Celebrate 45 years of music with the Everett youth symphony

Published 10:54 pm Monday, May 10, 2010

With little fanfare, the Everett Youth Symphony Orchestras has been applying its own version of no child left behind.

This past season the group paid out more than $3,000 in tuition assistance to nine children whose families fell on hard times.

The Everett Youth Symphony Orchestras didn’t have to turn any musicians away, continuing a commitment that every child who wants to gets a chance to play a musical instrument.

“I’m really glad that the orchestra helps because I don’t think people should be denied this kind of performance opportunity,” said principal clarinet player Will Lace, 17, who has been with the youth orchestras for six years. “It’s that whole sense of community.”

It’s that sense of community that has given it two things that are rare in this sapped economy: financial stability and a growing membership.

The Everett Youth Symphony Orchestras increased membership 15 percent over last season, and today serves 163 students representing 52 different schools and 19 school districts in Snohomish, Island and part of King counties.

“It’s a huge footprint,” said board president Ashley McConnaughey. “We do not have a small impact.”

Backed with strength and stability — and a grant from Everett’s Cultural Arts Commission — the organization is using this season, its 45th anniversary year, to say thanks to the community.

That thanks comes in the form of two free concerts: one is Sunday at Benaroya Hall in Seattle and the second is May 18 at Northshore Christian Church in Everett. A third free concert was held in March.

Healthy fundraising and yearly membership fees — which range from $284 to $484 — have kept its balance sheets robust and kept its mission to nurture musical performance and growth in young musicians alive in Snohomish County, where there are just a few school districts that still offer orchestral programs.

Everett School District doesn’t have one.

So for French horn player Danny Kavanagh, the youth orchestras meant having a local outlet for playing an orchestral repertoire.

“Band is not that challenging and marching around with a French horn is not that much fun,” Danny said with a laugh. “The orchestral music is more exciting, and you get cooler parts, and it’s generally what the French horn was meant for.”

Danny has lived up to that challenge.

Two weeks ago, Danny, 15, won first place in the solo competition in the Washington State Solo and Ensemble Contest put on by the Washington Music Educators Association.

Danny acquired his firm musical foundation from EYSO but also learned lots of life skills as well.

He said the experience has made him more disciplined, given him a strong work ethic — Danny also plays trombone in jazz band that meets at 5:30 a.m. each weekday — and taught him to set goals.

Danny said every young musician should have the chance to learn all that he has.

McConnaughey said the board this season has renamed its tuition assistance program the Galperin Tuition Assistance Program, after Everett Youth Symphony Orchestras founder Jascha Galperin.

“His legacy was giving kids access to orchestral music and that has been firmly established,” McConnaughey said. “And we are committed to every kid who wants the chance to play, and every kid is given that opportunity.”

Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com.