About Us
A dream of music teacher Jean Hinkle was realized in 1997 when the Douglas County Youth Orchestra (DCYO) was formed with 5 string students taught by Diane Penny. By the year 2000 the classes had grown to 40 students.
DCYO ORGANIZATION
Our Three String Orchestras
PRELUDE
A group for younger beginners who have never played an instrument before. In this class, students will learn the parts of the instrument, how to unpack their instrument, prepare instrument for playing, how to play their instrument both by plucking and by bowing. Typical age for a Prelude Orchestra student is 6-9 years old.
CONCERT
A group for older beginners or students who have participated in Prelude Orchestra for one or more years. Students in Concert Orchestra must master skills developed in Prelude Orchestra, or have a significant amount of prior ensemble experience on another instrument. Students in this group are expected to develop skills acquired in Prelude Orchestra. Typical age for a Concert Orchestra student is 8-13 years old.
PHILHARMONIC
DCYO’s most advanced group. It performs at our two annual concerts, and also plays at other engagements in the community throughout the summer, such as the Umpqua Valley Arts Association Summer Festival, and the Music on the Half Shell series. Philharmonic Orchestra is run as close to a professional rehearsal as possible; students mark their parts as we rehearse, and prepare music outside of rehearsal. Ensemble members are comfortable with complex melodies and harmonies, and are used to playing within their sections and independent of other sections. Typical age of a Philharmonic Orchestra student is 12-20 years old.
UPCOMING EVENTS
TUESDAY REHEARSAL
Join us for a weekly check-in via Zoom.
TUESDAY
4:30 PM
CHECK IN
Join us for a weekly check-in via Zoom.
SUNDAY
4:30 PM
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ABOUT THE DCYO
FROM MOZART TO STAR WARS
WHAT WE LEARN
Currently, DCYO enrolls between 60 and 70 students who are immersed in a well-rounded music education experience. Students learn note-reading, hone their technique, refine their listening strategies and develop their performance experience through a diverse repertoire from Mozart to Star Wars.
FROM 6 TO ADULT
WHO WE ACCEPT
Students are accepted in the program beginning at 6 years of age, many of whom have never even seen a violin, viola, cello or bass. Having received requests in the past from adults wishing to play with the orchestra, the program has recently begun welcoming adults who wish to either learn to play an instrument or to join and perform with the orchestra in a nurturing environment.
PROGRAM FUNDING SOURCES
OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS
DCYO is financially supported through the fundraising efforts of the Umpqua Symphony Association (USA). Astoundingly generous private donors, grants and foundations such as the Oregon Community Foundation, the Oregon Arts Commission and the Ford Family Foundation make the program possible.
PAYING IT FORWARD
SCHOLARSHIPS
Under special circumstances USA offers scholarships to students and families who wish to join the orchestra. These scholarships provide music education that would not otherwise be possible in this day and time.
Eugene Symphony
The opportunities DCYO offers are unique to Douglas County. USA has developed and nurtured a relationship with the Eugene Symphony Orchestra (ESO) for many years which has resulted in highly qualified ESO musicians visiting Roseburg during the year to teach and inspire DCYO students. They provide “sectionals”, teaching violin, cello, viola and bass students separately. Classes run from September through May.
The close relationship between USA and ESO has resulted in the Eugene Symphony bringing their Summer Pops Concert to the Music on the Half Shell series for the past several years. DCYO students open the performance which is an incredible, often once in a lifetime, opportunity for the students