Teacher Resources:
Young Strings was created to discover, develop and promote the musical talent of outstanding young minority string players and provide them with the skills and resources necessary to pursue music careers. Targeting African-American and Hispanic students, the program seeks to increase the multi-cultural diversity of American orchestras as well as broaden community ownership of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.
Founded in 1992 by Dallas Symphony Orchestra musicians, Young Strings offers three levels of instruction and currently serves 150 students annually. Beginning students attend general music classes, and then progress to semi-private instrumental lessons with highly trained instructors. Advanced students are selected by audition to study privately with a musician from the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. All instruction is provided to students free of charge.
Young Strings participants also receive personal mentoring, performance opportunities, chamber music instruction, concert tickets, and support for summer studies at prestigious camps and institutions. If students cannot afford a quality instrument they are provided one through the program's instrument loan bank, which has received support from the Hillcrest Foundation, Dallas Symphony Orchestra League, individual donors, and instrument dealers.
Graduates of Young Strings have received scholarships to leading schools of music such as The Juilliard School, Yale University, New England Conservatory of Music, Northwestern University, Oberlin Conservatory, Catholic University of America, Baylor University, and the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University.
A community based Advisory Council provides access to social and educational services for students needing further resources, and the program is the focus of the volunteer efforts of Dallas Symphony Orchestra League's Innovators. In 2001 Young Strings won a Coming Up Taller Award from the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, and also received the 2004 Bank of America Award for Excellence in Orchestra Education from the American Symphony Orchestra League. The Young Strings program is generously sponsored by our
sponsors.
For more information about the Young Strings program, please contact Carolyn Jabr at 214.871.4083.