Oak Ridge Civic Music Association opens registration for Youth Programs

The Oak Ridge Civic Music Association (ORCMA) is inviting local families to register their young musicians for the 2026–2027 season of the Oak Ridge Youth Arts Collective (ORYAC), which includes the Oak Ridge Youth Orchestra (ORYO) and ORCMA’s youth choir programs.

Registration is now open for the Oak Ridge Youth Orchestra’s Mini Kick O Camp & Auditions, taking place August 29. Families have until August 15 to register, with a $10 audition fee required.

Both the youth orchestra and youth choir will kick o their season with first rehearsals on September 1 at First Baptist Church of Oak Ridge. Choir students will take part in a listening and placement test that day to determine ensemble placement for the year. The year of ensemble training will be led by ORYAC’s youth orchestra directors, Carlos Hernandez (Intermediate) and Kathryn York (Advanced), alongside Youth Choral Director Gigi Naeve.

“These programs give young musicians in our community a real artistic home, a place to grow as musicians alongside their peers,” said Joy Bonamarte, ORCMA’s Executive Director.

Beyond ORYAC, ORCMA is gearing up for its 2026–2027 season, with renewed focus on “The Music You Love,” featuring works by Beethoven, Wagner, Rachmanino , Stravinsky, and more. Season subscriptions will be available soon, inviting audiences to join the Oak Ridge Symphony, Chorus, and Chamber ensembles for a season celebrating the music that moves you, the community that surrounds you, and the journeys that bring us together, alongside the free community concerts. Details on the full lineup and subscription packages will be announced soon.

ORCMA has served the Oak Ridge community for more than 82 years, rooted in the area’s unique scientific and cultural history, and remains committed to bringing high-quality, accessible music programming to residents of all ages.

For more information on ORYAC registration or upcoming season subscriptions, contact ORCMA at 865-483-5569 or joy@orcma.org, or visit their o ice at 106 Randolph Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37830.

Information provided by Joy Bonamarte, Executive Director, Oak Ridge Civic Music Association (ORCMA).

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