All orchestras and ensembles in performance / Iroquois Amphitheater / April 30, 2023
Our 65tH
Season
2022-2023 Season Highlights
The season was distinguished by four Classical Concerts exploring orchestral repertoire, two Discovery Concerts centering on important developmental programs for young audiences, and two Pops Concerts offering uplifting musical repertoire for enthusiastic audiences.
Our two full orchestras, two string orchestras, and four chamber ensembles demonstrated their impressive talent throughout the year. The LYO continues to offer extraordinary experiences for its diverse members and audiences throughout the community.
The following are highlights from this sensational year. Click on any image to see an enlargement.
Symphony Orchestra / Misaki Hall, assistant conductor / March 19, 2023
And They’re Off!
Pops Concert Series II / Sunday, April 30 / Iroquois Amphitheater / 4:00 pm / FREE Admission with Derby Pin
Symphony Orchestra, Repertory Orchestra, Concert Orchestra, Serenade Orchestra,
Horizons Wind Ensemble, Horizons Brass Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Presto! Strings
Symphony Orchestra onstage at Iroquois Amphitheatre.
PRESTO beginning strings are an audience favorite.
Heartfelt best wishes to LYO's graduating seniors.
All LYO orchestras and ensembles combine for an uplifting pops concert at the Iroquois Amphitheatre. This annual event has grown over the years as people from across the community look forward to a spirited afternoon featuring our amazing young talent playing familiar music.
The concert was a Kentucky Derby Festival Event with FREE admission for all those wearing a Pegasus Pin. It is a popular event for families and for introducing friends to the LYO
The Iroquois concert is also the time when we bid farewell and honor our graduating seniors. Over recent years 100% of graduates have gone on to college!
New Creations
Classical Concert Series IV / Sunday, March 19, 2023 / Brown Theater
Symphony Orchestra, Repertory Orchestra
Symphony Orchestra, Doug Elmore, conductor
The New Creations concert in March was a fantastic opportunity for our Symphony Orchestra students to be part of something incredible - the birth of a new and significant piece of music by a major American composer! Our students put in a lot of rigorous rehearsal, practice, and listening, in addition to breaking new boundaries technically, to give a stunning performance of Ms. Higdon’s work, The “Cold Mountain” Suite. In addition, our Repertory Orchestra unveiled a new arrangement by Mr. Ian Elmore, their conductor, of a work by American composer Harry Burleigh. We are excited to keep the LYO at the forefront of American orchestras championing new works!
--- Doug Elmore, Music Director
Featuring the Kentucky premiere of Cold Mountain Suite
by Grammy Award-Winning composer Jennifer Higdon.
Repertory Orchestra, Ian Elmore, conductor
From Words to Music
Classical Concert Series III / Sunday, March 12, 2023 / Ballard High School Fine Arts Center
Concert Orchestra, Serenade Orchestra, Horizons Winds, Horizons Brass, Percussion Ensemble
Concert Orchestra / Chris Lerner, conductor
The Concert and Serenade Orchestras are string ensembles that serve to introduce beginning players to larger ensembles. They are important to young musicians as they develop their experience and education.
Horizons instrumental ensembles enable young musicians to focus on their proficiency and learn to play advanced repertoire in a group. They serve as a springboard in mastering an instrument and preparing to perform in a full orchestra.
The percussion ensemble is an integral part of the LYO. Over the past decade Mark Tate, conductor, provides a full range of possibilities to students from their introduction to playing in a full orchestra.
Serenade Orchestra / Robert Dixon, conductor
Horizons Wind Ensemble / Chris Schmidt, conductor
Horizons Wind Ensemble / Brandon Bell, conductor
Percussion Ensemble / Mark Tate, conductor
Gheens Great Expectations
Discovery Concert Series III / Side by Side with the LO / Wednesday, February 2, 2022 / Whitney Hall
Symphony Orchestra
Side-by-side performances by
Louisville Youth Orchestra
Louisville Orchestra
Avery Gagliano, pianist
The Gheens Great Expectations Concert featured performances by the Louisville Youth Orchestra, Louisville Orchestra and 21-year-old, award-winning pianist Avery Gagliano. . It was conducted by Louisville Youth Orchestra Music Director Doug Elmore and guest conductor Jason Seber (a former LYO music director).
The Gheens Great Expectations Concert provided a unique opportunity for young people throughout Kentucky to witness the nation's top rising classical performers. The concert signaled the beginning of the annual Kentucky Music Educators Association conference, which brings together the top student performers from across the commonwealth for four days of musical enrichment and performance. Along with helping to make the arts accessible to all, the concert provided an opportunity for Louisville Youth Orchestra musicians to study and perform with members of the Louisville Orchestra.
The free concert was made possible with support from the Gheens Foundation, Kentucky Music Educators Association and 90.5 WUOL Classical Louisville.
Holiday Legends, Lights, and Lore
Pops Concert Series I / Sunday, December 11, 2022 / Youth Performing Arts School
Repertory Orchestra, Concert Orchestra, Serenade Orchestra, Horizons Wind Ensemble,
Horizons Brass Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble
Concert Orchestra / Chris Lerner, conductor
Serenade Orchestra / Robert Dixon, conductor
Repertory Orchestra, Ian Elmore, conductor
Horizons Brass Ensemble, Chris Schmidt, conductor
Horizons Wind Ensemble, Brandon Bell, conductor
The first Pops Concert of the season brings together six of LYO's ensembles in a lively celebration of the Holidays.
Members of the Percussion Ensemble join other ensembles in performances according to the instrumentation requirements of the pieces being performed.
Beyond Our Backyard
Discovery Concert Series II / Middle School Concert / Monday, November 21, 2022 / Brown Theatre
Symphony Orchestra
Middle school students from throughout the region attended LYO's annual middle school concert at the historic Brown Theater. This free concert is made possible through the support of individual patrons who remember the importance of "Making Music" concerts when they were young.
Symphony Orchestra, Doug Elmore, conductor
All the Seasons Change
Classical Concert Series II / Sunday, November 20, 2022/ Brown Theater,
Symphony Orchestra, Repertory Orchestra, Concert Orchestra
Hear our two full orchestras rehearse for their first classical concert of the season.
Symphony Orchestra, Doug Elmore, conductor
Repertory Orchestra, Ian Elmore, conductor
Music of the Stars
Classical Concert Series I / Sunday, November 6, 2022 / Western Middle School
Serenade Orchestra , Horizons Winds, Horizons Brass, Percussion Ensemble
Instrumental ensembles provide an opportunity for young musicians to practice together and experience the diversity of instrumentation.
For many new members this concert was their first opportunity to perform in a group before a live audience.