PERFORMING ENSEMBLES
The North Carolina Youth Orchestra 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.
Featuring musicians from all four instrument families, the Orchestra is NCYO’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 NCYO 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 NCYO 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.
The NCYO Percussion Ensemble is our brand-new percussion program and is an exclusive opportunity connecting elite instruction with more experienced percussion youth musicians in the local area. The ensemble is directed by Stephanie Wilson, principal timpanist with the Fayetteville Symphony. Placement in the ensemble will be evaluated and determined by an audition via video submission. Rehearsals are on Mondays from 6:30-7:30pm at Bailey Middle School.
NCYO’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.
NCYO’s intermediate 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 NCYO’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.