Dear guests,

What does music mean to you this year?

In the Youth Symphony Orchestra, creating music is creating hope. It’s creating joy. It lifts our spirits, shapes our minds, and builds our strength. It connects us with our humanity and with each other.

Each year, the board of directors renews its commitment to creating music education opportunities that lead to exceptional performances and a lifelong love of music. In that way, this year is no different from any other. What’s different this year is that when we invite you to build this program together with us, we’re all on a path of accelerated innovation. New rehearsal spaces, new concert venues, new ways of delivering everything from violin lessons to concert programs digitally.

To our members and students…thank you for trusting us with this part of your life and your education.

To our artistic staff…thank you for your creativity and engagement in providing such quality education to the students  

To our supporters, audience and fans…thank you for teaming up with us to make this happen for our youth and our community.

To everyone…let’s keep creating!

Dana Taylor

Board Chair

Lamar

Angelique Anguiano

Jaiden Fletcher

Jaxon Tedford

Southern Hills

Giselle Alvarez

Georgia Gilchrist

Daniela Ramirez

Kaleb Teruel

Christian Ortiz

Home School

Kal-el Lawrence

Milam 

Liam Almanza

Stella Barrett

Dionna Duran

Cadence Gilmore

Michael Gilmore

Simon Gilmore

Brynlee Kinard

Kinley Healey

Karlee Martinez

Anistyn Mason

Amelia Quistian

Zack Rubio

Aubree Whisenhunt

Charlee Whisenhunt

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.

When educator and musician Gail Key founded the YSO in 1992, her vision included the eventual founding of a community music academy to complement the youth orchestra. When the academy launched in 2016, it wore her name with honor (see the history section for a more complete story). 

While Gail Key had the foresight to envision this academy, even she didn't fully see what the year 2020 would throw at us! And here we are, fighting to re-envision what it means to educate and perform during a global pandemic. Music carries as much or more power than it ever has...the power to stir hope and joy, the power to lift and inspire, the power to connect us with with the most human parts of ourselves and connect us with other humans across the world and across history. 

Thank you for keeping these doors open for the students so they can keep growing and creating and soaking up all the benefits that walk alongside a music education, and thank you for helping us safeguard the health of everyone in the program.

Many individuals have donated and underwritten programs this year. We love each one of you and are deeply aware of the difference you make to the students. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. This year more than ever, we know that your generosity is powerful and crucial.