JOY is a kindergartener playing the violin.

Hello Friends of Joy,

As we begin the 2026–2027 school year, we are excited about our continued growth and our focus on building strong foundations for every student we serve.

Our 2025–2026 season concluded with more than fifteen concerts throughout Yamhill County. Our audition-based Youth Orchestras performed for an enthusiastic audience before celebrating the season with a potluck. Our After School Orchestras filled Linfield University's Ice Auditorium and George Fox University's Bauman Auditorium with music and energy. Our Kindergarten and 1st grade students delighted their families and school communities as they showcased everything they had learned. For many of these young musicians, it was their very first concert—a milestone worth celebrating.

This summer, Joy is hosting a Conducting Workshop led by Joy Symphony conductor Damian Berdakín. Designed for Joy teaching artists, student teachers from local colleges and universities, newer orchestra educators, and high school students interested in pursuing music education, the workshop will build confidence in conducting patterns, gestures, rehearsal techniques, and score study. Participants will bring their instruments to form the workshop orchestra, allowing each participant the opportunity to conduct while receiving feedback in a supportive environment. By focusing on student-level repertoire, we hope to ensure that the skills learned can be immediately applied in classrooms and rehearsals. We anticipate this being a valuable opportunity for participants to strengthen both their musicianship and their professional connections.

Our After School Orchestra Site Directors and Program Director have also been hard at work refining and streamlining the Joy After School Orchestra curriculum. As our program has expanded across multiple sites, we have gained valuable insight into the teaching strategies that best support our second-grade learners. This year, we are developing a comprehensive student workbook that will organize lesson materials into one accessible resource. We hope this will create a more cohesive learning experience for students while giving families a clearer understanding of what and how to practice at home.

We are also thrilled to introduce Joy's first-ever Student Quartet. Comprised of musicians who have participated in the Joy Symphony, this ensemble will rehearse twice each month while building a performance repertoire—or "gig book"—to share with the community. Their debut performance will take place this August at Opera on the Lawn, hosted by Remy Wines. We look forward to watching these students develop as ambassadors for Joy while gaining meaningful chamber music and performance experience.

Summer Camp is just around the corner, and we are looking forward to another exciting season. Thanks to growing student interest, we are expanding to two camp locations this year, each serving more than 45 students. Our outstanding team of ten teaching artists and four assistant teaching artists has planned two weeks filled with engaging musical experiences. Special guests will include musicians Sasha Cunningham and Leo Eguchi from the Willamette Valley Chamber Music Festival, who will introduce students to resident composer Lei Liang and offer a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process of composing. Students will also enjoy a visit from Mariachi specialist Cindy Flores, who will share Mariachi traditions and bring instruments for students to explore firsthand. Camp will conclude with a celebratory performance for family and friends.

As we look ahead to 2026-2027, Joy is preparing to serve 990 Kindergarten and 1st grade musicians, 283 After School Orchestra students, and 43 Youth Orchestra musicians. We are grateful for the support of our families, partners, donors, and community members who make this work possible. An exciting year lies ahead, and we look forward to seeing our students, staff, and community continue to grow together through the power of music.

Thank you for being part of the Joy community.

Links:

• Joy Website