Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra

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The Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra (GDYO) is a youth orchestra in Dallas, Texas, US, [1] founded in 1972. GDYO has grown from a single orchestra of 35 members to a program of over 450 members. The principal group is the eponymous symphony, presently under the direction of the Maestro Richard Giangiulio. The organization as a whole comprises ten groups, which together provide musical opportunities for students from ages five to eighteen. Auditions are held each spring. Coaches and judges come from the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Opera, Dallas Winds, and area universities and orchestras. The ensembles include two full symphonies, flute choir, clarinet choir, wind symphony, three string orchestras, jazz orchestra, and a jazz combo. The mission of Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra is to inspire and cultivate excellence in youth through music education, ensemble building, and performance opportunities.

Contents

Ensemble offerings include

Touring

Approximately every three to four years the GDYO goes on tour outside North America. In 1998, the orchestra journeyed to England; [2] in 2004 to Poland, [3] Germany, [4] and the Czech Republic; in 2007 to China; [5] in 2012 to Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic; [6] and in 2015 to China for a 5-concert/5-city tour. The Wind Symphony toured Italy in the summer of 2019.

Honors

In 2000, the GDYO was one of five orchestras to qualify for the National Youth Orchestra Festival in Sarasota, Florida. [7]

The GDYO has repeatedly placed members in the recently established National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America including, in the inaugural year, Franklin Jia (clarinet) and Jackie Johnson (bass). [8]

References

  1. Crease, Stephanie Stein (2006). Music Lessons: Guide Your Child to Play a Musical Instrument (and Enjoy it!) . Chicago Review Press. pp.  156. ISBN   1-55652-604-0 . Retrieved May 28, 2008. Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra.
  2. "Orchestra back over". Birmingham Evening Mail . May 29, 1998. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2008.
  3. "Amerykanie w Opolu (Americans in Opole)". Gazeta Wyborcza (in Polish). June 12, 2004. Retrieved May 28, 2008.
  4. "Im Gewandhaus gibt das Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra am Abend ein Benefizkonzert zugunsten von Kindern mit Epilepsie. (The Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra is giving a benefit concert in aid of children with epilepsy in the Gewandhaus this evening)". mephisto 97.6 (in German). June 8, 2004. Retrieved May 28, 2008.
  5. "An Allen tradition turns 10!". Allen Image. October 2007. Archived from the original on October 16, 2007. Retrieved May 28, 2008.
  6. "GDYO Official Blog".
  7. "Young, gifted and classical; Youth Orchestra Festival participants ready for week of classes, performances in Sarasota". Sarasota Herald Tribune . June 18, 2000. Retrieved May 28, 2008.
  8. "National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America 2013 Orchestra Roster". NYO-USA .