Thank you to our collaborative pianist Kevin Nguyen.

Fain Elementary - cellists

Eduardo Aguilia

Adley Dorsey

Jordyne Hearne

James Long

Fain Elementary

Eli Chase

Kim Vu

Brayden Ware

Carley Long

Cadence Colemere

Emma Daniel

Anna Claire Fernberg

Sharlotte Goode

Delilah Kinzie

Lily Makepeace

Brandon Katumwehe

Mya Hobbs

Austin Tembo

AJ Tembo

Sara Blair

Alexia Lipsey

Brooks Mayo

Alaina Gardner

Bradley Hale

Corena Crawford

Lamar Elementary

Danna Alvarado

Isaac Alvarado

Ruth Alvarado

Sophia Gonzales

Giselle Ramirez 

Southern Hills Elementary

Georgia Gilchrist 

Giselle Alvarez

Milam Elementary 

Keegan Albers

Liam Coker

Dionna Duran

Aria Fuentes

Cadence Gilmore

Michael Gilmore

Kinley Healey

Brynlee Kinard

Grace Marston

Haley Marston

Karlee Martinez

Amelia Quistian

Lenora Reid

Zack Rubio

Bryson Smith

Aubree Whisenhunt

Charlee Whisenhunt

Zundy Elementary

AJ Romine

Gail Key Academy of Music, an Initiative of the Wichita Falls Youth Symphony Orchestra

Mission Statement: WFYSO provides music education opportunities that lead to exceptional group performances and a lifelong appreciation of music.

Core Purpose of the Gail Key Academy of Music: Providing for students to develop performance skills and character through accessible and affordable music education.

Core Values of the Gail Key Academy of Music:

1. Personal Achievement- Motivating and facilitating performance excellence
2. Community Engagement- Developing respectful and responsible citizenship for the greater good
3. Inclusiveness-Embracing diversity and promoting collective learning

History

The Academy began as a pilot program for the 2016-17 school year.  The Wichita Falls Youth Symphony Board of Directors and the Community Task Force established an education pilot program to fulfill Suzuki string instruction needs at Southern Hills Elementary (WFISD).  Southern Hills allowed the students to attend lessons during regular school hours, as well as use of the facilities and instruments, therefore making it a unique collaboration.  The program was at capacity with 25 students each receiving a private and group lesson per week. The funding for the teacher, Tammy Sparks, was provided by the J.S. Bridwell Foundation.

The program continued at Southern Hills and expanded to both Lamar (continuing with Ms. Sparks) and Ben Milam elementary, adding a second full-time instructor, Amanda Hernandez. Ms. Hernandez began after school lessons to serve students who had graduated from the GKAM and moved to middle school, and she also worked in collaboration with the Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra as Artist in Residence, visiting each middle and high school orchestra program.

The program included up 75 students at any point and performed fall and spring concerts with the YSO, as well as school recitals and community tours.

The program was well received by participating schools and families, and the yearly surveys indicated high retention rates and benefits in musical, academic and personal areas.  

In 2019, the GKAM expanded to add cello lessons in addition to violin and additional after school positions. Unfortunately, the pandemic caused school shutdowns and a disruption to GKAM operations in the spring of 2020. The program began adapting by offering virtual lessons, shifting some lessons to after school since on-campus access was restricted, and adapting performances to thoughtfully planned socially distanced venues. Recovery from the shutdown in 2021 involved some restructuring.

In 2022, GKAM operates at 4 schools: Fain, Ben Milam, Lamar and Wichita Christian, as well as serving a limited number of after-school students.

Dear Parents, 

Thank you for supporting your child in the GKAM program this year. We appreciate your help in conducting a short end-of-year evaluation for our Suzuki program. Your responses will be anonymous and sent directly to the WFYSO executive director and GKAM committee head (not reviewed by our violin instructors). Thank you for your honest feedback as we work to continually improve our program. 

Click here to take the survey

Best,

Jean Hall

Executive Director, Wichita Falls Youth Symphony Orchestra