Lyn McLain, our founder: Mr. McLain was born in New York State and received his Bachelor and Masters degrees in Music Theory and Composition from Ithaca College in New York. Mr. McLain also completed additional graduate work at Catholic University of America, Cornell University, Trinity College, and the University of the District of Columbia. In 1956 he became a music teacher with the DC Public Schools. In the fall of 1960, at the request of the DC Public Schools music department he founded the DC Youth Orchestra Program.

The program has grown from an initial 60-member orchestra with three volunteer teachers to a program that provides instrumental music lessons from beginning to advanced classes, for approximately 600 students per term. Since 1970 Mr. McLain has taken the DC Youth Orchestra on more than 13 concert tours in over 19 countries, has performed for several Presidents and earned numerous awards for outstanding performances in places such as St. Moritz, Switzerland; Aberdeen, Scotland; Beijing, China; Moscow, Russia; and Athens, Greece.



Mr. McLain has received local, national, and international awards for music performances, music education and curriculum development from numerous government, social, and civic organizations as well as national and international media for providing opportunities for young musicians. Lyn McLain retired from the Public Schools in 1993. Following his retirement, McLain to served as conductor and music director for the organization until 2004. After leaving the position of music director, he continued to conduct the Youth Orchestra, Junior Philharmonic, and Virtuosi groups until March of 2006. In June 2006, Mr. McLain retired from the organization's board of directors, where he had served as President for two years.

Maestro McLain dedicated his career and life to providing music education and enrichment to the DC community; it is because of his devotion, perseverance, and love for music and children that the DC Youth Orchestra Program exists today.