The Huntsville Youth Orchestra is a community and area wide children's orchestra, which was organized to provide children who want to play string instruments a place to perform.

This is a unique opportunity for children to perform string instruments violin, viola, cello, or bass in a group setting.

There are twelve rehearsals and at least one performance per semester. HYO contracts with Sam Houston State University students and faculty for conductor, instructors, and facilities.

About me:

I am a homeschool mother of five children. All of whom have an appreciation of music and my oldest plays violin in the Chamber Orchestra.

I have had a love of music for as long as I can remember. I was band in Junior High and High School here in Huntsville, I sang in the Huntsville Children's Choir, Huntsville High School Choirs all four years, and Sam Houston State University Concert Choir for two years where I also minored in Music. I sang in Belle Chanson Women's Ensemble for five to six years and hope to return to that ensemble in the fall.

The benefits of musical endeavors (especially participation in a group) provide for discipline and the healthy development of a child's brain make an organization such as Huntsville Youth Orchestra highly beneficial for the child as well as the surrounding community.

I hope to see HYO continue to grow in the coming years.

About me:

Dr. Naomi Gjevre serves on the faculty at Sam Houston State University where she teaches violin, chamber music, string pedagogy, and string methods. In addition, Dr. Gjevre is a member of the faculty ensemble the Kolonneh String Quartet, and served on the violin faculty at the Interlochen Center for the Arts arts camp from 2000-2010.

Dr. Gjevre has had a varied career as a performer, scholar, and pedagogue. As a performer, she is a founding member of the Lindsayan String Quartet, which has held two prestigious residencies.

From 1998-2002 she was appointed Artist in Residence with the Midland-Odessa Symphony and Chorale in Texas, and from 1995 to 1997 Artist in Residence under a National Endowment for the Arts grant at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green.

Prior to her appointment at SHSU, Dr. Gjevre was Assistant Professor of Violin at the University of Wyoming, and a member of the Summit Chamber Players. As a grant recipient, she is the founder and former director of the Medicine Bow Baroque Consort.

Previous teaching positions include the University of Wyoming, Midland College, Odessa College, Western Kentucky University, and a teaching assistantship at Florida State University. Degrees: BM University of Minnesota, MM and DM Florida State University.

The youth orchestra was formally organized during the summer of 1986. It was formed in response to a genuine need in this area for orchestral performance opportunities.

HYO is fortunate to have the resources of the SHSU School of Music to draw upon. The organization could never have taken form without the support of the music faculty and SHSU students who serve in many capacities in the organization.

The parents, members, and instructors have a strong desire to see HYO continue to provide training, music education, and entertainment for the Huntsville area. HYO, which is flourishing in the Huntsville area, does so through the generosity of private individuals and a grant from the Huntsville Arts Commission. These opportunities could not exist without such generosity.