News!
Auditions for the 2009-2010 season will take place on August 22nd and 29th in room 316, Simons Center (54 St. Philip Street) at the College of Charleston. Please see the Membership page for audition requirements. For an appointment, please email Richard Marcus at marcusr@cofc.edu.
YoLow Board Members for 2009-2010 are as follows:
- Monty Bentz, President
- Lil Bogdan, Vice-President
- Gloria Palmer-Long, Secretary
- Marilyn Luengo, Treasurer
- Renée Bentz, Parent Volunteer Coordinator
- James Braunreuther, Representative, Charleston County School District
- Carolyn Witte, Representative, Charleston Symphony Orchestra League
- Bratton Riley, Representative, Charleston Symphony Orchestra Board
History
The Youth Orchestra of the Lowcountry is an auditioned group open to talented instrumentalists from throughout the coastal Carolina region. The orchestra had its beginnings in the early 1970's as an expansion of early string programs in the Charleston County Schools. Two string orchestras, the West Ashley Strings and the East Cooper Strings were formed to combine students in the various school programs into larger, more advanced ensembles. In the mid 1970's, winds and percussion were added to the string orchestras to form the Charleston Symphony Youth Orchestra led by Ruth Goldsmith, John Steffa, and David Ezell. During Ralph Rizzolo's tenure as manager of the Charleston Symphony, the organization became the Charleston Symphony Youth Orchestra. In 2007, the Charleston Symphony Orchestra and the College of Charleston joined forces to co-sponsor the organization. Rehearsals are held weekly on the College of Charleston campus. Recent performances include the 2008 Piccolo Spoleto Festival, a combined concert with the National Youth Orchestra of Uruguay, and the 2009 South Carolina Music Educators Association In-Service Conference.
