Our History
The Louisville Youth Orchestra (LYO) began in the fall of 1958 as an outgrowth of a six-week summer orchestral program sponsored by the Louisville Academy of Music. With Rubin Sher as conductor, William Sloane as assistant, and the Academy’s President, Robert French, as manager, approximately fifty young musicians began rehearsals at the Academy that September.
By December the fledgling Academy Youth Orchestra had grown to seventy members drawn from seventeen area schools, and had outgrown the Academy’s rehearsal facilities. On the 30th of that month the group gave its first public concert in the old Columbia Auditorium. Two days earlier it had made its community debut playing excerpts from Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf in a taped performance broadcast on WHAS TV.
1958
Our Start
LYO began in the fall of 1958 as a program sponsored by the Louisville Academy of Music. With Rubin Sher as conductor, William Sloane as assistant, and the Academy’s President, Robert French, as manager, approximately fifty young musicians began rehearsals.
1971
International Fame
Accomplished music directors have led the orchestra through hundreds of concerts in the community, on tour throughout Kentucky, to the Governor’s mansion and the State Fair on numerous occasions, to Chicago, Pittsburgh, Nashville, Buffalo, Columbus (IN), and even to the International Festival of Youth Orchestras in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1971.
1975
Music Directors
Daniel Spurlock beginning in 1975, Jim Bates beginning in 1996, Robert Franz beginning in 2001, Jason Seber beginning in 2005, Deanna Tham beginning in 2016, and Doug Elmore beginning in 2017.
1989
Collaboration
Daniel Spurlock led an LYO orchestra with legendary folksinger Jean Richie performing Song of Kentucky in locations throughout Eastern Kentucky. The piece was based on traditional folksongs and was composed by Carol McClure.
1991
Growth
Melody Welsh served as Executive Director beginning in 1991. Under her leadership the orchestra accomplished significant growth and became an increasingly important part of the Louisville arts community. Membership increased from 100 to 400, core ensembles rose from two to eight, and patrons climbed from 50 to 450. Important new programs were also introduced such as an endowment fund, Presto beginning strings, and our scholarship program.
1991-2021
2010
Growth
Jason Seber directing the LYO in rehearsal with My Morning Jacket in 2010.
