Bloomington Symphony Orchestra Youth Programs

Bloomington Symphony Orchestra Youth Programs include several music activities for young people. The Children’s Instrument Recovery Program (ChIRP) loans donated and refurbished instruments to at-risk families so their children can participate in their school music programs. Meet the Instruments lets youngsters try all the instruments of the orchestra, from trombones to snare drums to cellos. The Side-by-Side Concert program pairs high school students with orchestral mentors to prepare and perform major orchestral works, and the Youth Concerto Competition gives talented high school students scholarships and a chance to play as a soloist with the orchestra. The Musical Ambassadors Program is for people who have had limited exposure to classical music and lets them experience what classical music is about while getting to know members of the orchestra.

• Ages: 14–18 years old

The Bloomington Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1969 as a musical home for those who want to keep their love of music alive. Its youth and outreach programs include Children’s Instrument Recovery Program (ChIRP), Meet the Instruments, Musical Ambassadors Program, Side-by-Side Concerts, and the Youth Concerto Competition. The organization supports and promotes lifelong participation in the performing arts through musical collaboration, performance, and education, and it promotes a lifelong appreciation of music through the performance of orchestral repertoire and outreach to the community in Bloomington and south-central Indiana. The Bloomington Symphony Orchestra collaborates with a wide range of partners at Indiana University and in the Bloomington community, as well as regional and international creative partners, and maintains active relationships with sponsors and supporters, including organizations linked at https://aaamc.indiana.edu/, https://www.arts.gov/, and https://www.in.gov/arts/. Leadership includes Donna Lafferty, Executive Director; Marianne Ritter, Music Librarian; and Kira Gartell, Orchestra and Personnel Manager. Violinist Joshua Bell was one of the first winners of the Youth Concerto Competition. The Bloomington Symphony Orchestra has a strong commitment to programming a wide range of both traditional classical repertoire and lesser-known works from the whole range of orchestral history, and its programs range from light-hearted holiday pops shows and children’s concerts to the great masterpieces of orchestral music.

Last updated May 14, 2026.