The Youth Orchestra of Greater Columbus (YOGC) will host their Fall Concert tomorrow night, October 28, at Spencer High School from 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm. Their ensemble features student musicians from across Columbus and Phenix City. The String Orchestra and Symphonic Orchestra will perform selections from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite and Sibelius’ Finlandia. Admission is free.
Before tonight’s rehearsal for the concert, we caught up with the new Executive Director of the YOGC, Madison Flynn. She is the former musical director of Carver High School.
“The Youth Orchestra provides an amazing opportunity for students and gives them learning opportunities such as collaborating with the Columbus Ballet and bringing in other accomplished musicians to perform with them,” explained Flynn.
YOGC was formed in May of 1993 by Lynn Whiddon and Charlyn Kerr, staunch supporters of arts in the community, with a mission to provide a high level of musical instruction to the youth in the Chattahoochee Valley. Currently, the program serves approximately 85 young musicians from over thirty areas, including public, private, and home schools in both Georgia and Alabama. The orchestra has students as young as 11, all the way up through their senior year in high school.
Music education is a powerful tool that shapes students’ lives, providing them with skills that extend far beyond the classroom. For many students, music class is the highlight of their day, the one place where they feel truly connected, supported by their peers, and free to express themselves. In a world where so many young people are searching for meaning and connection, music provides a lifeline—helping students discover their strengths, build resilience, and find joy in learning…