Urban Strings Columbus Youth Orchestra

Urban Strings Columbus Youth Orchestra is a string orchestra based in Columbus, Ohio. Its mission is to support urban and minority youth who play classical string instruments. Since 2007, over a hundred mostly African-American youth have participated either in the professional-level "Premier" orchestra, or in the intermediate and beginner feeder programs, "Half Notes" and "Quarter Notes."[1][2] The orchestra tours yearly in the summers across the Southern United States, playing church auditoriums and staging tours of HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities).[3][4]

Urban Strings Columbus Youth Orchestra
Youth String Orchestra
Short nameUrban Strings
Founded2007
LocationColumbus, Ohio
Principal conductorChelsea Eades
Websitehttps://www.urbanstringscolumbus.org/
Logo of Urban Strings Columbus Youth Orchestra

History

Urban Strings was founded in 2007 by community activist and educator Catherine Willis. The program was initially started with two students from Champion Middle School (an urban public school located next to a governmental housing project) but soon expanded to a full youth orchestra.[5] For her work with Urban Strings, Ms. Willis received awards from the Columbus Symphony and the Columbus Foundation.[6][7][4][8][9]

Collaborations

Urban Strings has collaborated with international acts including hip-hop violin duo Black Violin and Ukrainian violinist Assia Ahhatt.[10] Locally, they have an ongoing partnership with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, and have performed at the Columbus Museum of Art and Capital University.[11] They have recorded a Christmas album with Grammy-nominated jazz artist Bobby Floyd, and performed the works of local Black composers including Dr. Mark Lomax II and Christopher Sunami.[12] They were featured twice at the Columbus Invitational Arts Competition, in 2013 and again in 2018, when they partnered with Fresh AIR Gallery as part of the Columbus Invitational All Stars Competition.[13][14]

Their major funding partners include the national Black sororal community service organization Links, Inc, and the Columbus Foundation. [15]

In the Media

In 2013, documentary footage of Urban Strings' performance at the Columbus Invitational was released on YouTube, which led to the creation of a full length documentary URBANstrings by the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity at Ohio State University.[16]

References
  1. "About Us". Urban Strings. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  2. "Urban Strings Columbus Youth Orchestra". Jefferson Avenue Center. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  3. Gilson, Nancy. "Urban Strings youth orchestra to hit road in honor of anniversary". Columbus Dispatch.
  4. Barnes, Matt (15 February 2017). "Urban Strings, a different kind of orchestra". NBC4 WCMH-TV. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  5. Bunn, Curtis (29 April 2015). "Urban Strings Program Promotes Classical Music to Black Youths in Ohio". Atlanta Black Star. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  6. DeVille, Chris (15 August 2019). "Urban Strings Program Gives Underrepresented Kids a Musical Outlet". Columbus Monthly. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  7. Joy, Kevin (27 April 2015). "Urban Strings introduces classical music to black youngsters". Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  8. Wong, Sophie. "Directing to Diversifying at Urban Strings Columbus Youth Orchestra".
  9. "Catherine Willis". City of Columbus.
  10. Musbach, Julie (19 September 2019). "Assia Ahhatt To Invite Young Violinists From The Urban Strings Columbus Youth Orchestra to Perform At Concert". Broadway World: Columbus. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  11. "Our Covid 19 Response". Columbus Symphony Orchestra. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  12. "Around Columbus". Columbus Museum. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  13. "Urban Strings at 2013 Columbus Invitational Performing Arts". YouTube. Invitational Arts, Incorporated. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  14. "Team City (Urban Strings and Fresh AIR Gallery)". YouTube. Invitational Arts, Incorporated. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  15. "Harrison M Sayre Award Winner". Columbus Foundation. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  16. "URBANstrings: The Documentary". YouTube. Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity at The Ohio State University. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
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