RBGA spotlights Alton Youth Symphony’s nonprofit mission
Bringing musical delight throughout the region for 57 years now, Alton Youth Symphony has been chosen by the RiverBend Growth Association for its bi-monthly Nonprofit Mission Spotlight recognition.
The mission of the Alton Youth Symphony has remained constant, even after nearly six decades of existence: To promote the musical and educational experiences of youth and citizens in the greater Alton area and beyond.
And AYS Board President Jamie Pullen emphasizes the significance behind this still further: “We are committed to continuing our founding members’ legacy of providing increasingly greater access to quality orchestra programs for youth and adults throughout the area.”
Alton Youth Symphony was founded in 1969 by directors Kenneth Conrady and Larry Crabbs. “Their vision was to bring band and orchestra students from the separate junior high campuses together in a full symphonic ensemble, giving them a unique enrichment and learning opportunity beyond their school programs,” Pullen says.
“They also recognized the need to extend musical opportunities to students whose schools either had no instrumental music program or one too small to include an orchestra,” Pullen explains further.
AYS provides orchestral learning and performance opportunities for students in grades 3 through 8, high schoolers, and adults of all ages.
Over the years, the organization has expanded its offerings to include a junior string ensemble for elementary students, a chamber string ensemble that plays at various locations and events in the community, and a community symphonic orchestra for high schoolers and adults.
“Orchestra members come to weekly rehearsals from all over the Riverbend area and from many different schools,” says Pullen.
The impact of AYS over the past 57 years has been “far-reaching and profound,” Pullen further notes, with many alumni going on to become music educators, performers, members of the Alton Symphony Orchestra, and the St. Louis Youth Symphony, as well as other performing ensembles throughout the world.
The nonprofit organization is governed by a 15-member volunteer board of directors composed of interested citizens from the community, active and retired music educators, program alumni, parents of members, and members of the local business community. Founding directors Conrady and Crabbs still actively serve on the board.
AYS will soon host its annual summer camp toward the end of July, followed by auditions at the end of August for its Fall semester.
To learn more about the Alton Youth Symphony, visit online at https://altonyouthsymphony.org/ and follow its Facebook page. You may also contact Pullen directly at (618) 792-1870 or by email at [email protected] for further details.
The RiverBend Growth Association is the chamber of commerce and economic development organization for the 11 communities known as the Riverbend. For more information about the RiverBend Growth Association, visit www.growthassociation.com or call (618) 467-2280.
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