About Wabash Valley Youth Symphony
Wabash Valley Youth Symphony, Greater Lafayette'ss first and only youth orchestra, celebrates its ninth season during the 2008 - 2009 year. WVYS was founded in 1999 by Mrs. Regan Eckstein to provide Greater Lafayette with a much-needed resource. Despite an abundance of musically talented youth, there is little opportunity for orchestral or ensemble playing outside the realm of public schools. In fact, some local schools do not offer an orchestra for students. The WVYS provides opportunity, both for those who play in a school orchestra but want to explore a repertoire that is more demanding and fulfilling, and for those whose schools are currently without an orchestra. The Wabash Valley Youth Symphony offers this community the chance to fully nurture and enjoy the musical talents of its youth. Students come from Tippecanoe and surrounding counties. It has grown to over 75 students playing a variety of instruments including strings, wind, brass and percussion. Students meet for 2 hours every week all through the school year and these rehearsals culminate in two full size concerts which are free and open to the public.
Why Have a Youth Orchestra?
By Sharron Howard
Artistic Director, Tippecanoe Chamber Music Society Principal Clarinet, Lafayette Symphony Orchestra
I moved to Lafayette with my husband and two daughters in 1979 and immediately became involved in the local music scene. I was surprised to find that of the three school districts in the county, two offered students the opportunity to study a stringed instrument and play in an orchestra, and one did not. At the time, only the Jefferson High School Orchestra provided a FULL orchestra, e.g., strings, winds, brass and percussion. As my studio grew and I had advanced students who needed the experience of playing clarinet and saxophone in an orchestra, I had to send them to Indianapolis to audition for New World. I had some very dedicated students who did this but many could not devote an entire Sunday every week to traveling and rehearsing in Indy and still they needed the experience. Then both my daughters began playing violin. The older one was able to audition for and play in the Lafayette Symphony when she needed a more challenging musical experience. Then when my younger daughter reached sixth grade in 1988 we moved out into the county and we lost the school orchestra. She was able to continue private lessons but she longed for an orchestra. Sadly, she missed what the Wabash Valley Youth Symphony is providing to the children of our area now.
That was almost sixteen years ago, and look at the difference! Now the most talented of our young musicians have an orchestra to call their own. They play professional literature, no watered_down simplified versions of symphonic music for them! This orchestra experience is a life_changing one, giving these young people new friends, wonderful dedicated teachers, and an improved sense of individual responsibility through a team effort. My children didn't have a youth orchestra, but my young students have one. I support it with all my heart, and I know you: parents, teachers, and community leaders do too. We all thank you, Regan Eckstein and Alfred Abel. Today's young musicians will become performers, teachers, parents, and most importantly the audience for performances of classical music. We are building the future.