GCYO WINTER NEWSLETTER

In this email:

• Concerto Competition Winner and Finalists announced
• Save the Date: Gunter Theatre Concert is March 7
• YAO to Perform with the Greenville Symphony 2/7 and 2/8
• New YAO Audition Excerpts

2025 Concerto Competition finalists, from left to right: Sonia Okunev, Dylan Goldbach, Joshua Acree, Madison Shamis, and Jerry Gan (not pictured is Roger Luo). The judges were Dr. Timothy McMurray (left) and Mr. Neil Casey (right).

Announcing The YAO Concerto Competition Winner

Sponsored by The Bichel Foundation

Congratulations to the Concerto Competition Winner, Jerry Gan. Jerry will perform the 1st movement of Samuel Barber's Violin Concerto at the Gunter Theatre Concert, Saturday, March 7 at 7:30 PM. Details below:



Special thanks to The Bichel Foundation for sponsoring the 25-26 Concerto Competition

See the finalist's repertoire selections below:

About Jerry Gan:

A Greenville native, Jerry Gan is a junior at Christ Church Episcopal School with over a decade of experience on his instrument. He has been studying with the beloved Mary Irwin for 10 years. His previous teachers include the esteemed Betsy Fee. Throughout his high school career, Jerry has served as the concertmaster of the 2024 SCMEA Region II Honors Orchestra and the assistant concertmaster of the 2025 SCMEA All-State Orchestra. He has recorded four years of service with both the Greenville County Youth Orchestra and the Carolina Youth Symphony, the former of which he also serves as concertmaster. Jerry has been recognized as a Piccolo Spoleto Rising Star, a finalist at the Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall, and a finalist at the Southern Violin Association Concerto Competition 

In his free time, Jerry plays the fiddle in his high school band and is an ardent fan of the Carolina Panthers. He is also an amateur singer and mandolin player

UPCOMING:

Philharmonic and YAO Concert

Featuring

The Concerto Competition Winner

Peace Center, Gunter Theatre

MARCH 7

• March 7, 7:30 PM at the Peace Center, Gunter Theatre.
• Features Philharmonic and YAO
• & winner of the Concerto Competition sponsored by the Bichel Foundation
• Jerry Gan will perform the first movement of Samuel Barber's Violin Concerto
• Conducted by Mr. Neil Casey

Tickets are available for purchase: HERE.

GCYO Takes the Stage with the Greenville Symphony



@Peace Center Concert Hall

February 7 and 8

• Well, not all the students. They would not fit. However 33 Students from the Young Artist Orchestra were selected by chair auditions to perform with the Greenville Symphony on their upcoming concert as part of an educational collaboration with the Greenville Symphony
• They'll join the GSO in the Danzon no. 2 by Marquez
• Wish them luck as they join the symphony in professional rehearsals next weekend to prepare for two performances, Saturday, February 7 at 7:30 PM and Sunday, February 8 at 3 PM
• GSO conductor Lee Mills will lead the performances which will also include Dvorak's Cello Concerto played by soloist Tommy Mesa, among other selections

Tickets are available for purchase: HERE.

The Young Artist Orchestra Announces

New Audition Excerpts

See the new YAO audition excerpts HERE. Spring Auditions for all ensembles will be held May 8, 9, 10 at the Fine Arts Center. Registration will be available soon. The deadline to register for an audition is April 20.

Because of instrumentation needs YAO occasionally accepts rolling auditions, especially for winds and brass. For more information contact Executive Director David Kiser: david.kiser@gcyo.net

Thank you South Carolina Arts Commission and Metropolitan Arts Council for supporting GCYO

Your grants support the musical education of hundreds of students from Greenville.

You can support our music education programs by giving a donation.

 Donors become special friends of GCYO and are acknowledged at all of our concerts. Join one of our circles today. The Friends Circle starts with any amount up to $100.

How do I give?

• A check to Greenville County Youth Orchestras,102 Pine Knoll Drive, Greenville, SC 29609. Attention: GCYO
• Donate online: https://gcyo.net/support/
• GCYO's EIN is 57-0809098

Thanks for your support and we hope to see you at an upcoming concert,

David Kiser

Executive Director

david.kiser@gcyo.net

GCYO Community Advertisers:

Follow GCYO on Social Media

Don't miss out on any news! Follow us on Instagram to keep up to date on everything GCYO.

GCYO students playing for the Spring Orchestras Concert

2025-2026 Concerts

Important facts about tickets:

• Peace Center is a cashless venue
• Tickets only cover part of the cost of putting on concerts at the Peace Center. By purchasing a ticket to a concert you are directly supporting student education in the arts.

Links to Important Information