The Academy of Saint Cecilia Youth Orchestra (ASCYO) is an outreach music ministry of Damascus United Methodist Church. Connecting with both youth and their families in the greater Washington, D.C. area, The Academy began its seventh year in September, 2008. Much to our delight, the Academy of Saint Cecilia Youth Orchestra has experienced tremendous growth. There are now seven entities under the umbrella of ASCYO: three orchestras, a flute choir, a wind ensemble, and two bands. ASCYO has 200 students in its ensembles, serving over 125 families! All the instrumental music directors, coaches and I are blessed to interact, teach and mentor these students each Tuesday night for 12 weeks in the fall and the spring, culminating in a three day concerts series each semester. ASCYO is continuing to thrive!
Youth Orchestra
The ASCYO began in 2001 with a handful of students in the Youth Orchestra under the direction of Rev. Walter G. Edmonds. This fall, the enrollment of the Youth Orchestra is sixty-eight members strong. The fall concert series will feature four Youth Orchestra high school senior soloists on the bassoon, clarinet, viola and cello, accompanied by orchestra. In the spring, four more Youth Orchestra high school seniors will solo with the orchestra on the violin, viola and trumpet.
Prep Orchestra
After the Youth Orchestra’s successful first season, the need for a preparatory orchestra was clear. In 2002, the Prep Orchestra was added to ASCYO. The Prep Orchestra, comprised of beginning strings, is directed by Mr. Kenneth L. Webb and has nine members.
Chamber Orchestra
The Chamber Orchestras, also under the baton of Mr. Webb, began in 2004. This intermediate level symphonic orchestra has forty members and is the feeder orchestra to the Youth Orchestra.
Flute Choir
In addition to the three orchestras, the Flute Choir was created in 2005 to reach the large number of flute players in the upper Montgomery County area. Members of the Flute Choir are from the Youth and Chamber Orchestras, as well as students in the surrounding areas. The Flute Choir has 10 members and is directed by Mrs. Laura Benning. On April 4, 2009, the Flute Choir participated in the Brink Annual Flute Choir Festival held at Mill Creek Parish UMC in Gaithersburg, MD at 3:00 pm.
Beginning Band
The beginning woodwind and brass program started in 2006 with thirty members. This program is so successful that it has become the Beginning Band with twenty-five members. It is the feeder band for the Concert Band. The Beginning Band is under the tutelage of Mrs. Emily Coile and her parents, Mr. Ken and Mrs. Ann Dahlin.
Wind Ensemble
ASCYO’s newest musical offering is the Wind Ensemble, which started last fall. The Wind Ensemble is made up of the top woodwind players in the Concert Band. There are fifteen members.
Concert Band
The Concert Band (formerly known as the Prep Band) is in its second year. It is the next step for those musicians who have graduated from the Beginning Band or have been in a school band for a year. Like the Wind Ensemble and Beginning Band, the Concert Band is directed by Mrs. Emily Coile, her parents, Mr. Ken and Mrs. Ann Dahlin, Mrs. Judy Templeton, and a cadre of the top rated Montgomery County Public School music teachers.
Youth Tour: CWS-ASCYO Tour
For the past four years, ASCYO members and friends have accompanied DUMC’s Charles Wesley Singers on its summer youth mission tour. This year, the youth tour explored parts of the West Coast. The Schubert Mass in G was performed by the choir and a small chamber orchestra was comprised of 11 strings, 2 trumpets, and timpani.
Performances
On December 5- December 7, 2008 these young people performed great works by Brubaker, Hoffmeister, Mozart, O’Reilly, Tchaikovsky, Vaughn Williams, von Weber, arrangements by DUMC member Charles Deering and more at Asbury Methodist Village, Clarksburg High School, and Damascus High School. The Beginning Band and Concert Band performed at DUMC on December 9, 2008. The Beginning Band and Concert Band also shared their gift of music at various nursing homes and community centers during the Christmas holiday season. On May 2, 2009, the Youth Orchestra highlighted the graduating Youth Orchestra members during its concert at The Weinberg Center for the Arts in Frederick, MD. On May 8 & 9, 2009 the three orchestras, flute choir, and Concert Band performed at the Olney Theatre and the Kay Theatre at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. The Beginning Band and Concert Band also performed at DUMC on May 12, 2009.
The Financial State of ASCYO
With so much musical and administrative expansion, The Academy of Saint Cecilia Youth Orchestra is working on sustaining the financial viability of the organization in perpetuity. The organization has a budget of $100,000 which has been sponsored mainly by one private benefactor. ASCYO board is actively pursuing grant, foundation and corporate giving opportunities, as well as increasing the visibility of the organization. The development committee is diligently working on securing private donations to the ASCYO endowment fund. The ASCYO membership is actively involved in volunteering and supporting the various fundraisers such as selling Pampered Chef kitchen necessities and the Taste of Market Day gourmet food items, which help buy percussion instruments and equipment.
For more information about the Academy of Saint Cecilia Youth Orchestra, please contact Lerna May-Frandsen (301) 821-1162 or visit the website at www.ascyo.org.
