The Illinois Symphony Orchestra and the Sangamon Valley Youth Symphony, both based in Springfield, Illinois, have entered into an agreement for the Sangamon Valley Youth Symphony (SVYS) to become part of the ISO beginning July 1, 2020. The SVYS will become the Illinois Symphony Youth Orchestra, and the SVYS organization will join the education programs offered by the ISO and enable the ISO to expand its youth and adult orchestral education experiences. The organizations have worked together for many years, including side-by-side performances, master classes and workshops with prominent guest artists, and ISO musicians working in rehearsal with SVYS musicians. SVYS was established in 1976 in response to Springfield-area schools removing orchestra programs from their music education curriculum. The organization provides school-based string music education and youth orchestra programs for children in Sangamon County, as well as orchestral experiences for adult amateur musicians through the Sangamon Valley Civic Orchestra. Ken Lam is music director of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, and Trevor Orthmann is executive director. Jackie Mitra is executive director of the Sangamon Valley Youth Symphony.
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