Oakland Youth Orchestras Welcomes New Director

Oakland Youth Orchestras, (OYO), welcomes new director Genevieve Pamel. Former director, Joanne Walle retired after 20 years with the organization. Pamel will continue the OYO legacy of educating and enriching youth through music for the past 48 years.

Pamel has a vast background in vocal performance, clarinet, and piano as well as a professional background in Organizational Communications and International Business.

Today, Pamel focuses her professional life in the non-profit humanitarian aid sector. She has over 20 years of non-profit experience working for and with non-profit organizations serving on various committees and boards.

She is a past member of the Board of Directors for the Detroit Skating Club, and led the development and implementation of Detroit Skating Club’s internal organizational model in addition to chairing several committees.

Pamel knows personally what it takes for youth to excel in the performing arts and athletics. Her daughter, Pelagia participated in violin, musical theater, vocal performance, and competitive figure skating and is currently pursuing a dual degree in Voice Performance and International Studies at University of Michigan in hopes of becoming an opera singer.

“Extra-curricular involvement in music, the arts, and athletics offers a unique development opportunity for our youth. It is with great pride that over the last 20 years I have supported so many of our youth in their hard work, focus, discipline, and perseverance to become true champions of life”. --Genevieve Pamel

She holds steadfast to the belief that having strong, dedicated commitments outside of the classroom offers the opportunity to learn powerful skills that will last a lifetime.

About Oakland Youth Orchestras

The mission of OYO is to inspire student musicians by providing an exceptional orchestral experience to public, private and home schooled students in a premier orchestra program.

OYO facilitates student musicians to progress in their music abilities under the tutelage of highly qualified conductors with extensive performance and music education backgrounds.

OYO also fosters musical enrichment through 3 concerts with over 300 members. Additional opportunities include a chamber ensembles program, outreach recitals, solo performances and competitions.

Oakland Youth Orchestras has been educating and enriching youth through music since 1975. OYO is a four-tiered orchestra program (Studio String, String, Philharmonia and Symphony Orchestras) serving over 300 students in grades two through twelve from Oakland, Macomb, St. Clair, Genesee, Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland, Sanilac, St. Clair, and Wayne counties.

OYO is supported in part by grants from the Michigan Council of the Arts and Cultural Affairs, the National Endowment for the Arts, Corporate and Foundational Support from Oakland University School of Music, Theatre and Dance, Community Foundation of Greater Rochester as well as generous support from private donors.