JOY is a kindergartener playing the violin.

Hello Friends of JOY!

The 2023-2024 JOY season wrapped up with concerts for families and friends that were consistently packed with enthusiastic listeners. Students beamed as they shared their growth throughout the year. To wrap up the after school orchestra school year, students held a fundraiser at Kopitos in Newberg and played for family and friends.

In early June, the JOY Program Director and a teaching artist were able to represent JOY at the El Sistema USA National Symposium at Butler University in Indianapolis. Additionally, three JOY teaching artists were able to attend via virtual seminars. Seminars ranged in topic from building strong programming, inspiring students, and creating ways to help teaching artists hone in on their craft. Networking with other ESUSA programs was a highlight and being able to share the great work that JOY is doing was a special treat.

The 2024 JOY Summer Camp is currently underway. The two week camp began at the beginning of August and allows students to work with JOY TAs on a variety of musical and collaborative activities. Students who are going into 3-6 grade have the opportunity to participate in Summer Camp and we have opened up the camp to all of Yamhill County for this year. Camp is being held at Edwards Elementary school in Newberg. There are forty seven students participating, four teaching artists, one assistant teaching artist, and two middle school volunteers. This year, activities include music theory, ensemble performance, sectionals, musical games, drumming circle, a visit from a composer in residence, the return of two beloved guest teachers, and two performances. To conclude camp, students have two performances, one will be for our donors at Stoller Family Estates and for families at the Chehalem Valley Cultural Center. Students have been enthusiastic for this Summer Camp experience. 

In Fall of 2024, JOY will be expanding to three more elementary schools in Yamhill County and add the after school option in McMinnville SD. McMinnville SD has been so supportive in planning for the after school orchestra and is helping to transport students from one school to a second school in order for the two schools to combine at one site. JOY will be at the following schools and grade levels for next year: Edwards (K-5), Sue Buel (K-2), Newby (K-2), Grandhaven (K-1), Wascher (K-1), Antonia Crater (K-1), Joan Austin (K), Memorial (K), and Willamette (K). The expansion is exciting and we are currently in the hiring phase for more JOY TA’s. With this growth, we anticipate reaching 1,055 students in Yamhill County in the 2024-2025 school year!

Thank you for your ongoing support of JOY. It is with your support that we have been able to reach so many students over the past seven years. We are excited to continue to grow the program and welcome many more students. If you have not already done so, please sign up to give recurring donations through GlobalGiving on our project page “JOY is a Kindergartener Playing the Violin.”