Curb Youth Symphony & Nashville Youth Orchestra Program
Carol Nies, director
The Nashville Youth Orchestra Program has been an integral part of the Blair Academy for more than 50 years. Comprising eight orchestras, the program draws outstanding young musicians from throughout Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama. These orchestras are open by audition to students in the third through the twelfth grades. The Nashville Youth Orchestra Program provides unique opportunities to perform, experience masterpieces of orchestral literature, and to work with professional coaches and conductors. Students accepted for membership are encouraged to be in good standing in their school's music organizations. For more information, contact Carol Nies. NYOP auditions will be held in August, and you may reserve an audition time via email.
The eight orchestras of the program are:
Curb Youth Symphony
Carol Nies, director
The Curb Youth Symphony is the most advanced ensemble of the Nashville Youth Orchestra. It performs masterpieces of standard orchestral literature and features winners of the CYS Concerto Competition. Students have the opportunity to work with Nashville Symphony Orchestra members and Blair School of Music faculty members in section rehearsals and master classes. An annual CYS/NSO side-by-side concert is performed at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. Membership is open to students in grades 8-12 by audition. The Curb Youth Symphony is sponsored by the Nashville Symphony and the Blair School of Music. Rehearsals are 6:35-9:05 p.m. Mondays. For more information, contact Carol Nies.
Audition information
Take a look! Photos of the Curb Youth Symphony in action!
Philharmonia Orchestra
Craig Madole, director
The Philharmonia is a full orchestra (woodwinds, brass, percussion, harp and strings) of outstanding young musicians performing masterpieces of standard orchestral literature. Members of the Philharmonia included students from Tennessee and Kentucky. Membership is open to students in grades 7-12 by audition. Audition requirements are the same as for the Curb Youth Symphony. Rehearsals are 2-4:30 p.m. Sundays. For more information, contact Craig Madole.
Repertory Orchestra
Cassandra Brosvik, director
The Repertory Orchestra is a full orchestra (woodwinds, brass, percussion, harp and strings) of outstanding high school and middle school students performing arrangements of standard orchestral literature. Membership is open to students in grades 7-12 by audition. The orchestra presents two concerts each year. Rehearsals are 6:30-8:45 p.m. Tuesdays. For more information, contact Cassandra Brosvik.
Youth Strings I, II, and III
Celeste Tuten, director
The Youth Strings Orchestras provide training for young string students and prepare them for admission into the Repertory Orchestra. Students must be able to read at least Level One music. The Youth Strings Orchestras are open to all string students in Nashville and the surrounding areas by audition and recommendation of the private instructor. These groups give several concerts each season and meet for one 60-minute session weekly.
Youth Strings I: Tuesdays, 5:00 p.m.
Youth Strings II: Tuesdays, 6:00 p.m.
Youth Strings III: Tuesdays, 7:00 p.m.
For more information, contact Celeste Tuten or call her at 615-746-5212.
Reading Orchestra
Celeste Tuten, director
The Reading Orchestra focuses on strengthening string students' music-reading skills. This class also introduces fundamentals of orchestral playing and music theory. This ensemble gives two or three concerts each season and meets for one weekly 60-minute session weekly. It is open to all string students in Nashville and the surrounding areas by audition and recommendation of the private instructor. For more information, contact Celeste Tuten or call her at 615-746-5212.
Beginning Reading Orchestra
Celeste Tuten, director
The Beginning Reading Orchestra introduces fundamentals of orchestral playing and music theory and develops music-reading skills. It is open to all string students in Nashville and the surrounding areas by audition. For more information, contact Celeste Tuten or call her at 615-746-5212.
2020 Summer Orchestras at Blair - program updates
Due to ongoing health concerns over the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, we have regrettably had to alter our plans for several of our summer programs:
- 2020 Nashville Summer Orchestral Institute has been postponed. New dates will be announced once they are confirmed.
- 2020 Summer Young Artists Orchestra has been postponed. New dates will be announced once they are confirmed.
- 2020 Summer Strings! will take place online via Zoom. See registration information and schedule below.
2020 Summer Orchestras at Blair
POSTPONED: 2020 Nashville Summer Orchestral Institute
Dates: TBD
Carol Nies, director
The 2020 Nashville Summer Orchestral Institute at Blair will feature the NSOI Concerto Competition, an intensive orchestral experience, master classes, section rehearsals and a final concert featuring the Concerto Competition winner. Faculty will include Blair professors and Nashville Symphony Orchestra members. The NSOI is open by audition to students in grades 8-12, college students, graduate students and adults. See the NSOI page for more information, online audition instructions and the online application.
For more information, contact Carol Nies.
POSTPONED: 2020 Summer Young Artists Orchestra
Dates: TBD
Craig Madole, director
The 2020 Summer Young Artists Orchestra will include rehearsals, master classes, section rehearsals, and a final concert featuring all participants. Faculty will include Blair professors and Nashville Symphony Orchestra members. The SYAO is open by audition to students in grades 6-12. See the SYAO page for more information, online audition instructions and the application.
ONLINE: 2020 Summer Strings!
Celeste Tuten, director
Young string players (grades 3-11) are invited to participate in our six-week Summer Strings program.
Beginning Reading Orchestra
6 p.m. Thursdays, June 4-July 9
Reading Orchestra
7 p.m. Thursdays, June 4-July 9
Youth Strings Orchestra
YSO I: 5 p.m. Tuesdays, June 2-July 7
YSO II: 6 p.m. Tuesdays, June 2-July 7
YSO III: 7 p.m. Tuesdays, June 2-July 7
Contact Celeste Tuten at 615-746-5212 or email her for more information or to schedule an audition.
Tuition: $95
Registration information for 2020 Summer Strings
NYOP: Beginning Reading Orchestra
Celeste Tuten, director
The Beginning Reading Orchestra introduces fundamentals of orchestral playing and music theory and develops music-reading skills. It is open to all string students in Nashville and the surrounding areas by audition. For more information, contact Celeste Tuten.
Rehearsals: Thursdays, 6:00-7:00 p.m., Blair School of Music Room 2190
NOTE: Families enrolling two or more students in NYOP ensembles will receive a 25% tuition discount. Please contact the Blair Academy Registrar if you have questions about applying the discount.
NYOP: Reading Orchestra
Celeste Tuten, director
The Reading Orchestra focuses on strengthening string students' music-reading skills. This class also introduces fundamentals of orchestral playing and music theory. This ensemble gives two or three concerts each season and meets for one weekly 60-minute session weekly. It is open to all string students in Nashville and the surrounding areas by audition and recommendation of the private instructor. For more information, contact Celeste Tuten.
Rehearsals: Thursdays, 7:00-8:00 p.m., Blair School of Music Room 2190
NOTE: Families enrolling two or more students in NYOP ensembles will receive a 25% tuition discount. Please contact the Blair Academy Registrar if you have questions about applying the discount.
NYOP: Youth Strings Orchestra
Celeste Tuten, director
The Youth Strings Orchestras provide training for young string students and prepare them for admission into the Repertory Orchestra. Students must be able to read at least level-one music. The Youth Strings Orchestras are open to all string students in Nashville and the surrounding areas by audition and recommendation of the private instructor. These groups give several concerts each season and meet for one 60-minute session weekly. For more information, contact Celeste Tuten.
Youth Strings I: Tuesdays, 5:00-6:00 p.m.
Youth Strings II: Tuesdays, 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Youth Strings III: Tuesdays, 7:00-8:00 p.m.
NOTE: Families enrolling two ore more students in NYOP ensembles will receive a 25% discount. Please contact the Blair Academy Registrar if you have questions about applying the discount.