Huntsville Youth Orchestra

08/20/2026

HYO alum and TVMF intern!

We’re excited to kick off a new season of the Valley Conservatory Lyceum Series with PERSEVERE: Montgomery, featuring Emma Boyd, violin, and Dr. Lois Kwak Lee, piano/organ.

This Sunday, August 23, Emma and Dr. Kwak Lee will explore the ways music carries histories, beliefs, and traditions across generations, and what it means to inherit those traditions, whether they are passed down to us or something we actively choose to carry forward.

This performance is particularly special to us at Valley Conservatory. Emma is not only a valued member of our faculty and staff, but also a former Valley Conservatory student. It is a joy to see the musical journey come full circle as one of our former students returns to our community as a professional musician and educator. ❤️

Whether you’re a lifelong lover of classical music or simply curious, we invite you to join us for the first Lyceum Series event of the season. We’d love to see you there! 🎶

📅 Sunday, August 23
🕑 2:00 PM
📍 Valley Conservatory Recording Studio
5732 US-431 S, Brownsboro (Hampton Cove), AL 35741

08/19/2026

The University of Alabama School of Music and The Gloria Narramore Moody Foundation are pleased to announce the inaugural Gloria Narramore Moody Young Artist Competition.

Semi-final and final rounds will be held live at The University of Alabama on March 6, 2027. Preliminary submission deadline is December 15, 2026. Open to instrumentalists and vocalists aged 14–19 as of March 6, 2027 who have not previously enrolled in any institution as a full-time college student. Submissions for Round 1 are due by 11:59 p.m. CST on December 15, 2026.

First Prize
The Gloria Narramore Moody Young Artist of the Year shall receive:
*Cash prize of $7,500
*Featured solo performance with either The University of Alabama Huxford Symphony Orchestra or the Alabama Wind Ensemble in the following annual season
*Full scholarship for musical study at The University of Alabama School of Music

Second Prize
*Cash prize of $3,500
*Substantial scholarship for musical study at The University of Alabama School of Music

Third Prize
*Cash prize of $1,500
*Partial scholarship for musical study at The University of Alabama School of Music

Up to three $500 awards connoting “Honorable Mention” may be awarded at the judges’ discretion.

Full competition details can be found at music.ua.edu/gloria-narramore-moody-young-artist-competition/.

08/17/2026

Dr. Brom dropped by at the Market at MidCity this VERY hot day to see the Walker sisters perform!

08/06/2026

Come say hello to us at Quarterly at Calvary's FREE Back-to-School Celebration on Friday, August 7 at 6:30 PM! 🎻🎶

Stop by our table to learn more about the Huntsville Youth Orchestra, meet our team, and see how you can get involved. We can't wait to meet you!

08/02/2026

Join us in supporting HYO alum Gabriel Ballesteros (Class of 2025) at his recital, Summer Notes!

Before returning to Vanderbilt University this fall as a sophomore Clarinet Performance major, Gabriel is home for the summer and sharing a recital with the Huntsville community. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear him perform!

📅 Friday, August 8
🕔 5:00 PM
📍 First Christian Church - 3209 Whitesburg Dr., Huntsville, AL

Congratulations, Gabriel! We are so proud of all you’ve accomplished and can’t wait to see what’s next.

Are you an HYO alum? We’d love to celebrate your journey! Tag Huntsville Youth Orchestra in your posts, send us a direct message, or email us at [email protected] with your performances, accomplishments, or other exciting news. We’d love to feature you! 🎶

07/31/2026

At the Huntsville Youth Orchestra, we're creating opportunities for young musicians across North Alabama.

For many students, HYO is their only opportunity to play in an orchestra. Through six levels of orchestra, chamber music, the Tennessee Valley Music Festival, and need-based financial aid, we're ensuring every young musician has a place to belong, grow, and thrive.

Watch our story to see how HYO is making an outsized impact in our community—and how we're building the next generation of musicians and leaders.

Thank you for supporting arts education and investing in the future of our students.

🎵 Background music: Pastorale by Roger Zare, performed by the Huntsville Youth Symphony. Used with permission.

Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville

07/31/2026

07/30/2026

We still have a few more spots open in our auditions this weekend! Learn more and sign up here: hsvyo.org/auditions

Make-up auditions are available as well between August 9-11 or by appointment. Contact [email protected] for more info!

07/28/2026

We are thrilled to welcome Kate Francis as the new conductor of the Huntsville Youth Orchestra's Philharmonia !

Learn more about Kate and her background below:

Kate Francis is a music educator and violist dedicated to expanding access to high-quality string education for young people. A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, she taught orchestra to students in grades 4–12 for 17 years before her family's journey led her to new teaching opportunities in Florida, Virginia, and now Alabama, where she serves as the General Music Teacher at Midtown Elementary School in the Madison City School District.

Kate established the Madison City School District’s first elementary orchestra program at Midtown Elementary by creating both an after-school orchestra and a fourth-grade violin program. Supported by an Alabama Arts Education Initiative grant from the Alabama State Department of Education, she has secured funding to introduce and expand orchestra opportunities for students throughout the Madison City School District.
Kate serves as President-Elect of the Alabama Orchestra Association. In 2026, she received the CASMEC Medal of Honor in recognition of her contributions to the California All-State Music Education Conference during her years teaching in California.

Kate holds a Bachelor of Music in Viola Performance and String Pedagogy from the University of Michigan and a Master of Music in Viola Performance from San Francisco State University.
Kate is excited to join the Huntsville Youth Orchestra as conductor of the Philharmonia Orchestra. Her philosophy is simple: the more, the merrier. She believes high-quality orchestra instruction should be accessible to every student because every young person deserves the opportunity to be part of something larger than themselves—a community where they can develop confidence, creativity, discipline, and lifelong friendships through making music together.