On Saturday mornings something special happens. Students from Riverview West Side School of Excellence gather together to make music and learn valuable life skills. They reconnect after a long summer apart. They play musical games and explore their instruments. They are challenged and they grow in incredible ways. They are Harmony. Normally a before-school program […]

Music is built on community. You bond over a memorable performance. Laugh with friends during a rehearsal. Share peace and power in music and silence. Because of COVID-19, students and families have been away from their community – their home at GTCYS – for too long. But that changed when GTCYS launched in-person rehearsals at […]

Silence. The sound heard across rehearsal spaces and concert halls since March. It’s a sound that waits, wants to be filled with sweeping melodies. Lush harmonies. Scintillating flourishes. Behind those sounds, the joy of making music together. A pulsing, connective energy. And at the end of September, GTCYS launched its 49th season with in-person rehearsals, […]

Music and community are more important than ever, and we know that GTCYS fills an important musical niche for students. That’s why GTCYS’ planning over the last few months has been guided by our principles to: Protect the health and safety of our students, staff, and the GTCYS community Sustain our mission to provide high-quality music education through ensemble experiences that are accessible and […]

When in-person learning came to a sudden halt, GTCYS clarinetist Timmy Tu rose to the occasion. In May, Timmy co-founded ELLoquently, an organization that helps kids from around the world learn English. ELLoquently pairs English Language Learners (ELLs) with high school and college tutors, who in turn are supported by long-time educators. Through weekly meetings and continued conversations, students improve their English abilities and develop deep relationships with their […]

We are excited to announce that conductor Tamara Gonzalez will join GTCYS’ artistic team to lead Concertino East, GTCYS’ new full orchestra for east metro students beginning this fall. Ms. Gonzalez’s passion for young people and commitment to music education are reflected in her 15 years of teaching experience. A violin and viola instructor and conductor with MacPhail Center for Music, she has also served as Classical Minnesota Public Radio’s bilingual orchestra clinician, leading […]

Dear Friends and Community Members, GTCYS sees and shares the community’s pain in mourning George Floyd. We are outraged by the senseless and callous murder of George Floyd which is yet another sign of the persistent and systemic racism that exists here in the Twin Cities and across our nation. Our hearts go out to all who […]

Performing GTCYS’ season finale, “Jupiter”, is an annual hallmark that spans nearly 20 years. Bringing the entire GTCYS student body together in a mass performance is a moving demonstration of unity, community, and beauty. Typically performed at Orchestra Hall, students fill the stage, line the aisles, and stand antiphonally in the balconies enveloping the audience […]

GTCYS is excited to announce a new series of FREE interactive online sessions with GTCYS conductors, staff, and special guests for this summer! These sessions cover a wide range of musical topics and are geared towards a variety of ages and instruments. Learn about your instrument, practice tips, music history, conducting, and more! You can see the full schedule and […]

On behalf of our Board of Directors, conductors, and staff, I hope this finds each of you safe and healthy. The world around us has clearly changed in the last few weeks and we all find ourselves in uncharted waters. We acknowledge the upheaval to everyone’s lives and our hearts go out to those who […]