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It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that our founder, Lyn McLain, passed away peacefully in his home this week. Remembered as “the father of the American youth orchestra,” Lyn  joined the DC public school system in 1956 as a music teacher at Coolidge High School and, only four years later, launched what became known as DCYOP with an initial orchestra of 60 students and three volunteer teachers. He inspired tens of thousands of young people over the next five decades, encouraging students to grow and learn in community through music. He took DCYOP on over a dozen international tours, introducing DC-area youth to new cultures, people, and music, and giving them the opportunity to serve as ambassadors for the region and the country.

As we all grieve this immeasurable loss, we wanted to share this video of Lyn in conversation with our former Executive Director, Liz Schurgin, from 2020. It includes a wonderful short documentary, “Growing Up with Music,” that tells the story of DCYOP during the early decades of the program’s existence and gives those of us not lucky enough to be there a brief glimpse into Lyn’s vision and the impact of what he created. 

To our DCYOP alumni, we would also like to give you a space to share your recollections and memories while also honoring Lyn’s legacy. The DCYOP Storybook is a project that he conceived of during the pandemic to create a visual and written history of the program as seen through the experiences and memories of its students. If you wish to participate, please complete this form or contact Sandy Choi at sandy@dcyop.org for more information.

Emily Langer of the Washington Post penned this lovely obituary for Lyn that does a wonderful job of encapsulating the incredible breadth and depth of Lyn’s work.

For those who were unable to attend in person, a recording of the celebration of life service held for Lyn is now available online.

The TODAY Show paid tribute to Lyn’s life and legacy in a feature called “A Life Well Lived” that aired November 26, 2023. 

We will be sharing more information in the days, weeks, and months to come as we continue to remember Lyn McLain with immense gratitude for the program he built and the incredible legacy he leaves behind.  Our deepest condolences go out to his wife, Sally, and their family.  (updated 12/20/2023)

 

Here are a few sightings of DCYOP staff and students outside the classroom:

Director of External Affairs, Betsy Purves, presented the Excellence in Youth Creativity award to nine-year-old fashion designer and author, Gabby Loftin, at the 38^th annual Mayor’s Arts Awards at the Lincoln Theatre on September 28^th. The Mayor’s Arts Awards is an inclusive celebration for District residents across all 8 wards that honors the city’s vibrant creative community and its patrons.

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On October 22nd, DCYOP students (and board member, Dennis de Tray!) were spotted haunting the halls of the REACH at the Kennedy Center as volunteers for the National Symphony Orchestra’s annual Halloween Spooktacular concert celebration. Our students staffed the Haunted Hall Musical PLAYspace!, where they provide treats to young trick-or-treaters, demonstrated their instruments, and provided musical performances for all the attendees.

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Eleven DCYOP and Washington Musical Pathways Initiative students and their families attended the Sphinx Virtuosi concert at Takoma Park Seventh-Day Adventist Church on October 21^st. Sponsored by Washington Adventist University as part of its Anna H. Wang Presidential Concert Series, the Sphinx Virtuosi treated the packed venue to an exciting and engaging program of contemporary and historic works by Black and Latinx composers, including a new double double-bass concertante by member Xavier Foley, who won the Sphinx Competition in 2014. Entitled Galaxy, the work featured the composer and 2022 Sphinx Competition winner, Kebra-Seyoun Charles, as soloists in a blistering performance that brought the audience to its feet. “The Sphinx concert was fantastic!” shares DCYOP and WMPI Artist, Jonathan Stiff. “I really enjoyed the diversity in the music and composers they chose to play. A particular moment that stood out to me was when Xavier Foley played his original contrabass duet piece with Kebra Seyoun-Charles along with string ensemble. The amount of transitions in that particular piece helped to show me how versatile all the players were and how classical music can continue to take influence from other genres.”

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Executive Director, Loretta Thompson, met with DCYOP families on October 21st for an informal meet and greet at Takoma Elementary School. Caregivers had the opportunity to chat with one another, learn more about Loretta and her role in the organization, and share their experiences and ideas for how DCYOP can continue to grow and evolve to meet its community’s needs.

 

Omar Martinez has been a teaching artist on bass with DCYOP for the last three years, during which time he’s taught everyone from our littlest beginner students to our most advanced ensemble students, including on our tour to Spain and Portugal in 2022. Despite a relatively start in his music career, Omar has found great success as both a teacher and performer, appearing everywhere from the Tiny Desk Concert series at NPR to a special Club Quarantine show at the Kennedy Center. Read on to learn more about Omar’s musical journey, his “chilaquil” tastes in music, and some of the things he likes to do when he’s not working with students or playing for audiences across DC.

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Where did you grow up?
I am originally from Mexico. I grew up in a small town called Uruapan in the State of Michoacan. 
 
How did you get started on your instrument?
I started playing the electric bass and singing in a rock band with my friends. The first time I listened to an orchestra, the double bass was the obvious choice for me. I was always drawn to lower frequencies. I was very fortunate that my first teacher in Mexico, Victor Flores, was very encouraging even though I started at an “older” age playing the instrument. I will always remember the only thing he asked me: to sing something for him. Since then, I committed to the double bass.
 
Did you always want to become a professional musician? What was your path (did you play in youth orchestra growing up, study music in college, have you pursued other careers, etc.)?
 I was always drawn to music and loved it, but since I had a “late” start in classical music, being a musician was definitely not on my mind growing up. It felt like something that was very foreign to my background. Because of that, my path has not been a very traditional one. After my short adventure in rock music with my friends, I decided to attend Conservatorio de las Rosas in Morelia, Michoacan. I studied composition and double bass for 4 years. I started officially studying music when I was 21 years old. So, it has always been an uphill journey but a rewarding one. Early in my career however, I discovered my love for teaching and connecting with students. I’ve been in the US for the last 6 years, and through that, I have also had very encouraging mentors that believed in me and let me find my own path in music. During my undergraduate studies with Marcos Machado at University of Southern Mississippi and during grad school at the University of Maryland with Anthony Manzo. I am very grateful to both of them.

How long have you taught at DCYOP and what is one of your favorite memories?
This is my 3rd year teaching at DCYOP. There’s a lot of great memories: the tour in 2022 to Spain and Portugal was my first time in Europe and it has been great sharing these musical experiences with the students and other colleagues.

What do you like most about teaching?
Given my background, I love teaching. I really enjoy showing people of all ages how amazing music is and how it can transform lives. My classroom is always about figuring out your own path and growing at your own pace. The best thing about teaching is helping whoever is in front of you to figure out that path—whatever that might look like. I’ve been teaching for around 12 years, and I love to see all the things that my students are doing after music touches their life.
 
Do you do perform or teach outside of DCYOP?
I have a private studio and I perform with a wide range of ensembles. My training is mainly classical, so orchestra is the main thing I study and perform, but I also have experience with other genres like Jazz, Rock, and Latin. I play with the Apollo Orchestra in DC and with other orchestras in the region as a freelancer. I also have participated in amazing projects like a Tiny Desk session with Jessie Reyez and recently a concert at the Kennedy Center with Club Quarantine and DJ D-Nice.
 
Who is one of your favorite performers? Why?
It’s impossible to choose one. I would choose 3 different kinds of musicians: classical double bassist, Božo Paradžik, Mexican singer-songwriter, Natalia Lafourcade, and the American artist, Nina Simone. For me, they achieve what I admire the most about performers, the ability to share and express with their music all the range of human emotions.

What is one of your favorite pieces of music? Why?
This one is even harder; If you would see my playlists, it is kind of a “chilaquil,” a very eclectic mix. So, it can usually be whatever I am studying, practicing, or enjoying at the moment. This past week was Bach third cello suite, Brahms Symphony No. 2, “Mood” by Jessie Reyes, “Hasta la Muerte” by Ivan Cornejo. This is just based on what I performed and listened to the most. Next week, it might be something totally different.

What are your interests outside of music? 
I really enjoy biking as a form of recreation and exercise, but also as a legitimate form of transportation. So, you can find me ranting about car free infrastructure and people-focused cities. I am also a big soccer fan, especially following my team Cruz Azul from Mexico and the Mexican national team.
 
Where is your favorite place to go for fun or what is your favorite thing to do in DC?
I love exploring different parts of the city on my bike. I like to explore new coffee shops and parks. I really enjoy riding my bike through Rock Creek Park and the different trails around Maryland and DC.

 

DCYOP was honored to host Allison Loggins-Hull, acclaimed composer and flutist, for an early rehearsal of her new piece, “Wonder,” the latest piece in a series of works commissioned through the K-12 New Music Project, an initiative that seeks to diversify the student repertoire by commissioning historically excluded composers to write music specifically for elementary, middle, high school, and youth orchestras.

As she shared the inspiration for her piece, Loggins-Hull explained that she spent a lot of time thinking about what it might be like to experience an orchestra for the first time and what feelings that might inspire in a young person. “The feeling that I came up with is this feeling of wonder. It’s this idea of discovery and being young…even beyond orchestra, anytime you do anything for the first time or explore something different, especially in a group with like-minded people, there’s a really great sense of wonder. That’s the mood.”

The powerhouse composer, flutist, and producer, who is currently the Cleveland Orchestra’s eleventh Daniel R. Lewis Composer Fellow, definitely left our students feeling both wonder and awe at the opportunity to both learn directly from the source and help shape a completely new orchestral work.

“It was amazing to get to work with Allison and take part in music that’s being created right now,” shared violinist Pedro Goutay. “We’re so used to playing music by these old masters and we’re not always sure of interpretation…to have her right here to help us inform our performance was really great.”

DCYOP’s Youth Orchestra will give the world premiere of “Wonder” at its fall concert taking place December 17^th at the University of the District of Columbia’s Theater of the Arts. Watch the video below to hear directly from Loggins-Hull about the experience of working with students through the K-12 New Music Project and get a behind the scenes look at her visit, including a sneak preview of “Wonder.”

 

Meet sixteen-year-old percussionist Rishab Jain, who is a new member of both DCYOP’s Youth Orchestra and this year’s class of Washington Musical Pathways Initiative students. Already a highly accomplished musician, Rishab has collected numerous accolades including winning the inaugural Dove Marimba Competition in 2022, a feature appearance on From the Top, and a recent solo performance with the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra in March 2023. In this interview, we loved learning more about Rishab and all the ways in which music has influenced his many passions and interests both inside and outside the practice room. Welcome to DCYOP, Rishab!

How long have you been playing your instrument and how did you get started?

As a child, I was surrounded by music – both my mom and my sister were musicians, and our home was perpetually filled with singing or violin playing. If not making it, my family was listening to music, which also had a huge influence on my passion for music in the early stages. I often heard different beats or “grooves” and thought to myself “how cool would it be to be able to play that!” When I first heard my best friend play a drum solo, I instantly knew I wanted to play percussion. However, I knew I would have to wait until 4th grade to begin playing in school – so, for my birthday in 2nd grade, I asked for percussion private lessons as my present.

I was blessed to have my wish granted by my parents and I started my path into percussion. It has now been over 8 years, and I am very thankful to still be playing. Music truly means the world to me and it is more than just a hobby – it is a passion, and a gift that I will carry through the rest of my life. Music has helped me get through the lowest of lows and achieve the highest of highs. In my daily life, music has become pretty much a necessity. Whether it be practicing percussion, listening to music, or talking about a musical concept, I am always surrounded by music and I am very grateful that this is the case. Through the community I have built throughout the years from my various music-related activities, I have had opportunities that 2nd grade me could never have even dreamed of – I look forward to reaching new heights that I cannot begin to imagine today. My musical journey has taught me the meaning of perseverance, and to find beauty in even the most seemingly mundane aspects of life – and I am excited to see where it leads me in the years to come.

How long have you been in DCYOP and why did you join?

This is my first year in DCYOP and I joined as I found myself drawn to their mission statement, which eloquently aspires to “empower young individuals to transform their lives through the transformative power of music and the strength of a closely-knit community.” This mission deeply resonated with me, inspiring my decision to join the organization. The sense of belonging within this tight-knit community has been nothing short of remarkable. From the moment I stepped through the door, I sensed that I had become part of something truly exceptional—a musical family, if you will. I am looking forward to continuing this journey and making lots of great music with my fellow DCYOP musicians.

What are some of your favorite things about DCYOP so far?

Some of the aspects of my DCYOP experience that I hold in high regard include the captivating repertoire we’ve had the privilege of performing and the invaluable opportunity to collaborate with the esteemed Mr. Tony Asero in the percussion section.

What interested you about the Washington Musical Pathways Initiative?

Much like my experience with DCYOP, the mission of the Pathways program struck me deeply. Observing the limited representation of Indian percussionists, and musicians from cultural minorities in general, within the professional music realm, it was truly heartening to discover that the Pathways program places a significant focus on supporting individuals from these communities.

What are some of your favorite things about Pathways so far?

One of the standout aspects of the Pathways program that I’ve come to appreciate is the amazing performance opportunities it provides year-round. Also, it’s great how swiftly we’ve fostered a close-knit community, despite our relatively short time together.

What are you most looking forward to this season with DCYOP and with Pathways?

I’m really looking forward to all the performances lined up at different venues in both programs. What excites me even more is the chance to make new friends and develop closer relationships with our teachers and fellow performers. It’s going to be an amazing experience!

Do you plan to study music after high school?

I intend to pursue a music education beyond high school, and I am currently contemplating the possibility of enrolling in a dual-degree program to further expand my academic horizons.

What else do you like to do outside of music?

I have a genuine passion for playing basketball and hitting the weights in the gym – it’s where I find a lot of my happiness. Beyond that, I’m deeply involved in my temple, where I’m part of the youth committee, and I also play an active role in my school’s student government.

Who are your musical idols/heroes (favorite composers, musicians)?

Some of my most cherished percussionists and composers include Nanzy Zeltsman, Blake Tyson, She-e Wu, and Kevin Bobo. I’ve had the privilege of meeting each of them personally, and I must say, they are just as remarkable in person as they are when they’re performing.

Anything else you want to share?

I’m thrilled to be a part of this program, and I’m already relishing every moment of this experience!

Two students stood in front of the whiteboard, conferring quietly as they stared intently at the patterns in front of them. After a few moments of visible frustration, a third student jumped in to help. Eventually nodding in agreement, the trio looked to their teacher, Dr. Jessica Phillips-Silver, to see if they had solved the problem correctly, and then began to perform the complicated polyrhythmic pattern written out on the whiteboard, one student clapping rhythm A and two students clapping the contrasting B rhythm.  

“Are you guys listening to each other?” The students nodded. “Now lead them,” Dr. Jessica instructed, pointing to the rest of the students in the room and dividing them into two groups. The groups lurched into motion, first hesitantly but quickly finding their groove. “Ready….and SWITCH!” The students moved as a single unit, pausing in time for a moment before quickly swapping rhythms. You could practically see the gears turning in their young brains. The next time they were given the cue to switch, they swapped rhythms perfectly in sync without skipping a beat. 

What started out looking like a scene straight out of a summer school math classroom was actually a workshop on neuroscience and rhythm for young musicians at this year’s two-week-long Summer Chamber Music Intensive program. Under the guidance of DCYOP faculty, 21 students explored chamber music repertoire while polishing their sightreading and ensemble skills in both small groups and a full chamber orchestra. The program culminated in performances at both Sitar Arts Center and the George Washington University. 

Bassoonist Oscar Machado, a long-time DCYOP musician and Washington Musical Pathways Initiative student, came away from his first time participating in the summer intensive feeling excited about all he had learned from his coaches and peers. “If somebody needs to be introduced to chamber music, this is the program. They’ll be introduced to everything they need.” 

In between rehearsals, students participated in a supplementary course to give them a much-needed break from the rehearsal room and the chance to learn fun and useful supporting skills. In previous years, students have been coached in yoga, dance, and musical leadership; this year’s students turned inward to study the impact of rhythm on their own growing brains. 

While everyone knows that developing good rhythm is part of becoming a good musician, it’s the connection to cognitive development that first drew Dr. Jessica, herself an artist and performer, to her work as a neuroscientist. A researcher and founder of Growing Brains, she specializes in helping children and their families recognize the needs of young brains and learn how rhythm can help them develop both their sense of individual power and connection to their communities. Her work inspired her to create a go-go music inspired children’s musical production, Finding Rhythm: A journey through the musical brain, that made its Kennedy Center debut in 2022. 

During the Summer Intensive, Dr. Jessica gave students plenty of opportunities to put their musical brains to work in new and inventive ways that paid off when it came time to rehearse their music. “It was a really fun experience for me,” shared flutist Murilo dos Santos. “It really challenged my mind and helped me to build up subdivision in my head while I’m playing my instrument.” 

Back in the classroom, Dr. Jessica wrapped up her time with the students on the eve of their final performances by drawing a direct connection from the students to their audience through the power of rhythm. “Do you guys see how when you really lean into your part of the polyrhythm you are powerfully guiding the audience to move in that way? But then when you’re locked in with your partner, even though it’s contrasting, you are creating… connection. This is everything in music. This is the experience that you’re giving the audience.”  

“We’re not doing this just for you, even though you know now that it’s really, really good for your own brain development. Right? We are doing this as a gift. You are demonstrating what it means to stand in your own power in your rhythm and then to lock in with the ensemble and find that level of connection. And a lot of people in the audience can’t do that, they don’t have your skills. I listened to you guys play yesterday, you sound beautiful. You’ve got this!”  

It’s official: DCYOP’s Youth Orchestra will be going to Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic on our next international tour in summer 2024! From July 8-16, our most advanced full symphonic student orchestra will travel to Munich, Vienna and Prague where they will give performances in each city and enjoy some of the most beautiful historic sites in Europe.

“As both a musician and conductor, I have witnessed the transformative effects of international tours firsthand,” says Artistic Director, Evan Ross Solomon. “Each trip reveals something special and unique about our students and orchestra, and the impact of the experience lasts a lifetime.”

Touring is a deeply ingrained tradition at DCYOP. The organization has toured 24 countries, including Japan and South Africa and, most recently, Spain and Portugal in 2022, Italy in 2018, Chile in 2016 and Colombia in 2014.  We are excited to once again offer this opportunity for our talented and hardworking advanced students and inspire our younger musicians as they rise through the ranks of our nine progressive ensembles. 

Student-musicians who are not currently a part of the DCYOP community are strongly encouraged to  register for our upcoming auditions on August 19th and 26th in order to earn a spot on the Youth Orchestra roster for the upcoming season, including next summer’s tour. Financial assistance is available and all students, regardless of ability to pay, are encouraged to apply.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to stay up to date on the latest announcements as we have more details to share!

After a nearly year-long national search, the DC Youth Orchestra Program is getting ready to welcome its fifth executive director to lead D.C.’s oldest and nationally recognized youth orchestra.

Loretta Thompson, most recently Chief Program Officer of Sitar Arts Center, in Washington, D.C., will take over leadership of the 63-year-old ensemble-based orchestral music education program at the end of May.

“We feel that Loretta’s background working with diverse communities and the fact that she used her medium — visual arts — to communicate and bring people together, make her the right person to do that with music at DCYOP,” said Robert Blaine, president of the board of DCYOP. “We want to make sure this opportunity is available to as diverse a set of students as possible. Her lived experience and her artistic experience position her well to succeed in achieving our mission of transforming young people’s lives through music, and making DCYOP Washington’s youth orchestra”

Thompson has led and developed arts education for youth and young adults, with a focus on access and community-building. At Sitar Arts Center, she created a parent engagement program, a teen leadership program, and a summer camp. She collaborated with architects and engineers to design a facility expansion for teens and young adults, with a focus on creative spaces and an arts career training program. She will be the first Black person to serve as executive director at DCYOP.

Music education at the highest levels pays dividends beyond musical excellence, she says: “I know people who are musicians and music educators today because of the experience they had in my high school music program with one teacher. I have seen shy, quiet spoken teens become leaders and politicians. Some of the most troubled youths have graduated in the top 10 percent of their class because of their participation in music programs and dedicated music educators.”

Thompson has a master’s in arts management from George Mason University and a bachelor’s in fine arts in sculpture from University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She volunteers as chair of the Ward 5 Education Equity Committee, volunteers with First Generation College Bound, and was a parent leader with PAVE, a parent education advocacy group in D.C. 

“I was drawn to DCYOP by its clear passion for transforming young people’s lives through music,” Thompson said. “And by the way it incorporates diversity, equity, and especially inclusion, into every aspect of its programs, something that has long been part of my professional work and commitment. Many organizations talk about diversity, equity and inclusion — DCYOP has a deserved reputation for the way it makes inclusion the starting point, not an afterthought.”

Evan Ross Solomon, who has served as DCYOP’s artistic director and principal conductor for 10 years, says Thompson is a proven leader in the arts world and a visual artist herself, with an understanding of what it means to be an artist. 

“She understands the value of belonging and the need to have that for every one of our students for them to be their best, as musicians and as people,” Ross Solomon said. “And she is someone who’s committed to our community approach but will also bring a fresh perspective to what we do.”

DCYOP is the only preK-12 program in the DMV area that makes high quality ensemble music education available to all students, regardless of background, socioeconomic status, or ability. Every student is accepted and placed in one of nine ensembles designed to meet students at every stage of their musical journey. 

Elizabeth Schurgin, who served as executive director for nine years, left the role in August 2022. Ed Spitzberg, who serves on the Interim Executive Network’s steering committee and leads Spitzberg Advisors, a strategy consultancy for nonprofits, has served as interim executive director since. Creative Evolutions led the talent search process for DCYOP.