• American Classic Music Festival in Dallas, Texas-April 1994, Big D Classic Superior Rating

Arts Education Background:

Most of the performers are involved in the performing arts in the schools that they attend or participate in a marching band and orchestra of the school. The musical instruction in school differs from program to program but is on the average about one to two hours a day per school day. Most students receive private tutoring two to three times a week for another hour per session. Practice sessions of the Mississippi Youth Symphony Orchestra are once a week for three hours.

Arts and the Community:

In a state like Mississippi which is rich in history, blues and jazz, the classic masters appeal to only a small group of people. The Mississippi Youth Symphony found it to be one of its missions to expose children, whose parents have not ventured much beyond Mississippi's borders, to the old masters and to further the many talents they have. Quite a few of our students come from rural areas and travel substantial distances in order to participate in the Youth Orchestra. The Mississippi Youth Orchestra offers the only opportunity for young wind and brass players to perform standard orchestral masterworks. Many of our students are exposed for the first time to many of the old masters here at the Youth Orchestra. Most students stay with us through high school and therefore have a better chance at musical scholarships even outside of Mississippi. We are currently working on three performances in Germany during the month of June 1996. The children are exposed to a variety of cultural, arts and musical experience through the Mississippi Youth Symphony, which they otherwise would never have had.