individual scholarships and orchestral experiences starting with BSC, progressing to BRYS and later, they can have the opportunity to become members of the Coachella Valley Symphony. 10% of our adult orchestra this year was comprised of high school musicians, playing alongside adult mentors.