CTYO HISTORY
Founded in 2003, Sherry Tucker David and Beth Hansen saw a need for fine arts education to continue in their area in spite of state wide cuts of fine arts programming. Their vision was to create a music program that inspired, yet educated youth about music in an engaging, fun way. In their pursuit to fill the void, they merged their ideas with Frisco arts advocate Don Hermonat, former leader of The Frisco Youth Orchestra. This merger with Don Hermonat and CTYO created a stronger, unified non-profit organization to better serve all area youth. Cross Timbers Youth Orchestra (CTYO) is a non-profit IRS 501(c)3 organization dedicated to enriching lives through music for youth in North Texas. The name Cross Timbers Youth Orchestra is inspired by the Texas geographical region, Cross Timbers that extends through the central area of Texas and north through Oklahoma and parts of Kansas. It symbolizes the organization's broad reach of youth in North Texas and the organic nature of developing young minds and horizons. With 25% of the participating children on scholarship, no child who demonstrates a commitment to learn will be denied. CTYO has made a great effort to be inclusive of all children regardless of economic background. Due to this effort on our part and with cooperation of the school districts, our diversity rate is 24%, which nearly mirrors the county as a whole.
CTYO has four orchestras: Cypress, Magnolia, Live Oak, CTYO Guitar Orchestra and Drum Orchestra that are organized to best nurture all levels of musical ability and experience. The students are encouraged to learn, exercise their talents and have fun through weekly rehearsals, sectional coaching and performance opportunities including ensemble appearances throughout the community and two concerts annually. CTYO's founding conductors include Deborah Perkins, Ph., D. associate professor of String Pedagogy at SMU; Ron Houston, internationally renowned viola and violin virtuoso; Donna Davis an accomplished cellist and conductor; and Inmi Houston, an accomplished concert pianist. The newest editions to CTYO's conducting staff are Sabine Madriguera, Director of Guitar Studies at Collin County Community College and Allison Lang, Music Specialist at Slaughter Elementary in McKinney.
In addition to the growth of the performance orchestra, CTYO Elementary Strings, an education outreach program, has reached new heights after its first year. From an inaugural class of 127 3rd - 6th grade students in the McKinney ISD, CTYO Elementary Strings has doubled the number of classes and enrollment has grown to more than 200 students. CTYO Elementary Strings has also expanded to include the Lovejoy ISD, which serves the areas of Allen, Fairview and Lucas and Holy Family School kindergarten strings education program. It is designed to supplement school's fine arts programs without increasing tax dollars and build a creative cultural community by exposing all children to the arts. Deborah Perkins, Ph., D. associate professor of Strings Pedagogy at SMU continues to direct this vastly successful program.
CTYO is dedicated and continues its mission to enriching lives through music for youth in North Texas. Students participate in youth string orchestras, classic guitar orchestra and percussion orchestra. CTYO Elementary Strings is the beginner's music education outreach program. Cross Timbers Youth Orchestra (CTYO) is a 501 (c)3 tax-exempt, non-profit organization. CTYO is funded in part by grants from the City of McKinney through the McKinney Arts Commission and the Frisco Association for the Arts.
Noteworthy-Vol2No2-Spring 2008
