First published in the Jan. 7 print issue of the Glendale News-Press.
The California Arts Council recently announced a grant award of $36,000 to the Glendale Youth Orchestra as part of its Creative Youth Development program in its second round of funding for 2022.
The grant will fund 18 need-based scholarships covering tuition for a whole season for L.A. County-based young musicians and the salary of the conductor. This is the largest grant the GYO has ever been awarded.
The GYO was featured as part of a larger announcement from the California Arts Council, with grant awards for its Cycle B programming totaling more than $41 million across more than 900 grants supporting nonprofit organizations and units of government throughout the state.
The projected sum of grants to be awarded for 2022’s regular program funding cycle is more than $72 million — the biggest annual investment in the California Arts Council’s 46-year history, largely supported by the $40 million one-time boost in support for the agency’s creative youth and arts education development programs.
“The resilience and creativity of California’s arts and cultural field in these last three years has been remarkable,” said California Arts Council Director Jonathan Moscone. “We are proud to be able to support the great work that California’s artists, culture bearers and cultural workers are doing within our communities as an indelible part of our state’s identity.”
Cycle B’s programs include five funding opportunities for arts education and creative youth development, and related arts workforce development. Additionally, the cycle offered funding opportunities for administering organizations to regrant funds for folk and traditional arts and individual artists fellowship programs. Operational support for statewide and regional arts service organizations and networks was also available during this round of grant funding.
The GYO’s mission is to contribute to a world where exceptional young musicians are empowered to express themselves through music: To explore, appreciate, develop talent and a passion for music; to acquire skills, discipline, and enhanced creativity along the journey of musical education; to transform through music, as well as through life, into better citizens of our communities and the world at large. They stand for excellence, growth, passion and music for our young generations — believing that as in art, so in life.
Formed in 1989 by a group of Glendale music lovers and school teachers, the GYO now attracts young musicians in grades 6-12 and college music programs from all over Los Angeles County. Auditions for membership in the orchestra are ongoing. More information can be found at glendaleyouthorchestra.com.
