triangle-youth-music

March Newsletter - 2026

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 18:21:41 GMT

Newsletter originally published - March 10th, 2026

Pops Concert Recap

Thank you to everyone who joined the Triangle Youth Philharmonic winter pops concert! With a costume contest, 50/50 raffle, lightsabers, and a photo booth, musicians and audience members had a great time! Our TYP students performed pops favorites from Star Wars, My Neighbor Totoro, and more, all to raise money for their upcoming trip to Europe this summer.

Thanks to amazing orchestra supporters like you, we were able to raise over $8,000 during this performance!

Swing & Sweets

Thank you to everyone who attended our Swing & Sweets fundraiser! We are so grateful for the support of our young musicians. It was a wonderful evening of music, dancing, and fun.

Thanks to your generosity, we were able to raise $13,000 through our fundraiser, ensuring that TYM can continue to offer programs to any young musician who wants to participate.

Jazz Updates

Our jazz ensembles have had a busy spring! Both the Triangle Youth Jazz Orchestra and Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble competed in regional Essentially Ellington competitions, and brought home some big awards!

TYJO at University of South Carolina

TYJO traveled to the University of South Carolina, where they were the overall winner of USC's Essentially Ellington Regional Festival! ��

We are so proud of the entire group for sweeping the section awards, including:

Outstanding Saxophone Section ��
Outstanding Trumpet Section ��
Outstanding Trombone Section ��
Outstanding Rhythm Section ��
Multiple Individual Soloist Awards

The absolute highlight of the weekend was likely Legendary trumpeter Jon Faddis sneaking on stage to perform with the band during their final tune! You know you are doing something right when a jazz icon decides he wants to join your horn section.

Beyond the awards, our students were inspired by incredible performances and comments from Jon Faddis, Vincent Gardner, the USC Left Bank Big Band, and the USC Jazz Faculty. It was a weekend filled with mentorship, downtime fun, and world-class music.

TYJE at UNC Chapel Hill

Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble travelled to UNC Chapel Hill where we took home the prize as Overall Winner of the UNC Chapel Hill Essentially Ellington Regional Competition!

In addition to the top prize, our musicians were awarded:

Outstanding Community Band ��
Outstanding Rhythm Section ��
Multiple Individual Soloist awards!

TYJE goes to the Coast

Our Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble took a trip to Wilmington this January to perform as part of the Cameron Art Museum's prestigious jazz concert series. The students played to a remarkably enthusiastic crowd and thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to share their music with a brand-new audience outside of the Triangle. This excursion provided a wonderful opportunity for the musicians to bond as an ensemble while delivering a high-level performance for a new community!

Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble to attend the Jazz at Lincoln Center's Essentially Ellington Festival & Competition

TYJE has once again been invited to compete in the Jazz at Lincoln Center's Essentially Ellington Festival & Competition! This is the 9th year that TYM has been chosen as a finalist, and we are so excited to be taking our musicians to New York City later this spring. Congratulations, TYJE!!!!

December Newsletter - 2025

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 20:50:35 GMT

Newsletter Originally Published: 12/31/25

Fall Concert Recap

We are so proud of all of our musicians for a wonderful series of fall concerts! TYJE & TYJO kicked off our concerts with a performance at Meredith College in early November, followed by back-to-back concerts featuring our two string orchestras, as well as TYJB and TYJO at the Cary Arts Center. Then, we wrapped up our fall semester at Meymandi concert hall with our three full orchestras. We are excited to see everyone back again in the New Year!

TYJE & TYJO at Downtown Cary Park

Earlier this fall, Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble and Triangle Youth Jazz Orchestra had a bonus performance at Downtown Cary Park. Both groups featured tunes from their fall concert to an audience of over 500 people at the park! We are so excited that our talented jazz musicians are able to share their music with our community.

Alexander Technique Workshop

Our Alexander Technique workshops in October were a huge success! Expert coach, Miriam Bolkovsky took the time to work with our students during rehearsals, as well as offer two free workshops for the community, one for students, and one for teachers. Musicians were able to learn tips and tricks to reduce pain and tension while performing.

Holiday Outreach Performances

This December, several of our ensembles went out into local retirement communities to spread some holiday cheer! Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble first performed for Glenaire in Cary. TYJO then spent the next two weekends performing for retirement communities in Cary and Raleigh, in partnership with Cary Ballet and the Wiley Elementary School Band. Finally, TYSO visited Spring Arbor in Cary, rounding out the holiday season with some classic favorites!

Chatham Violin Winter Performance

We are so proud of our young violinists in Chatham County Schools! This week, 4th and 5th graders from Siler City Elementary School and Virginia Cross Elementary School showed off all of their hard work this fall with two winter concerts!

New Board Member

Welcome to BJ Crane

This fall, we also welcomed a new member to our Board of Directors. BJ Crane is a dedicated and accomplished professional with more than 30 years of experience in program management and operations. Throughout her career, she has led teams, managed complex projects, and driven organizational growth with a steadfast commitment to excellence and community impact.

TYJE in the Recording Studio

The Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble had a studio recording session this winter to submit their application for the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Festival & Competition! After taking a break last year, TYJE is ready to represent TYM in New York yet again. Wish them luck as they submit their application!

October Newsletter - 2025

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 17:52:54 GMT

Our Fall Season has begun!

This August, we hosted over 650 auditions, a record number for TYM! We now have over 430 students participating across our 9 different ensembles. All of the students and conductors are busy preparing for their upcoming concerts. Be sure to mark your calendars now for our rapidly approaching concert season!

In addition to our 9 TYM ensembles, our Chatham County after-school program continues this year with over 75 students at the elementary level. Our fifth graders have moved up to middle school, where an orchestra class has started for the first time in Chatham County School history!

Pavel Wlosok to play with TYJO & TYJE this Fall

This fall, Triangle Youth Jazz Orchestra and Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble will have the opportunity to perform with Czech born American pianist, composer, arranger, educator, music engineer and producer Pavel Wlosok.

Mr. Wlosok will host several workshops, rehearse with the jazz ensembles, and then share the stage for their fall concerts on November 2 at Meredith College. We are so exited to work with and learn from him!

TYP is Going on Tour!

Plans are underway for TYP to travel to Europe this summer! They will tour Vienna and Prague and see Stephansdom Cathedral, Vienna Opera and Hofburg Palace, Eisenstadt (home of Joseph Haydn) and Estates Theater (where Mozart conducted Don Giovanni). TYP will also have a master class opportunity with a member of Vienna Philharmonic as well as several performance opportunities.

Alexander Technique Workshop in October

In October, we will be hosting Boston-based Alexander Technique leader and teacher, Miriam Bolkosky.

Miriam will be attending rehearsals and teaching our musicians about how the Alexander Technique can help them in their playing and practice. The Alexander Technique is an educational method for changing harmful, habitual patterns of tension and posture to promote ease, balance, and efficient movement in the body.

Miriam will also be hosting a workshop for students and teachers on Sunday, October 19 open to all teachers and students, not just TYM!

Student & Alumni Spotlights

Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble saxophonist Robert Jefferson was recently awarded first prize at the prestigious 2025 Gerry Mulligan Jazz Challenge. A senior at Western Alamance High School, Robert has been an integral part of Triangle Youth Music for three years, contributing his talent, dedication, and leadership to our ensembles. We are incredibly proud of his hard work and this outstanding achievement. Congratulations, Bob!

July Newsletter

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 19:23:09 GMT

Newsletter originally published: 7/10/2025

Spring 2025 Concert Recap

This spring, we had an amazing series of concerts to highlight the learning that took place throughout the spring. Our series included a string orchestra performance and two jazz concerts at Cary Arts Center, followed by two full orchestra concerts at Meymandi Concert Hall!

We are so proud of each and every one of our TYM musicians! This was a wonderful spring season, and we are so grateful for every student, family member, and supporter who makes this program possible. Congratulations again to all of our graduating seniors! We wish you all the best, we thank you for being a part of shaping the future of music, and keep in touch! We'd love to see all of you back to perform with us in our 40th Anniversary celebration!

2025-2026 Registration Now Open!

Registrations for all 9 of our ensembles are now open! We have both auditioned and non-auditioned opportunities for jazz and orchestra musicians.

Meet Trevor Thompson

Welcome to Trevor Thompson, our new Director of Development, to the TYM team! Trevor just moved to the Triangle from Pennsylvania and has experience in music and arts administration.

Chamber Updates

Before our full orchestra concerts this spring, both our TYP Woodwind Quintet and String Quartet performed in the lobby of Meymandi Concert Hall. Thanks to all of our chamber musicians, coaches, and parents for a wonderful season.

Thank You to Our Interns!

We would like to take a moment to shout out our 2024-2025 intern team! All year, our interns worked behind the scenes on social media, marketing, event management, and more! We truly could not do it without them, and we are looking forward to working with a brand new team of interns this season!

May Newsletter

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 18:16:36 GMT

Originally published: May 7th, 2025

Summer Camp Registration Now Open

Registration for our Summer programs is now open! We have three camp offerings this summer, and financial aid is available for all camps! In addition to our standard Jazz Camp and String Camp, we are also offering Creative Music Camp for all instruments and levels!

Triangle Youth Orchestra at Busch Gardens

Triangle Youth Orchestra had an amazing trip to Busch Gardens today where they made music, friends, and fun together!!! They also won two BIG trophies!! Special thanks to Tim Kohring and all of our chaperones for making this special day happen!!

Jazz Updates

TYJE Virtual Performance

Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble made their virtual concert debut in partnership with the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra Jazz Band in March. TYM students performed for a live audience as well as one in Dallas, and then watched the Dallas band perform! Special thanks to Renaissance Chapel for hosting this new event!

Youth Music Day

Triangle Youth Music is a proud member of the Youth Music Consortium, which presented their second annual Youth Music Day on April 26th in Moore Square Park. Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble represented TYM and closed out the afternoon show with a great set! This year, Youth Music Day was presented in partnership with the City of Raleigh and the Mexican Consulate's Children's Day Celebration.

Jim Ketch Jazz Festival

Triangle Youth Jazz Band, Triangle Youth Jazz Orchestra and the Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble will perform at the Jim Ketch Jazz Festival this weekend at the NC School of Science and Math!

TYP Side-by-Side with NCS

Triangle Youth Philharmonic had another thrilling opportunity to work with North Carolina Symphony musicians in a Side-by-Side rehearsal in April. Conducted by Assistant Conductor of the NCS Sophie Mok, our TYP musicians worked on the Enigma Variations with their professional counterparts in an amazing and exciting rehearsal!

Chamber Updates

Written by guest columnist Davis Baker, TYP Bassoon

The TYP Woodwind Quintet has had a vibrant and meaningful season, filled with both musical outreach and memorable experiences. One highlight was our recent "Woodwind Wonders" sensory-friendly educational concert, where we introduced young audiences to the colorful world of woodwind instruments in an engaging and accessible way. We also took a rewarding trip to New Bern, where we not only deepened our bond as a group while kayaking and enjoying the coastal beauty, but also gave a heartfelt performance at a local retirement community. Sharing our music in such a personal setting reminded us of the powerful connection music can create across generations. I have absolutely loved being a part of this group, and we're so grateful for the opportunity Triangle Youth Music has given us.

Chatham County Strings Program

Triangle Youth Music provides free after-school violin classes to more than 70 fourth and fifth-grade students at Siler City and Virginia Cross Elementary Schools. In partnership with Chatham County Schools and with generous support from the North Carolina Arts Council and the Galloway Ridge Community each student receives a violin, music stand, instructional book, and twice-weekly lessons at no cost. Students have also enjoyed visits from special musical guests and attended a North Carolina Symphony education concert this spring.

This coming fall, thanks to this initiative, we are proud to announce that rising sixth graders will become the first in Chatham County to have access to orchestra in their middle school. Triangle Youth Music’s growing partnership with Chatham County Schools is paving the way for a vibrant and sustainable strings program across the district!

March Newsletter

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 18:09:52 GMT

Originally published: March 14th, 2025

2025 Summer Programs

TYP & TYJE Perform Together at Meymandi Hall

On February 9th, Triangle Youth Philharmonic and Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble came together for their second ever joint concert at Meymandi Concert Hall. Both groups performed phenomenally, and we are so excited that our two premier groups are offered the opportunity to perform in such a professional concert setting! Missed the concert? Check out both groups this May for our Spring Concert Series.

TYJE & TYJO at Essentially Ellington Festival at UNC-Chapel Hill

Lots of awards for our Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble and Triangle Youth Jazz Orchestra at UNC’s Essentially Ellington Jazz Festival!! Congratulations to TYJO for being awarded Best Community Jazz Band, and congrats to all of our soloists who won awards! We are grateful to UNC jazz faculty and guest clinicians from Jazz at Lincoln Center, Lauren Sevian and Dave Hammond, for the amazing experience for our students.

Swing & Sip Recap

We are so grateful to everyone who attended, donated, and danced the night away at our Swing & Sip fundraising event. Thanks to our supporters and families, we raised over $14,000 t o be used to fund our student scholarship program! Click the button to take a look at the beautiful photos from the event.

Chamber Updates

Our two chamber ensembles have been busy! The Triangle Youth Philharmonic String Quartet and the Triangle Youth Philharmonic Woodwind Quintet travel around the Triangle for a variety of performance opportunities.

The String Quartet recently performed pop favorites at the student-led Chamber Pops performance at the Rialto Theatre! Shoutout to TYP students Davis Baker and Owen Beal for organizing the performance, and to a variety of other TYM students for their contributions!

The String Quartet also performed prior to an NC Symphony performance as part of the Ovations pre-concert series.

The Woodwind Quintet is also hard at work, preparing for our Woodwind Wonders Sensory Friendly concert.

2024 In Review

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 18:07:24 GMT

Newsletter originally published January 7th, 2025

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October Newsletter

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 18:02:48 GMT

Newsletter originally published October 9th, 2024

THIS SUNDAY - Concert for Hurricane Helene Relief

Triangle Youth Music stands in support of our neighbors in Western North Carolina as they recover from Hurricane Helene.

Please join us for a free performance this Sunday, featuring the Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble. Donations of any amount will be accepted and go directly to the North Carolina Hurricane Relief Fund. Come enjoy great music while supporting a meaningful cause—let's help these communities rebuild!

Our 37th Season Has Begun!

After hosting over 600 auditions, all 9 ensembles are formed, and our musicians are off to a fantastic start! The Triangle Youth Philharmonic kicked off the season with an all-day orchestra retreat, where they rehearsed, played games, participated in sectionals, and hopefully made some new friends along the way!

Our jazz rehearsals followed shortly after, giving all four of our jazz groups the chance to mingle before diving into some fresh new tunes. Later in the week, TYS, TYO, TYSO, and TYSS also began their rehearsals, setting the stage for an exciting year ahead.

In addition, our Chatham County violin program resumed at Siler City Elementary and Virginia Cross Elementary with new beginner classes added at both schools. We're thrilled to be offering free violin lessons to over 75 budding musicians this year!

We are so proud of all of our musicians, and we hope you will join us in wishing them a successful and musical season!

Midwest Clinic Soloists Announced

We are proud to announce that the Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble has been invited to perform at the Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Festival this December! Over 18,000 music educators from around the world attend The Midwest Clinic in Chicago each year. As part of their performance, TYJE has invited special guest soloists and conductors. Check out more info about our guests below:

Todd Stoll - Vice President of Education at Jazz at Lincoln Center; guest conductor
Summer Camargo - Composer & Member of the Saturday Night Live house band; guest trumpeter
Dr. Colleen Clark - Founder & Artistic Director of USC Jazz Girls' Day; guest drummer
Pablo Muller Santiago -- Graduate Teaching Assistant, Frost School of Music, University of Miami & TYJE alumi; guest trombonist
Rodney Whitaker - Director of Jazz Studies, Michigan State University; guest bassist

North Carolina Symphony Partnership

This month, we have two wonderful opportunities with the North Carolina Symphony. We are very grateful for their partnership!

Masterclass with NCS Violin Soloist Philippe Quint

We’re excited to announce that North Carolina Symphony violin soloist Philippe Quint will present a masterclass for TYM students on Saturday, October 26th, from 10 AM - 12 PM at White Memorial Church in Raleigh.
Several of our students will be selected to play for Mr. Quint, but anyone is welcome to attend the session! If you are interested in checking out this masterclass, please send an email to Katherine at info@triangleyouthmusic.org to confirm your spot!

Special TYP Rehearsal with NCS Music Director, Carlos Prieto

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that North Carolina Symphony's Music Director, Carlos Prieto, will be joining us this Tuesday to guest conduct our Triangle Youth Philharmonic rehearsal. Be sure you are following us on social media to see photos from this experience!

Triangle Youth Music Strategic Planning

Triangle Youth Music is excited to welcome Armstrong McGuire and their consultant Katie Weeks (learn more about Katie here ), to our TYM community this year. Katie and her team will guide us through an in-depth Strategic Planning process designed to assess our strengths, identify areas for growth, and map out a clear vision for the future of our organization.

This collaborative effort will engage parents, students, artistic and operational staff, the Board of Directors, community stakeholders, and alumni, ensuring that every voice is heard in shaping the direction of TYM. Together, we will create a strategic plan that strengthens our programs, enhances opportunities for young musicians, and positions us for long-term success. Please keep an eye on your email and social media for updates and ways you can contribute to this important process and help shape the future of music!

String Orchestra Staff Updates

This Fall, we are also excited to announce some staffing changes in our string orchestra programs! TYM recently conducted a search for a new Triangle Youth String Sinfonia conductor. After a summer-long process, the committee as chosen Myre Luke to take over as the Sinfonia director!

Please join us in welcoming former Triangle Youth String Orchestra Assistant Conductor Meaghan Clayton to her new role as the Director of the Triangle Youth String Orchestra!

Special thanks to cellist and TYM partner Shana Tucker and violinist and Board President Christin Danchi for their assistance on the selection committee.

Please join us in congratulating our conductors and their new roles with TYM!

Alumni Spotlight

Triangle Youth Music Alum, Alexander Moiseev, was recently selected as the 2024-2025 Composer Fellow for the Canton Symphony Orchestra. Alex participated in our program for four years, and was the winner of the Triangle Youth Philharmonic Concerto Competition winner in 2022. We are so proud of you Alex!

We also heard recently from 2003 TYP alum, Christian Gutierrez. Since his time with TYM, Christian has studied at the New England Conservatory, and earned his PhD at Boston University. He then went on to serve with their faculty, and perform with Boston Pops and the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra! Today, Christian is an Adjunct Horn Instructor at UNC Wilmington, and has recently invited our brass players to their upcoming Brass Day! Click the button to read more about this opportunity.

UNCW Brass Day

Alumni, we want to hear from you! Send us an email, tell us how you're doing, or share your recent accomplishments so we can give you a shoutout! Email Katherine katherinedenton@triangleyouthmusic.org with the subject line "Alumni Spotlight" to be featured in our newsletter!

August Newsletter

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 17:56:31 GMT

Originally published August 13th, 2024

Summer Camp Recap!

TYM hosted two incredible camps full of learning and fun this summer! Jazz camp was held at North Carolina State University where over 50 students spent the week learning more about improvisation, music theory, and spent some time playing in sectionals to sharpen their skills. At the end, musicians performed in a brief in-formance to show off what they learned!

The following week, we hosted a week-long string camp at Peace Presbyterian Church in Cary where musicians had experiences playing in full ensembles and chamber groups, learned more about film scoring, tried the viola, had the opportunitiy to prep for TYM auditions, and played some fun games! This week of camp also culminated in a final in-formance where musicians played arrangements of several pieces including The Olympic Theme and The 1812 Overture.

We are so proud of all of our summer camp students and were excited to welcome so many new musicians to the TYM family! Thank you to our staff, guest coaches, camp venues, and families who made such an amazing summer program possible!

Have you signed up for auditions this year? We are hard at work getting auditions scheduled, and they are right around the corner! If you signed up, please look out for your audition time and date by the end of this week!

If you haven't signed up yet, now is your chance! Click the button below for a full explanation of our audition process. Note: any audition registrations after THIS Friday, August 16th, will be subject to an additional $25 late registration fee. Please feel free to contact katherinedenton@triangleyouthmusic.org with any questions!

Welcome Emily Hector-Hodges!

This month, we are welcoming a new member of our administrative staff! Emily Hector-Hodges is joining our team as our Development Coordinator. Emily is a two-time graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music. At CIM, she received both her Bachelor of Music degree and Professional Studies diploma under the tutelage of Frank Rosenwein. She also holds a Master of Music degree with Highest Distinction from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where she was awarded the Barbara and David Jacobs Fellow Award to study with Roger Roe on a full tuition scholarship.

Prior to her collegiate studies, Emily studied with Melanie Wilsden. An alumna of TYO and TYP, Emily was a co-winner of the 2014 TYP Concerto Competition and a member of the TYP Woodwind Quintet! Emily has appeared with the North Carolina Symphony, Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle, Firelands Symphony and many other orchestral ensembles.

Emily currently resides in the RTP area with her husband David and their beloved housecat Rose. In addition to being an active performer, she owns and maintains a private teaching studio of hardworking and motivated oboists. She is passionate about music education and is looking forward to serving the next generation of TYM students and families as a staff member!

If you have any great fundraising ideas or would like to welcome Emily to TYM, please feel free to email her here:

emilyhector-hodges@triangleyouthmusic.org

June Newsletter

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 17:53:10 GMT

Newsletter originally posted on June 13th, 2024

Spring Concert Recap

Our 36th season closed with a variety of exciting concerts this spring. We celebrated Cinco De Mayo with our spring jazz bands before the Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble traveled to New York City. Later in the month, our two string orchestras treated us to a concert, complete with a rendition of Toy Symphony, performed by both ensembles together with some special guest musicians!

We dedicated our final performances of the season to our founder, Hugh Partridge. Triangle Youth Orchestra and Triangle Youth Symphony performed first, featuring favorites like Adoration and selections from The Swan Lake Suite. Triangle Youth Philharmonic brought us home with a double feature - including a concert that included concerto competition winner and TYP Concertmaster Seunne Khoo, followed by a joint concert with the Raleigh Youth Choir!

All of our concert videos from this year will be available to purchase on our website, so stay tuned!

Jazz at Lincoln Center's Essentially Ellington Festival & Competition

Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble has once again competed in Jazz at Lincoln Center's Essentially Ellington Festival and Competition! After 5 days of fun and learning in New York City, TYJE and their director Gregg Gelb came home with many awards:

Outstanding Saxophone section
Outstanding Trombone section
Outstanding Trumpet section
Outstanding drummer - Ethan Oliver
Honorable mention Piano - Ori Moore
Honorable mention Alto Sax- Sean McCoy
Honorable mention Trombone - Ben Valliere

Shoutout once again to pianist, Ori Moore, for being the sole winner of the JALC composition competition! Ori had the opportunity to record and perform with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

Congratulations to all of our TYJE musicians and thank you to all of our directors and coaches who helped them acheieve this high level of success!

Chatham County Violin Program

Our afterschool program at Siler City and Virginia Cross Elementary Schools finished out their first full year of instruction with a final performance together on May 30th. Students performed favorites like Ode to Joy and Cripple Creek to a crowd of over 200 people! Special thanks to the Chatham County Schools adminisration, Azure Violins, Chatham County music teachers Courtney Benton and Tracey Harvel, and our violin teachers Miriam Bryant and Deborah Wood for making this program a success. We expect to add a new class of 4th graders next year and can't wait to see how our 5th grade students back again this fall!

Welcome Eric Chang!

This spring, we also welcomed a new member of our artistic staff! Eric Chang stepped into the role of interim Triangle Youth Jazz Lab director in January. We are excited to say that Eric will be joining us permanently, starting in September! Check out Eric's bio here, and join us in welcoming him to the Triangle Youth Music Family!

A graduate of the music education program at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Eric Chang has been involved with music since the age of 10. During his time at UNCC, he studied percussion and drumset under the direction of Rick Dior, the principal percussionist of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra during that time. He has over 10 years of experience teaching in areas such as: high school marching band, elementary music programs, lesson studios, and privately.

Eric has performed in many musical settings such as the UNCC Jazz Ensemble, and Jazz Combo; during his time at school, he also served as the principal percussionist for the UNCC Wind Ensemble. Besides playing in academic settings, Eric works as a freelance musician and has performed for galas, churches, musicals, weddings, private events, and concerts.

Senior Spotlight

This year, we are saying goodbye to a near record number of seniors! With over 50 of our musicians graduating, we want to say how proud we are of each and every one of them! Similar to last year, many of our seniors are staying local, with our two most popular college choices being UNC Chapel Hill and NC State. We have a large number of students planning to study computer science, and many plan to keep music as part of their future studies, either with double majors or minors in their instrument. Like all alumni, we hope they all keep in touch and join us for future events!

2024 Summer Camps!

This summer, we will offer full-day jazz camps for all levels , a weekly string orchestra for beginner-intermediate players, and a week-long string camp with options for all levels (half day or full day available). Financial aid is available for all programs and anyone is welcome!

2024-2025 Season Audition Registration Now Open!

Registration forms and audition materials for the 2024-2025 season are officially available. This year's auditions will be held on August 23rd & 24th at Peace Presbyterian Church in Cary.

TYM Triumphs!

Seunne Khoo , TYP concertmaster, intern, and winner of our TYM concerto competition, also won the North Carolina Symphony's Kathleen Price & Joseph M. Bryan Concerto Competition! This is the second year in a row that a TYM student has achieved this high honor. Congratulations Seunne!

Kashvi Kumar , a cellist in TYP, also received a major honor recently! Kashvi received first place at the Elite International Music Competition 2024. In recognition of her exceptional accomplishment in music, she got an opportunity to perform at the winners recital at the Carnegie Hall, New York on 05/18. We are so proud of all of our musicians and their achievements, both in TYM and in all aspects of their lives!

Are you a TYM alum or current student with a triumph to share? Send us an email with the subject line "TYM Triumph" to be included in our next newsletter!

Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble to Attend Midwest Clinic in Chicago!

TYJE has been selected as the only community youth group to participate in this year's Midwest Clinic, a conference for band and orchestra directors from all over the world. They will perform and work with master jazz musicians, composers, and clinicians.

Over 18,000 educators will attend the conference that takes place in Chicago in the month of December. We are very excited about this new experience for our TYJE musicians!

April Newsletter

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 17:19:25 GMT

Newsletter originally published on April 4th, 2024

This Saturday - Youth Music Day at NCMA

Triangle Youth Music is a member of the Triangle Community Music Education Consortium! In collaboration with other organizations in the area like Community Music School, Kidznotes, and NCCMI, Triangle Youth Music ensembles will perform at the first-ever Youth Music Day at the North Carolina Museum of Art. This free all-day outdoor event will feature performances by a string orchestra, a pop band, a jazz band, and several chamber music groups.

Our TYP Woodwind Quintet will take the stage from 10:30-11 AM , followed shortly after by the Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble from 11:45-12:15!

We hope you can come and celebrate all of the musical opportunities the Triangle has to offer our youth!

2024 TYP Honors Recital

On March 13th, we offered an Honors Recital to highlight some of our talented Triangle Youth Philharmonic students, our first since the pandemic! Thank you to Ruggero Piano for hosting us and making it possible for us to offer this performance free to the public. Bravo to these amazing young musicians!

Two Great Ensembles - One Great Night!

For the first time ever, Triangle Youth Philharmonic and the Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble performed on the same concert in Meymandi Hall on February 20th. Fantastic music filled the air, and our audiences appreciated hearing from both of our premier ensembles on the same evening!

Thanks to your contributions and participation, we raised over $13,000 through our Swing & Sip Event!

The funds raised will play a vital role in supporting our programs and initiatives, allowing us to provide even more opportunities for young musicians in our community to learn, grow, and thrive. From scholarships to workshops to performances, your generosity will directly impact the lives of countless talented individuals, helping them pursue their passion for music and achieve their dreams.

Thank you for helping us shape the future of music!

Chamber Group Community Performances

The TYP String Quartet has been selected to perform at the TEDx Youth Event in Raleigh. This is part of an all-day event "that transcends boundaries, bridging from 'here' to 'everywhere" and will feature student speakers and performers from around the Triangle!

Later this month, the TYP Woodwind Quintet will perform a medley of classical and pop culture favorites in our first designated sensory-friendly performance since the pandemic. All are welcome! This performance is designed for audience members of all ages who may not feel as comfortable in a traditional concert setting.

If you have any questions about this event, or you would like to request specific accommodations, please contact Katherine ( katherinedenton@triangleyouthmusic.org )

TYJE at Halle

The Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble will perform on Saturday, April 20th at the Halle Cultural Arts Center at 7:00 PM. This is a great opportunity to see them in concert before they head off to NYC for Jazz at Lincoln Center's Essentially Ellington competition! Purchase tickets by clicking the button below and help these talented students travel to New York!

Student Shout-Outs

Congratulations to Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble drummer Ethan Oliver , who has been accepted into Carnegie Hall's NYO Jazz Ensemble. He is one of two drummers chosen from the entire country! Ethan and NYO Jazz will tour South Africa and perform at Carnegie Hall and other New York venues this summer.

Congratulations to Triangle Youth Philharmonic violinist, Alisa Keel , who was accepted into NYO2, one of two national youth orchestras run by Carnegie Hall! They will meet, rehearse, and travel together this summer for intensive training and performance opportunities.

This is a huge accomplishment for both of our students and we are so excited and proud of them!!

2024 Summer Camps!

Contact Katherine Denton katherinedenton@triangleyouthmusic.org with questions.

Swing & Sip Recap

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 17:53:35 GMT

A Heartfelt Thank You from

Triangle Youth Music

We want to express our deepest gratitude for your incredible support for our recent Swing & Sip fundraiser. Your generosity has truly made a profound impact on our organization and the amazing young musicians we serve.

We are thrilled to announce that, thanks to your contributions and participation, we raised over $13,000 through Swing & Sip!

Thank you for helping us shape the future of music!

Winter Updates

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 15:22:03 GMT

Winter Updates: Originally posted February 16th, 2024

Two Great Ensembles-One Great Night

In less than one week, the Triangle Youth Philharmonic and 2024 Essentially Ellington Finalists Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble will be performing in concert at Meymandi Concert Hall. This is their first time ever performing together in Meymandi Hall! Join them as they make TYM history!!

2024 TYM Fundraiser

On March 16th, Triangle Youth Music is hosting Swing & Sip, a live jazz music and swing dance event! Featuring music from our Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble and Triangle Youth Jazz Orchestra, a swing dance lesson from a local professional, and more; there is something here for everyone! Check out our website for ticket information: General Admission and VIP tickets are available! Early bird pricing ends on February 29th, so don't miss out!

2024 TYP Concerto Competition

Each year, Triangle Youth Philharmonic hosts a concerto competition where students can audition for an opportunity to be a soloist with the Triangle Youth Philharmonic. This year we were astounded by the talent of our students! We had 10 students compete, but there could only be one winner! Seunne Khoo (pictured above) has been chosen as the 2024 Concerto Competition winner. Seunne has been with Triangle Youth Music for over 9 years and is the Concertmaster for the Triangle Youth Philharmonic. Join us in congratulating her, and join us in May to hear her competition-winning piece!

Special thanks to our judges Tonu Kalam, UNC's Orchestra Director, and Melanie Wilsden, Principal Oboe of the North Carolina Symphony!

To celebrate all of our students who competed in the Concerto Competition this year, we will be hosting an Honors Concert on March 13th at Ruggero Piano, 6 PM. All are welcome!

Chamber Group Outreach Performances

Our chamber ensembles have been busy! In addition to their holiday performances, the Triangle Youth Philharmonic String Quartet worked with student composer Hunter Levin to rehearse and record one of his newest works. Coming up on April 13th, the quartet will be performing at a local TEDx Youth event!

The Triangle Youth Philharmonic Woodwind Quintet performed for the Carolina Opera before their performance, The Barber of Seville. Shortly after, they performed for Wake County arts leaders and educators at their monthly meeting. Thank you to Wake County Public Schools Director of Arts Education Jeremy Tucker, for giving us this opportunity! This weekend, the group will perform before the North Carolina Symphony concert and this spring, the quintet will be performing in a sensory-friendly concert, designed for audiences who may not feel comfortable in a traditional concert setting. Stay tuned for more details!

TYJE Returns to Essentially Ellington!

The Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble was once again announced as a finalist of the 29th Annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival with Jazz at Lincoln Center. This will be TYJE's 8th time making the finals, and they are so excited to head back to New York City this May! Join us in congratulating Dr. Gregg Gelb and the entire band of fantastic musicians.

In addition to this amazing achievement, TYJE pianist Ori Moore was selected as the sole winner of the 2024 Essentially Ellington Student Composition/Arranging Contest. Ori's composition will be recorded by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and he will receive various other honors and prizes. Congratulations, Ori, on this incredible honor!! We are so honored and proud to have you as a member of TYM!

Student Shout-Outs

Two Triangle Youth Music cellists, Kai Wong and Sam Caplan, were invited to participate in a cello masterclass taught by North Carolina Symphony's cello guest soloist, Alban Gerhardt. Thank you to The North Carolina Symphony for hosting this masterclass and inviting our students to participate!
Claire Kwark and Anna McLeod recently competed in a series of music competitions sponsored by the Women's Club. Anna won the competition on January 20th, and Claire took home first place a few weeks later on February 10th. Congratulations to you both, and thanks for representing Triangle Youth Music!
Kashvi Kumar won first place in her category with a near-perfect score at the Elite International Music Competition and has earned the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall later this spring. Way to go Kashvi!

Alumni Spotlight: Zach Gall

Recent TYM alum, Zach Gall, will be coming home from college at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music next month to perform before a North Carolina Symphony Concert. Last year, Zach won the NC Symphony's Kathleen Price and Joseph M. Bryan Youth Concerto Competition - Junior Division. This was in addition to winning our TYP concerto competition and serving as a student intern! Come see Zach perform on March 23rd at 7 PM, and stick around for the Symphony concert.

2024 Summer Camps!

We know you have all been waiting for it, and summer camp information is finally available! This summer, we will offer full-day jazz camps for all levels, a summer session of the Triangle Youth String Orchestra for beginner string players, and a week-long string camp with options for all levels. Financial aid is available for all programs and anyone is welcome! See below for dates and additional details:

Weekly Summer String Orchestra - Mondays from 6:30 - 8:00 PM at Peace Presbyterian Church in Cary, directed by Meaghan Clayton and Myriah Luke. Orchestra begins on June 17th and runs for six weeks, ending on July 22nd with final "in-formance" at 7:30 PM. Cost for six weeks: $100
Summer String Camp (half day and full day available) - July 29th - August 2nd at Peace Presbyterian Church in Cary, directed by Meaghan Clayton and Myriah Luke. String summer camp will be a little different this year! From 9 AM - 12 PM, string students of any level can participate in traditional orchestra camp. For those who want to stay for the full day, 1 PM - 4 PM is our new enrichment session, where students can select two options each day, including chamber music (for intermediate/advanced students), TYM audition prep, music theory, music history, and/or music composition/ arranging. Please note: the enrichment portion is only available to students who participate in the morning session. Cost for Half-Day: $300. Cost for Full-Day: $500
Jazz Camp (full day only) - July 22 - July 26th, location TBA, All levels accepted, directed by Kobie Watkins and Gregg Gelb. Students will be broken up into smaller groups based on skill level. Musicians will explore jazz style, improvisation, and prep for TYM auditions. Cost for Full-Day: $500

We are still finalizing some logistical details, but registration will be open soon! Be on the lookout for an email with official registration instructions.

Contact Katherine Denton katherinedenton@triangleyouthmusic.org with questions.

2023 In Review

Sun, 31 Dec 2023 17:00:00 GMT

2023 Was a Busy Year!

In 2023, Triangle Youth Music celebrated:

Milestone 35th Anniversary Celebration

Successfully commemorated our 35th Anniversary with an unforgettable Koka Booth Celebration, drawing the participation of over 500 musicians, including students, community members, and alumni.

Chatham County Strings Program

Partnered with Chatham County Schools to Initiate an after-school beginner violin at two Title 1 elementary schools in Siler City.

Triangle Youth Philharmonic Quartet Excellence

TTP Quartet achieved distinction by securing 1st place in the prestigious Joel Adams String Quartet Award.

Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble's National Triumph

TYJE earned a coveted spot at the Essentially Ellington Festival at Jazz at Lincoln Center, ranking among the top 15 jazz bands in the nation clinching 8 awards.

Return of Triangle Youth Philharmonic Schedule

Successfully resumed performances for Triangle Youth Philharmonic with three concerts, marking a return after the disruptions caused by the pandemic.

Triangle Youth Jazz Orchestra's Success at Elon's Jazz Festival

TYJO made a lasting impact at Elon's Jazz Festival, winning 3 awards and solidifying their reputation as a standout jazz ensemble.

Record Attendance at Jazz and String Camps

Achieved record-breaking attendance at our Jazz and String Camps, offering quality musical experiences to all participants.

Collaboration with Renowned Guest Artists

Provided invaluable opportunities for students to collaborate with esteemed guest artists from Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, North Carolina Symphony, and beyond!

In Loving Memory of Hugh Partridge

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 20:49:49 GMT

In Loving Memory of

Hugh Partridge

August 2, 1939 - December 14, 2023

It is with tremendous sadness that Triangle Youth Music recognizes the passing of Hugh Partridge, TYM’s Founder and Artistic Director Emeritus. In 1988, Hugh was asked to become the Triangle Youth Philharmonic (TYP) conductor by 35 high school musicians from around North Carolina’s Triangle region. The students presented Hugh with a personally signed, typed letter asking for his leadership in forming a youth orchestra. Hugh said yes, and TYP’s first concert took place on May 22, 1988. After this, the Philharmonic Association (now TYM) was formed, and Hugh proceeded to pour his heart, talent, time, and skill into leading as Artistic Director and TYP Conductor for over 30 years, working in close collaboration with his wife, Margaret McElrath Partridge.

Under Hugh and Margaret’s meticulous and passionate leadership, TYM grew from one ensemble of thirty-five musicians to include multiple orchestral ensembles, eventually adding a jazz program in 2005. When Hugh became Artistic Director Emeritus in 2019, TYM served over 500 students annually through 8 different ensembles ranging from chamber groups to full-size jazz and orchestral ensembles. Hugh led the organization on two trips overseas to perform in England, collaborating with the City of Hull Youth Symphony Orchestra (Raleigh’s sister city in the UK). TYP also performed under Hugh’s direction at the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC, and participated in both inaugural galas for North Carolina Governor Michael Easley in 2005 and 2009. Together, Hugh and Margaret spearheaded collaborations with a multitude of other arts organizations, living composers, conductors, and community groups. The organization received multiple awards and recognitions during their tenure, including the 2012 Medal of Arts from the City of Raleigh, North Carolina Arts Commission, as well as the 2011 Business Support of the Arts Award in the Arts Education category from the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County.

Hugh often said that the musicians of TYM should not be treated as students but as professionals. He worked diligently to foster an environment where young musicians were treated with respect, inspired to strive for the highest artistic standards possible, and had the opportunity to learn and perform the greatest music in the orchestral and jazz repertoires. Hugh’s legacy continues in the lives of every single musician who has participated in TYM over the 36 years since its founding.

Hugh graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1958. He went on to receive a Bachelor of Music degree in Viola from Indiana University in Bloomington, where he studied with William Primrose, and a Masters of Music degree in Violin and Viola from Butler University in Indianapolis. Hugh’s long career as a professional musician included serving as the Principal Viola of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Santa Fe Opera and the North Carolina Symphony (1976 – 2006). He served on the faculty of Butler University, Wichita State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 2003, Hugh received the Raleigh Medal of Arts in recognition of his “extraordinary achievement in the Arts.” In 2005 he was the recipient of the Maxine Swalin Outstanding Music Educator Award, presented by the North Carolina Symphony. In 2018, he received the Business Support of the Arts award in the Arts Education category from the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County.

It is not possible to fully articulate Hugh’s impact on Triangle Youth Music and the thousands of young musicians who have personally or indirectly benefited from his mentorship, teaching, vision, and tireless work on behalf of TYM and the next generations of musicians. His legacy lives on in each of us whose lives he impacted and who were fortunate to call him a mentor, a teacher, a colleague, and a friend. His work is carried on in the lives of thousands of others who have, in turn, received mentorship and training from his pupils.

Triangle Youth Music extends sincere condolences to Hugh’s entire family. Please visit this link to learn more about Hugh’s incredible accomplishments and ways to celebrate and honor his life.

On behalf of every student who has benefited from the work and mission of TYM - thank you, Hugh, for your extraordinary dedication to music and music education, your tireless work toward the development of the next generation of young musicians, and your meticulous passion for excellence.

Summer Jazz Camp Recap

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 19:55:30 GMT

Beginner/Intermediate and Advanced Jazz Camps Finish Out Our Summer Series!

We had an awesome time with our two Jazz Summer Camps! Musicians of all skill levels, as well as alumni and current students, joined us for a week full of rockin' tunes and swing. Advanced campers also learned more about the art of improvisation. Both groups finished out the week with a performance for their friends and family. Looking forward to seeing you all this season!

Summer String Camp Recap

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 19:45:21 GMT

Weekly String Orchestra and Week-long Summer Camp Were a Huge Hit!

We had so much fun during our spring summer programming. With help from Alumni, as well as current students, our musicians learned new pieces, played music games (including the most difficult jigsaw puzzle we've ever seen), and performed for their families and friends. Our music ranged from the classics, movie scores, and works from new artists of all backgrounds. We look forward to seeing all of these students for the full season!

2023-2024 Season Auditions Now Open!

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 16:32:10 GMT

Miss us already? Well, we have some good news for you: audition registration for our upcoming season is now open! Auditions will be held on August 25th & 26th at Peace Presbyterian Church in Cary, so mark your calendars. Click the button below for more information about our audition requirements, materials, and how to sign up.

2023 Summer Series Now Open!

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 16:28:14 GMT

We have four exciting summer programs available this year! If you haven't signed your musician up yet, it isn't too late! Read below for details on each program:

Weekly Summer String Orchestra (3rd-6th Grade): Thursdays from June 22th -July 27th from 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM at Peace Presbyterian Church, $50.00 for 6 weeks
String Orchestra Camp (all levels): July 17th - July 21st from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM at Peace Presbyterian Church, $400.00 (full day)
Beginner/Intermediate Jazz Camp : July 24th - July 28th from 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM at First Baptist Church Raleigh, $250.00 (half day)
Advanced Jazz Camp (video audition required): July 24th - July 28th from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM at First Baptist Church Raleigh, $250.00 (half day)

Learn more about our summer series here .

Our Newest Program

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 16:38:11 GMT

Triangle Youth Music, in partnership with Chatham County Schools, is launching a new beginner violin program at two elementary schools in Siler City! Classes start next week for our spring pilot program, with plans to expand to a full-year program this fall. Violins and classes will be free to all who participate. Please donate below if you are interested in supporting this new and important program!

2023 so far....

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 16:30:44 GMT

Triangle Youth Music has had a busy start to 2023! From New Year's Eve jazz performances to a love-filled Triangle Youth Philharmonic winter concert in February, our musicians have offered amazing performances to the Triangle community. In January, our TYP String Quartet performed at Chavis Community Center at their King Day Celebration. February followed with a string (no pun intended) of jazz festivals, including Heart 'n Soul of Moore County, the Elon University Jazz Festival, and the regional Essentially Ellington Festival at UNC Chapel Hill.

Triangle Youth Jazz Orchestra won best community band at the Elon Jazz Festival, Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble won best community band at the Regional Essentially Ellington Festival, and our very own Triangle Youth Philharmonic Quartet won the 1st place Joel Adams String Quartet Award from the North Carolina Federation of Music Clubs this year, and will go on to compete at the State level! Congratulations to all of our wonderful musicians and special thanks to each of you for representing TYM so well!!

TYJE Qualifies for Essentially Ellington 2023!

Tue, 04 Apr 2023 19:57:24 GMT

The Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble has once again been accepted to compete at Essentially Ellington in New York City, making them one of the top 15 jazz bands in the country. Congratulations to these amazing musicians and their director Gregg Gelb! TYJE will travel to NYC May 10-May 14 to learn, perform and compete.

triangle-youth-music

March Newsletter - 2026

Newsletter originally published - March 10th, 2026

Pops Concert Recap

Swing & Sweets

Jazz Updates

December Newsletter - 2025

Newsletter Originally Published: 12/31/25

Fall Concert Recap

TYJE & TYJO at Downtown Cary Park

Alexander Technique Workshop

Holiday Outreach Performances

Chatham Violin Winter Performance

New Board Member

Welcome to BJ Crane

TYJE in the Recording Studio

October Newsletter - 2025

Our Fall Season has begun!

July Newsletter

Newsletter originally published: 7/10/2025

May Newsletter

Originally published: May 7th, 2025

March Newsletter

Originally published: March 14th, 2025

2024 In Review

Newsletter originally published January 7th, 2025

October Newsletter

Newsletter originally published October 9th, 2024

August Newsletter

Originally published August 13th, 2024

June Newsletter

Newsletter originally posted on June 13th, 2024

Chatham County Violin Program

April Newsletter

Newsletter originally published on April 4th, 2024

Swing & Sip Recap

A Heartfelt Thank You from

﻿ Triangle Youth Music

Winter Updates

Winter Updates: Originally posted February 16th, 2024

2024 TYM Fundraiser

2023 In Review

2023 Was a Busy Year!

In Loving Memory of Hugh Partridge

August 2, 1939 - December 14, 2023

Summer Jazz Camp Recap

Beginner/Intermediate and Advanced Jazz Camps Finish Out Our Summer Series!

Summer String Camp Recap

Weekly String Orchestra and Week-long Summer Camp Were a Huge Hit!

2023-2024 Season Auditions Now Open!

2023 Summer Series Now Open!

Our Newest Program

2023 so far....

TYJE Qualifies for Essentially Ellington 2023!

Triangle Youth Music