Dear GTCYS Musicians,

Welcome to the GTCYS family! You are now part of GTCYS’ wonderful legacy of transforming young people through music. We are delighted and grateful to have you involved! From our youngest musicians in our Harmony strings instruction program to our Symphony musicians, every student in our ten school-year orchestras will benefit from opportunities for music making, social activities, and personal development. These are integral parts of GTCYS’ holistic approach to music education that will equip students with skills and values to boost their success in school and beyond.

After celebrating our 50^th Anniversary last season, we look forward to another exciting year of orchestral repertoire, concerts at Orchestra Hall, community performances, retreats, and artistic collaborations. We are also excited to reinstate social activities and leadership programs like mentoring to help students build strong peer-to-peer connections.

Being a GTCYS member is rewarding and enjoyable, and we know you will create lifelong memories in orchestra. It is also an honor and a responsibility. We ask students and parents to “play your part,” which begins by carefully reading this handbook. Our expectations and policies are structured to create a supportive experience and equitable culture to help students achieve their individual and collective best and feel like they belong.

This handbook should answer most of your questions about all things GTCYS, and you can count on us to communicate closely with you throughout the year. Should you have any questions or suggestions along the way, please contact a member of our staff.

Thank you for your participation in GTCYS. We look forward to a wonderful year with your family!

Sincerely,

Megen Balda                 Mark Russell Smith
Executive Director         Artistic Director