History and Background of CYS

CYS had its beginnings in 1955 when Greenville music-lover Miss Rita May Baker founded what she called "The Little Symphony," a group of young musicians supported by the Crescent Music Club and the Greenville Symphony Orchestra. The group expanded each year both in numbers and performances, until in 1976 the Crescent Youth Symphony became Carolina Youth Symphony, an independent, non-profit regional youth orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Robert Chesebro, Daniel Professor of Music at Furman University, and Principal Clarinetist for the Greenville Symphony. In more than 50 years, CYS has matured into three orchestra levels made up of students representing dozens of schools in many cities spread over South and North Carolina (see map). The organization has grown into a conducting and administrative staff of four, sectional coaches, more than 200 member musicians, and a Board of Directors of 16 members. CYS has performed at Carnegie Hall on three different occasions: 2001, 2004, and 2007 and will return to New York in March 2010 for a fourth performance. During the 2009-2010 season, the three orchestras will combine forces for a total of eight formal concerts. The CYS is ably led by Dr. Leslie Hicken, Music Director and Senior Conductor, Mr. Jim Kilgus, Conductor Concert Orchestra, and Mrs. Ginger Greer, Conductor Repertory Orchestra.

Each year CYS builds on its impressive list of accomplishments. Orchestra members consistently win chairs in All-State Bands and All-State Orchestras, solo competitions, and scholarships for summer music studies at the South Carolina Governor's School, Interlochen, Brevard, Aspen, Tanglewood, and Furman University. Graduates of CYS have won scholarships at universities such as Julliard, Eastman, Cleveland, Curtis, Oberlin, Michigan, Cincinnati, Indiana, and others. Numerous CYS youth attend the South Carolina Governor's School. Every year CYS awards tuition grants and summer music camp scholarships to its members. CYS Annual Young Artists Concerto Competition is open to all young students in this area and currently in its 23rd year. Winners get an opportunity to perform with the upper level orchestra in the Winter Concert.

These awards and the performance and study opportunities provided by CYS are paid for through the energetic fund-raising efforts of its Board of Directors and Parent Guild. Our young musicians and their parents also participate in fundraising events and public service performances. Corporate and individual sponsors provide the support essential to our concert performances. In addition, CYS was awarded a 3-year grant from the South Carolina Arts Commission, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Arts. We continue to seek grants for special projects through other charitable agencies such as the Metropolitan Arts Council of Greenville. We are proud to acknowledge major support from Furman University in providing rehearsal and performance facilities throughout the season.

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