History

The Youth Orchestra of the Rockies originated as the Larimer Youth Festival Orchestra in 1995 as a summer program. LYFO was established by Fort Collins resident Lisa Eakins, Executive Director, and Thomas Fairlie, Music Director, to provide the young musicians of the northern Front Range of Colorado with an opportunity to experience the rigors of professional music-making in an educational setting.

Each member of the Orchestra qualifies for participation by performing a live audition. Members who are interested in the further challenge of playing a concerto solo with the orchestra may compete for that opportunity.

Each year has seen growth in the membership of the Orchestra, and a greater involvement of the community in its activities. From the beginning, music professionals in the community have lent a hand in the selection of the membership and in helping the youth prepare their music for concerts.

In the 1996 season, the Fort Collins School of Fine Arts of the Fort Collins Front Range Community College participated by sponsoring our program through their Continuing Education Department. The Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra has shared resources with LYFO and in 1997 played a combined outdoor concert in Old Town Square.

Because the membership has grown to include youth from communities outside Larimer County and the program expanded to offer year-round opportunities, the name was changed to the Rocky Mountain Youth Orchestra the summer of 1999. Under this new name, Allan R. Scott was hired as the first Music Director and held this position from 2001 - 2002.

We are pleased to announce Cynthia Katsarelis accepted this position on January 1, 2004. Ms. Katsarelis has conducted excellent professional, conservatory, youth and training orchestras. Among the orchestras she has conducted include the Buffalo Philharmonic, Bourgas Philharmonic (Bulgaria), Cincinnati Symphony and Pops, Colorado Symphony, Spokane Symphony, the New World Symphony, and the Detroit Civic Orchestra. Ms. Katsarelis studied Violin and Conducting at the prestigious Peabody Conservatory of Music of the Johns Hopkins University, earning her Bachelors and Masters of Music degrees.

This Summer of 2004, the board decided to change the name once again to the Youth Orchestra of the Rockies to avoid confusion with the Rocky Mountain High School Orchestra.

In keeping with the original vision of its founders, the Orchestra operates as an official non-profit organization under the guidance of a Board of Directors, with federal tax-exempt status. The Orchestra continues to develop its relationships with other musical institutions in the area, exploring the possibilities for mentoring between professionals and students.

This year the Board of Directors voted to realize a long-term goal of creating a junior string orchestra. A panel of judges accepted 21 members into the inaugural orchestra. Rehearsals have begun and the ensemble will join the senior orchestra at their April 24 performance. The board is excited to announce they hired Danielle Crisman, local junior high music teacher and professional musician, as conductor.

Inspiring Youth to Musical Excellence