Oakland Youth Orchestra Honors Its Founders at 40th Season Opener

Oakland Youth Orchestras (OYO) kicks off its 40th Anniversary Concert season with a Nov. 6 concert, “Celebrate Our Legacy,’ that honors its founders whose love of music, vision, and effort created Oakland Youth Orchestras.

The concert starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Oxford Fine Arts Center, located at Oxford High School, 745 N. Oxford Road, Oxford. Tickets – $10 for adults, $5 for children and students and $30 for four adult tickets – will be available at the door:

OYO will showcase its four orchestras, which include a roster of over 350 students, ranging in age from 7 to 18, from throughout southeast Michigan.

OYO began in 1975 as Oakland Youth Symphony (OYS) through the combined efforts of founding conductor Ervin Monroe, Detroit Symphony Orchestra retired principal flutist, as well as Joan G. Berndt, a lecturer from the music department of Oakland University, and Dr. Raynoki Alvin, Oakland University department chairman.

OYO has continued its partnership with the Oakland University Music, Theater and Dance Department throughout its 40-year history.

Today, two former Oakland Youth Symphony students remain vitally connected to OYO. John Kennedy, OYO string orchestra conductor, was among the first 50 musicians performing in the OYS premiere concert, and Zeljko Miljcevic, OYO symphony orchestra conductor/senior director, performed with OYS in the 1980s.

OYO is supported in part by grants from the Michigan Council of the Arts and Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as Corporate and Foundational Support from Oakland University Department of Music, GPS Educational Services, Meijer, Samuel Westerman Foundation, Community Foundation of Greater Rochester, Rochester Tuesday Musicale, and numerous community-supported contributions.

The mission of OYO is to inspire student musicians by providing an exceptional orchestral experience. 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 an increasing population of more than 350 students, generally in grades two through twelve from throughout southeast Michigan.

These students desire to be challenged beyond their school musical experience (as they exist). OYO fosters enrichment through opportunities in music theory, chamber music, community outreach performances and competitions.

Every season, the Oakland Youth Orchestras holds three major concerts with all students in participation at the Oxford Fine Arts Center.

Learn more at www.oyomi.org.

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Photo courtesy of Oakland Youth Orchestra