JUNIOR ORCHESTRA OF YAMHILL COUNTY
JOY has been providing access to free music and strings education to youth in Yamhill County since 2017. In collaboration with Yamhill County schools and their districts, we provide both In-School and After-School violin and orchestral programming to elementary-aged youth, and currently serve 700 students. JOY is a member organization of El Sistema USA and prioritizes sites and programs to serve students and school communities with high rates of underserved populations. JOY takes inspiration from the Suzuki Method in the style of teaching and progression of skills.
To date, JOY provides K-1st In-School Violin and 2nd-5th After-School Orchestra programs at Edwards Elementary in Newberg. As a result of an increase in community interest, JOY now offers K-1st In-School Violin programs at Sue Buel and Newby Elementary Schools in McMinnville. The Fall of 2023 introduces the Kindergarten In-School Violin program to Grandhaven Elementary School in McMinnville, Wascher Elementary School in Lafayette, and Crater Elementary School in Newberg. We are excited about the momentum, impact, and reach of JOY.
OUR MISSION
The Junior Orchestra of Yamhill County (JOY) transforms the lives of underserved youth in Yamhill County through high-caliber, intensive orchestral music instruction through emphasizing teamwork and collaboration, promoting student creativity, and engaging the community.
OUR VISION
JOY is inspired by the El Sistema movement, which started in Venezuela in 1975, to harness the power of music for social change. JOY’s vision is to establish youth orchestra programs throughout Yamhill County.
OUR VALUES
- Inclusion: We embrace a diversity of students and honor the unique contributions that children and families bring.
- Equity: We help improve the academic and social outcomes for students who are underserved in our county.
- Excellence: We pursue high standards of musicality through intensive music education.
- Community: We encourage students to use their skills to enrich their communities at school, at home, in their neighborhood, and religious groups.
- Teamwork: We teach our students to perform as individuals and as a part of the orchestra.
- JOY: An appreciation and a love for music, which we hope to instill in every child.
EL SISTEMA
