The DC Youth Orchestra Program (DCYOP) is an ensemble-based music education program in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1960 on the request of DC Public Schools to be the city's youth orchestra, DCYOP enrolls over 600 students ages 4–18 every year from the DC metro area.
DCYOP serves as a model for the community, uniting students from different backgrounds with a shared passion, and is the District's only PreK-12 program that seeks to make high-quality, ensemble-based music education available to all students, regardless of socioeconomic status or ability. All students who are interested in learning a musical instrument are accepted into the program and tuition assistance is offered on a sliding scale so that the program is affordable and accessible to every family. In addition, to further remove barriers to music participation for at-risk students, DCYOP offers tuition-free Children's Orchestra programming on-site at three Title I DC public elementary schools. DCYOP also offers a two-week Summer Chamber Music Intensive and a one-week Summer Orchestra Intensive.
DCYOP graduates enjoy successful careers across many disciplines. Alumni are professional musicians in the National Symphony Orchestra and other orchestras, Grammy and Emmy Award winners, New York Times best-selling authors, CEOs, cancer surgeons, Broadway stars, "Saturday Night Live" cast members, and civic leaders including DC Mayor Muriel Bowser. Many alumni point to DCYOP as a significant factor in their success.
DCYOP's current Executive Director is Loretta Thompson. Evan Ross Solomon serves as Artistic and Music Director.
History 1960 – DCYOP was founded by Lyn McLain at the request of DC Public Schools, with a handful of teachers and 60 students, at Roosevelt High School 1961 – DCYOP's first season begins at Calvin Coolidge Senior High School 2006 – Founder Lyn McLain retires 2010 – DCYOP celebrates its 50th anniversary 2010 – DCYOP relocates to Eastern Senior High School 2019 – DCYOP relocates to Takoma Education Campus
International tours 1970 – Switzerland 1972 – Germany 1974 – Scotland 1978 – Japan 1981 – Greece and Yugoslavia 1984 – Puerto Rico 1986 – China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan 1987 – Puerto Rico and South Korea 1988 – Puerto Rico, Russia, and Estonia 1989 – Spain 1992 – Spain 1994 – Netherlands, France, and Belgium 1996 – Netherlands and Belgium 1999 – Austria and Germany 2002 – South Africa 2003 – Japan 2014 – Colombia 2016 – Chile 2018 – Italy 2022 – Spain and Portugal 2024 – Germany, Austria, and Czechia 2026 - South Africa
References
External links DC Youth Orchestra Program (website)