Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies

“I have been in GTCYS for 4 years, and it has helped me become the person I am today. Without donor support, I wouldn’t have had the amazing experience I had this past year. All of this has helped me grow in orchestral experience, and life in general.” – Scholarship student

Every gift makes a difference! 

$35 - 1 private lesson for a scholarship student

$100 - Professional musician to coach a sectional

$250 - 7 private lessons for a scholarship student

$500 - Instrument for a Harmony student

$1,000 - 1 full year of tuition for a scholarship student

$2,500 - 1 full year of tuition and lessons for a scholarship student

With the support of generous individual donors, we can sustain high-quality programming and meaningful musical experiences for young musicians of all backgrounds through tuition assistance, performance opportunities, private lesson scholarships, and outstanding conductors.

Your gift will help:

• Ensure that more than 1,200 students are transformed into strong learners and leaders in GTCYS. Through the rehearsal and performance process within our 10 school-year orchestras students will develop lifelong skills like critical thinking, creative expression, perseverance, and teamwork.
• Provide more than $200,000 in need-based scholarships for tuition and private lessons so that every young musician can benefit from the GTCYS experience in an equitable way, regardless of financial background.
• Open doors so 57 beginning strings students can grow musically, socially, and emotionally in Harmony, at Riverview School of Excellence on St. Paul's West Side.

Thank you for your dedication to musical excellence and access!

About GTCYS

Now in our 52nd season, the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies (GTCYS, pronounced git-seez) opens doors to music and provides a pathway for students of all ages, backgrounds, and musical levels. Committed to both excellence and access, our educational programs break down barriers, inspiring students to excel musically and build lifelong skills which serve them in school and beyond.

As one of the region’s premier youth arts programs, GTCYS serves more than 1,200 students ages 7-18 through our Harmony strings instruction program, Launch Lessons, Pathway Musicians program, 10 school-year orchestras, and summer camps. Rather than turning students away, GTCYS continually expands its programming to meet growing interest and community needs. GTCYS’ equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives ramped up in 2016, have created strong results, and remain a top priority. To increase access and address socio-economic barriers, GTCYS will provide more than $200,000 this year in need-based scholarships for tuition and private lessons.

GTCYS students learn the importance of community engagement and understand that music is most powerful and life-changing when it is shared. Students share their talents and bring live music to diverse audiences at 25 free orchestra concerts at Twin Cities schools, senior centers, and community locations, and ticketed concerts at Orchestra Hall and Ted Mann Concert Hall. Many are livestreamed for free viewing. In total, GTCYS engages more than 17,000 children and adults each year through our educational activities and concerts, plus 26,000 digital audience members.

GTCYS celebrated its 50th Anniversary Season in 2021-22 and has served more than 16,000 students in its history. Alumni include leaders in every field who use the lifelong values of teamwork, discipline, and community engagement developed during their GTCYS experience. Visit www.gtcys.org to learn more!