Mission
THE SANGAMON VALLEY YOUTH SYMPHONY WAS CREATED BY CONCERNED PARENTS, MUSIC TEACHERS AND MUSICIANS TO KEEP A STUDENT ORCHESTRA PROGRAM ALIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY. IN THE EARLY 1970S THE SPRINGFIELD AREA SCHOOLS ELIMINATED ALL SCHOOL ORCHESTRA PROGRAMS. WITHOUT INTERVENTION, A NEW GENERATION OF YOUTH WOULD HAVE EXPERIENCED A SERIOUS VOID IN THE ARTS. KNOWN INITIALLY AS THE SPRINGFIELD AREA YOUTH SYMPHONY, THE SANGAMON VALLEY YOUTH SYMPHONY HAS EXISTED SINCE THEN AS A PRIVATE, NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION PROVIDING THE ONLY CLASSICAL ORCHESTRAL EXPERIENCE AT THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY LEVELS IN SANGAMON COUNTY. THE SVYS CONTINUES TO FULFILL ITS MISSION BY RECENTLY ADDING A STARTER STRINGS PROGRAM FOR VERY YOUNG GRADE SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND AN ADULT COMMUNITY ORCHESTRA TO PROVIDE CONTINUING MUSICAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR SVYS ALUMNI AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THE MISSION OF THE SANGAMON VALLEY YOUTH SYMPHONY IS: - TO PROVIDE QUALITY, DIVERSE, REWARDING AND CHALLENGING MUSICAL EXPERIENCES TO ITS M