Music in the Schools
A major contribution of the Guild to Asheville and its surrounding communities is its Music in the Schools Program.
The program was founded in 2002, by the Guild Education Committee to supplement music education in the Buncombe County Schools. That year, the schools were about to face a cutback in music education due to a budget shortfall.
The program started its first year in three schools, reaching 300 children with a budget of $1,300. Today, the Guild’s acclaimed program reaches 7,500 students and provides live classical performances to 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade students.
Members of brass, woodwind and string groups discuss and demonstrate their instruments and play a variety of musical selections for the students throughout the school year. After those three years of music education, all 5th grade students have the opportunity to attend a Young People’s Concert presented by the Asheville Symphony Orchestra at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium.
Every fall during a Symphony Concert, the Guild holds the Pass the Hat fundraiser, the proceeds of which finance the Music in the Schools Program.
Youth Orchestras
The Asheville Symphony Youth Orchestra (ASYO) is a 47- year-old organization that serves five counties in Western North Carolina and includes public, private and home-schooled students. Over 100 students playing string, woodwind, brass and percussion instruments rehearse weekly in three orchestras and showcase their talents in four annual performances.
Since its inception, the orchestra has graduated over a thousand students, 25% of whom have gone on to study music in colleges, universities and conservatories. Dozens have pursued professional careers in music.
The Asheville Symphony Guild raises funds for the Youth orchestra throughout the year and volunteers at the Young People’s Concerts and Spotlight on Young Concerto Competition.
Click here to learn more about Asheville Symphony Youth Orchestras.
Music Ambassadors
The Music Ambassadors initiated in October 2016 is a program whose purpose is to raise awareness, enthusiasm and participation in the many Asheville Symphony and Guild education opportunities for young people and activities for music lovers of all ages.
Members can become an Ambassador by at least once a year attending or volunteering to help at a musical event. Opportunities include, but are not limited to any of the following: Music in the Schools program, Pass the Hat fundraiser, ushering at a young peoples’ concert, helping with the annual Spotlight on Youth Concerto Competition and recital, or playing a visible role in the Amadeus Festival.
For more information, please contact ambassadors@ashevillesymphonyyguild.org.