What an amazing time for music at Darlington! New to Darlington and to the region: the Northwest Georgia Youth Orchestras. This offering is a comprehensive orchestral program that will provide to all students in Rome and beyond a chance to advance their ensemble skills as they progress from one level to the next. Regardless of skill level, every student will find a place where they will be challenged.
From the beginning:
• Exploratory - Suzuki-based instruction, will follow the private/group lesson model. Once students reach an acceptable level of proficiency, dual participation in the Beginning Performers Collective will be offered.
• Beginning Performers Collective - Designed for Exploratory students that demonstrate the maturity for solo recital experience. This program will serve as the vehicle for resolving specific technical issues prior to advancement to the Junior Youth Orchestra.
• Junior Youth Orchestra - Designed for intermediate level proficiency, this program will serve as a training ground for musicians to begin to hone their ensemble skills. As each student progresses, advancement to the Senior Youth Orchestra will be offered.
• Senior Youth Orchestra - Designed for students that have achieved an advanced level of proficiency, this program will prepare kids for college-level performance requirements.
• Oak Hill Players of Berry College Symphony Orchestra - For the most advanced Senior Youth Orchestra members, the chance to join the Oak Hill Players may be offered depending on their instrumentation needs. In order to be a member of the Oak Hill Players, each musician must maintain dual membership in the Senior Youth Orchestra and the Oak Hill Players.
In order to stimulate cultural growth in the Northwest Georgia, we cannot simply provide an upper-level youth orchestra for stray students from the surrounding counties. For the community to thrive and be self-sustaining, a “scene” or central place must be established as the orchestral home. This home must provide support and build a feeling of family. Kids need to see and be seen by others who are pursuing the same studies. A clear path of achievement must be set forth with recognition of each success at each level.
The design of the Northwest Georgia Youth Orchestras will advance the cultural offerings of the region, but we will need parental involvement at all levels. Please contact me with any questions you may have. Any parent that would like to volunteer, please let me know as soon as possible. I look forward to speaking with you!
