About Us

Great Falls Youth Orchestra

Gordon Johnson, Music Director & Conductor
Steve Olson, Assistant Conductor

Established in 1997, the Great Falls Symphony’s regional Youth Orchestra brings talented student musicians together to learn life skills, build strong relationships and create a beautiful musical product. While rehearsing and performing great works in the standard orchestral repertoire, students learn discipline, dedication, responsibility and teamwork. They build strong relationships with peers and the Great Falls Symphony staff, and learn to strive for excellence in all aspects of life. Having hosted residencies by renowned artists including Midori and Grammy-nominated composer Philip Aaberg, the program offers high quality artistic experiences to students from throughout northcentral Montana.

The 2011-2012 Youth Orchestra includes 60 members from six different communities, eight public and private schools, as well as homeschool students. The orchestra rehearses each Sunday on stage in the beautiful Civic Center Mansfield Theater under the direction of conductor Gordon Johnson and assistant conductor, Steve Olson.

As an educational program of the Great Falls Symphony, the Youth Orchestra provides its members with access to the Symphony's artistic resources including the music director and conductor of the Great Falls Symphony, Gordon Johnson, and members of the Cascade Quartet and Chinook Winds, the Symphony's resident ensembles who are used as coaches for sectionals as well as private teachers for many students. In addition, members receive student tickets to attend performances to the Symphony's "Classic Series"  and "Chamber Music Series: concerts.