North Carolina Youth Orchestra · Charlotte / Lake Norman
From a first violin lesson to a full orchestra on stage — a complete path for elementary through high school musicians, taught by some of North Carolina’s best.
5×
enrollment growth since 2017
14
ensembles & classes
K–HS
beginner through full orchestra
2006
serving the Lake Norman region
A nonprofit youth music institution
The North Carolina Youth Orchestra is a nonprofit youth music education institution for elementary to high school aged students, with a complete portfolio of program offerings from beginning classes to full orchestras.
We aim to provide each and every student that comes to us with an open door to begin receiving an excellent education, a clear path forward to progress on their instruments, and a variety of performing opportunities to showcase and further develop their skillsets.
The NCYO accomplishes this by bringing youth musicians of all backgrounds together and connecting them with some of our state’s best musicians and educators, creating life-changing opportunity for the next generation of musicians. All rehearsals and classes are held at Bailey Middle School in Cornelius, North Carolina.
Programs for all levels
Beginner classes need no experience at all. Performing ensembles are placed by audition. Wherever a student starts, there’s a clear path forward.
NCYO’s beginning strings class is the perfect fit for students just starting their music education journey. The goal of the Prelude Strings is to introduce and develop the skills needed for orchestral playing in a fun and enjoyable environment.
Rehearsals · Saturday mornings (violin) and Tuesday evenings (violin / viola & cello) at Bailey Middle School
An incredible and unique opportunity for upper elementary and middle school brass players to receive instruction from some of the area’s finest brass musicians. This beginner-focused semester program features classes for trumpet, horn, trombone, tuba, and euphonium and boasts a faculty comprised of exclusively Juilliard alumni.
Rehearsals · Mondays 5:30–7:00pm at Bailey Middle School
An incredible and unique opportunity for beginner woodwind players to receive instruction from some of the area’s finest wind musicians. This beginner-focused program features classes for flute, clarinet, saxophone, oboe, and bassoon, with robust instruction on fundamentals and instrument-specific technical insights.
Rehearsals · Mondays 5:30–7:00pm at Bailey Middle School
An incredible and unique opportunity for aspiring young percussionists to receive instruction from one of the Charlotte region’s finest percussionists and educators, Jordan McCray. This beginner-focused program features instruction on the full range of percussion instruments.
Rehearsals · Mondays 6:00–7:30pm at Bailey Middle School
Featuring musicians from all four instrument families, the Orchestra is NCYO’s premier group. The youth orchestra plays various concerts throughout each semester, performing repertoire for full orchestra.
Rehearsals · Tuesdays 6:30–8:30pm at Bailey Middle School
Next on stage
April 18, 2026 · 8:30 AM · Davidson United Methodist Church, Davidson, NC · By appointment
Instruction from North Carolina’s best
Musical Pathways Initiative
Presented by the North Carolina Youth Orchestra, the Musical Pathways Initiative (MPI) is designed to provide access and opportunity for elementary-aged students in our Lake Norman region to learn a musical instrument.
We’d love to hear from you.
