Great Falls Youth Orchestras

06/08/2026

Graduation may be behind us, but we're still celebrating our seniors!
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Congratulations, TAELA! 🎓 She is planning to attend the UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA and major in FLUTE performance. Thank you for everything, Taela! We can't wait to see what you do next! 🎉
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05/30/2026

🎓 Guys, it's graduation weekend! Congratulations, GRACE! 🎓
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GRACE has been playing VIOLA since 5th grade. Her favorite things to do in her free time include listening to and making music, traveling, and doing fun things with friends. A fun fact about her is that musical talent runs in her family. When she graduates, she plans to go to the UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA to pursue her musical career and major in MUSIC EDUCATION.
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Thank you for everything, Grace! We can't wait to see what you do next! 🎉

05/29/2026

🎓 Graduation rehearsals are about to begin! We're so proud of our seniors! 🎉

05/23/2026

YO and Sinfonia students! We have our NEW MUSIC DIRECTOR! Remember that ALL members of our Youth Programs are entitled to ONE FREE TICKET to see Great Falls Symphony concerts! You'll want to see Maestro Kahn in action this season! 🎶🎉🤩

Get to know Robert!

Over the coming days, we’re excited to introduce you to the Great Falls Symphony’s new Music Director, Robert Kahn. From his musical journey to off podium personality, we can’t wait to help you get to know him.

Born in the U.S. and raised in Holland, Robert Kahn grew up surrounded by music, with classical concerts and family music-making shaping his love for the art form from an early age. At just 16 years old, joining the Dutch National Youth Orchestra inspired him to pursue music professionally and completely changed the direction of his life. “I grew up in Holland, a country famous for its flatness,” Robert shared. “I’m very excited to be in a place that actually has mountains. Also, excited to be able to bike, which in Holland is the preferred method of transportation.” Good thing Great Falls has nearly 60 miles of biking and walking paths along the River’s Edge Trail ready for him to explore!

Stay tuned for more about Robert in the upcoming days while we help you get to know our new Music Director! See his bio and note to the community at www.gfsymphony.org/music-director.

05/21/2026

Congratulations, BRYNN! 🎓
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The first of six daughters to Thomas and Lindsey Bigelow, music has been an important part of Brynn's life. She began playing PIANO at age seven with Judith Odell and has continued since. Her love for the VIOLIN grew at age eleven with Jennifer Smith, developing a lasting love for music along the way. After graduation, Brynn plans attending IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY to pursue a career in dental hygiene.
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Thank you for everything, Brynn! You are going to do amazing things! 🎉

05/14/2026

Congratulations, SCOTLEN! 🎓
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Scotlen has been in the Great Falls Youth Orchestra since 2023, serving as principal BASSOON for most of his tenure and often found playing CONTRABASSOON! Scotlen says, "I have been playing bassoon since sixth grade and have been in love ever since. I have gone to many prestigious festivals including All-State, All-Stars, and the Montana Youth Symphony. My plans after high school are to study MUSIC PERFORMANCE, and I am currently undecided on a college."
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Thank you for everything! We can't wait to see what you're up to next! 🎉

05/12/2026

What an amazing year of meeting so many terrific conductors! Students, your opinion matters, too! We want to know what you think!

The Search is almost over! Our candidates have each spent a week in Great Falls getting to know the community, our orchestra, Symphonic Choir, Board of Directors, and staff. We have just one question left, who should it be?

Help the Search Committee decide between these six amazing candidates by casting your vote today. Who really suits our symphony best and why? Tell us today by taking our short survey at https://shorturl.at/Bl4qa!

05/09/2026

Congratulations, COLBY! 🎓
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Colby will be attending the University of Montana in Missoula in the Fall of 2026. He plans to major in Music Education with some focus on Music Composition and Jazz Performance. Colby has been playing TRUMPET since 5th grade, FRENCH HORN since his Sophomore year of high school. He is a part of Pep band, Russtones Jazz band and Symphonic band at CMR High School. He also participates in the Great Falls Community Band. He plays various other instruments, like piano, various saxophones and the list goes on. He has made All State on French horn and was also nominated and able to participate in a music tour with Musicians Abroad to Europe after his junior year of high school. He spends a lot of his time writing music. Colby lives and breathes music!
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Thank you for everything! You're going to do amazing things! 🎉

05/09/2026

Tonight! A great program! 🎉🎶

Experience a powerful evening of drama and beauty with music director candidate Daniel Black. The program features Schumann’s moody “Manfred Overture,” Morlock’s poignant “My Name is Amanda Todd,” and Connesson’s vibrant Oboe Concerto “Les Belles Heures” with soloist Dwight Parry. ...

05/09/2026

Go Bristol!

Bristol Meiners has earned the National Speech & Debate Association’ Academic All-American award! This award recognizes academic rigor, competitive speech and debate success, and personal excellence.

From more than 141,000 student members of the National Speech & Debate Association, fewer than 1% of students earn the Academic All-American award every year. This tremendous accomplishment places Bristol among the top one percent of all student members across the country.

We are incredibly proud of Bristol and her accomplishments!

If you recall, we shared in February that Lydia Comstock has also earned this achievement. Bristol and Lydia are currently only 2 out of 3 juniors in the state of Montana, and 2 out of 183 Juniors nationwide, to be Academic All American. Way to go Rustlers!