Governor's - Nevada Arts Council - Nevada Department of Cultural ...

Leadership in the Arts: Education
Las Vegas Youth Orchestras
The Las Vegas Youth Orchestras, comprised of four performing
arts groups for young people, exists due to a long-time, unique
partnership among three supporting organizations: the Clark
County School District, the City of Las Vegas and the Friends of
the Las Vegas Youth Orchestras. This collaboration allows for
tuition-free program participation for any youth who qualifies
to be in the Ensemble, Sinfonia, Symphony, or Philharmonic
orchestral performing groups. Southern Nevada has benefited
greatly from this rich cultural resource, which provides a
training ground for future musicians, music-lovers and music
professionals, as well as a high-level performance repertoire for
the community.
The organization has been nationally recognized as a model
for community involvement and positive action, providing an
educational program of extra curricular musical training that is
enriching and engaging. A testament to the program’s success
is that alumni frequently pursue collegiate and graduate studies
in music or music education, and then return as contributing
citizens to the southern Nevada cultural community. Jessica
Williams, a former program participant, volunteer and Las Vegas
Youth Orchestras (LVYO) staff member, says that the program
“taught me responsibility, leadership and understanding, and
(has) given me an undying love for orchestral music.”
“All Nevadans should be proud of this outstanding group of
young musicians. Truly these youth orchestras are gems in the
cultural life of this community, providing the opportunities for
great musical achievement and enabling the youth in our schools
to become the future musicians of our state and country,”
wrote Patrick C. Clary, a founding director of the Las Vegas
Philharmonic.
Nearly 300 young people presently participate in LVYO. Their
dedication to the rigorous and challenging work that playing
music at this level entails is evidence of the program’s success.
LVYO provides an amazing opportunity for these students to
learn important life skills such as discipline and responsibility,
master challenges, manage time, and most importantly, to
express themselves creatively through the arts.