History of GTCYS

The Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies (GTCYS) is one of America's largest and most respected youth symphony programs. Over the past 33 years, more than 16,000 students have participated in GTCYS, honing their musical talents while developing values – excellence, teamwork, community engagement – to guide them through their lives.

Students enrolled in school music programs turn to GTCYS for even greater challenges and performing opportunities. In districts where school orchestra programs do not exist, GTCYS is an essential lifeline to serious young musicians.

GTCYS has consistently provided a supportive, yet challenging atmosphere in which young musicians can aspire to the highest levels of musical proficiency, learn from the masters of our time and perform in the most prestigious concert halls in the world. Some of classical music's leading lights have served as guest conductors, including Aaron Copland, Leonard Slatkin, Raymond Leppard and Stanislaw Skrowaczewski. The GTCYS Symphony has performed at some of the most esteemed music festivals in the world, including the famous Schools Promenade Concerts at Royal Albert Hall in London, and has toured the globe – from British Isles to Asia, Central America, the former Soviet Union and the South Pacific.

GTCYS has been – and continues to be – a treasured part of the Minnesota arts and cultural landscape. GTCYS has played a role in some memorable Minnesota events: in 1983 the Symphony played the National Anthem at the opening celebration for the Metrodome, and in 1991 performed at the Minnesota State Capital Rotunda on Inauguration Day. The organization has received many honors, including the Twin Cities Mayor’s Public Arts Award for “Outstanding musical contributions to the community” and an ASCAP award for creative programming. Local luminaries - former Senator Rudy Boschwitz and former St. Paul Mayor George Latimer among them – have narrated at GTCYS concerts.

Every year since its inception, GTCYS has sent orchestras into the community to play concerts for underserved audiences at nursing homes, libraries, schools, shopping centers and other venues. The organization has commissioned and performed countless new orchestral works, providing one-of-a-kind learning opportunities for its musicians and adventurous new compositions for the youth orchestra genre. Throughout its history, GTCYS has collaborated with top local performing arts groups, including the Minnesota Orchestra, Minnesota Dance Theatre, the Minneapolis Pops, Ballets Arts Minnesota, Dale Warland Singers, Metropolitan Boys Choir, and Minnesota Chorale.