.Bay
Youth Orchestras of Virginia
The Bay Youth Orchestras of Virginia were founded in September of 1991 by the staff of the former Tidewater Youth Orchestras. The Tidewater Youth Orchestras started in 1972 in response to an informal survey that identified Tidewater as the largest metropolitan area in the U.S. without such a program. The Director of the Norfolk Symphonyh (Russell Stranger), a local businessman (Meier "Easy" Birshtein, and two public school teachers/Symphony musicians (Greg Barnes and Linda Althoff), worked together to form the first youth orchestra in this area. They auditioned over 200 high school musicians at Northside Junior High School. C. Sidney Berg was chosen to be the first conductor. (Mr. Berg was not only a percussionist in the Symphony, but was also Supervisor of Music for Norfolk Public Schools).
Since then, the organization
has moved from Norfolk State, to Granby High School, to Northside Jr.
High School, to Booker T. Washington High School, and finally to Lake
Taylor High School for rehearsals. Many fine musicians and educators have
worked with the BYO in its past: Jorge Aguirre, Vince Brown, Peter Dundon,
Dean Englert, Michael Hodgis, Dr. William LaRue Jones, Judy Meister, and
Walter Noona. In November of 1998, Greg Barnes conducted his last concert
with the Bay Youth Orchestras, as he was in the process of moving from
the area since his retirement from the Music Department of the Norfolk
Public Schools. His farewell concert introduced Hampton Roads to the music
of China, featuring several soloists on several Chinese instruments. In
May, Leslie Stewart was selected by the Board as the new Music Director
and Symphony Conductor.
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Bay
Youth Orchestras of Virginia P.O. Box 2396 Chesapeake, VA 23327-2396 Voice-Mail · Info (757) 618-1800 E-Mail: bayyouth@excite.com |
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