I am thrilled to welcome you to the inaugural season of the Eastern Maryland Youth Orchestra! Building an orchestra is no easy task and requires much support. I am deeply thankful to our Managing Director John Leupold as well as Ken Schweitzer and the community of Washington College for their vision and work toward making this orchestra a reality.

As we begin this season, I am also aware of the commitment made by you, our students and your families. It is your hard work and dedication that will be the cornerstone of our success.

Some of my best memories in music come from time spent in youth orchestra. In addition to meeting great friends and mentors, it was there that I started to develop lifelong relationships with the music and composers that would form much of what I do today. The work of many composers remain out of reach by younger students until they are able to encounter them in an orchestral setting -Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, to name a few. I am very excited to share in these discoveries with all of you.

Additionally, while there is a wealth of knowledge to be gained by studying the great classics, there is also much to be gained by supporting the work of living composers. I am excited for our orchestra to not only be a curator of past masterpieces, but a vibrant and relevant force at the forefront of what is happening today.

As we build this orchestra together, we will set high goals, create new friendships, and make incredible music!