Coachella Valley Symphony

Funding from the ACF will be used to continue to offer students intensive music studies, orchestral experiences and educational public concerts aimed at bringing orchestral music to youth audiences throughout the valley, specifically by funding the positions of Youth Conductors for the Buddy Rogers Youth Symphony (BRYS) and the Buddy Rogers String Orchestra (BRSO). This project aims to bolster and expand our success with youth strings and orchestral music programs across the Coachella Valley. We have stepped in to fill the void as the only source of string music education in the participating schools through our after-school programs and through our own youth symphony which spans the entire valley. We have also featured talented young musicians as solo performers with the symphony, through our concerto completion or as winners of other local talent competitions. We have also participated in the McCallum Theatre Filed Trip Series, brining music to over 2,400 students across the CV. The Coachella Valley Symphony strives to offer live programs that are interesting, diverse and engaging. In 2025-26 we had approximately a hundred students participating and the demand continues to grow. The Buddy Rogers Youth Symphony (intermediate & advanced) and Buddy Rogers String Orchestra (beginner) serves some of the most economically challenged youth in our valley by providing opportunities for students ranging in age from 8 to 18 in a full orchestral experience as well as providing an instrument lending library. Our Youth Programs are a critical and integral part of our organization: Youth are provided free group music lessons, individual scholarships and orchestral experiences starting with BRSO, progressing to BRYS and later, they have the opportunity to become members of the Coachella Valley Symphony. 10% of our adult orchestra this year was comprised of high school and college age musicians, playing alongside our adult members.