The Young Artist Orchestra
to Perform at the Kennedy Center!
The Young Artist Orchestra has been selected to participate in the Capital Orchestra Festival, Presidents’ Day Weekend 2025, at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D. C.
A Special Message
Dear GCYO Family and Friends,
The GCYO last performed in Washington DC in 1987 when YAO accompanied the Singing Christmas Tree. Now, thirty-eight years later, a new generation of talented young musicians from Greenville County will perform at The Kennedy Center, selected because of their artistry. The faculty, board, and I could not be prouder.
The inclusion of YAO — GCYO’s most advanced ensemble — to perform at the Capital Music Festival is another noteworthy point of pride to add to Greenville’s already outstanding reputation in music performance and education. We know this once-in-a-lifetime experience will be memorable in many ways for these young artists, from instilling a life-long love of classical music to inspiring future careers.
It is the intent of GCYO to ensure every YAO musician can participate fully in all the weekend’s activities, regardless of their ability to pay the per-student cost of $1,600. We ask you to join us in making this dream a reality for these talented students. Please donate and become a Dream Maker!
Thank you,
David Kiser
Executive Director, david.kiser@gcyo.net
YAO Will Perform
at the Kennedy Center
YAO is one of just four youth orchestras from across the country who will participate in the Capital Music Festival this year. They were invited to perform based on their artistic achievements as an ensemble.
Their performance on February 17, 2025 will be an experience most musicians can only dream about. And it is just a small part of the YAO students’ exciting multi-day visit to the nation’s capital region. In addition to performing, they will have a private workshop with Col. Dennis Layendecker, former conductor of the U.S. Air Force Band, and a visit to Meyerhoff Symphony Hall to hear the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.
When not rehearsing, they will tour major attractions in this historic city, participate in a special wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and have the opportunity to meet other talented young musicians at the Festival Welcome Lunch on a private cruise on the Potomac River.
