We had a fantastic time at camp this summer.  During the first week of August, 50 students attended a summer string camp held on the Schreiner University Campus.  Dr. Dowdy was our host and a wonderful addition to the HCYO faculty.  Dr. Rocha came again as he did two years ago to conduct our top group.  We had lots of musical growth, some fun times together and many guest artists who came and shared with us.  We hope all the students will continue their studies and join us next summer!

Thanks to all who participated and especially our Sponsors!  Here are some fun pictures!
​

Makenna Brown graduated from Tivy High School and she is a clarinet player.
Here is her bio:
After I graduate from Tivy I plan to attend Texas Lutheran University in the fall, and obtain my Bachelors degree in Music Teaching Education.

My favorite HCYO memory would be fall 2019. We had all finally learned the music given to us and wanted to do a full run through of our program together as a group. The music given to us was probably my favorite pieces given to us so far, but being in the moment, playing and hearing it all come together with the band and orchestra playing; it reminded me of why I love doing what I'm doing. It reminded me that I'm going to college to make a career out of what I love doing, and I get to give other students a way to find a love for music as well.

It has been such an honor to be able to be in HCYO and participate with such an amazing group of staff members, and students in orchestra and band. I was sad that our spring concert got cancelled, but I'm glad I still got the opportunity to play for HCYO for two years and make many lasting memories that will stick with me.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Loxi Bell is a violinst who is graduating from Seton Online Homestudy.
Here is Loxi's Bio:
I have been with HCYO for seven years out of my nine of playing violin and I will be graduating high school this year. After graduation, I will be pursuing a degree in music education at Angelo State University.

My favorite HCYO memory is helping out with the younger kids in Crescendo and at the FMA!
_________________________________________________________________________________
Jadyn Doss is graduation from Tivy High School and is a trumpet player in HCYO.
BIO
Starting as a violinist for Hill Country Orchestras was probably the best decision I could have made. As a fourth grader, I had no idea of who I would become and if music was apart of my future or not. Slowly, as I started to understand how beautiful and truly inspiring an ensemble was, I knew I had to be apart of music for the rest of my life. On Christmas day of my fifth grade school year, I unwrapped a shiny tubular trinket called a cornet (a smaller version of the trumpet). Initially, the idea of practicing another instrument didn't seem as thrilling as it does now, but I grew into the idea very fast. Once I realized trumpet was the coolest invention on the planet we call Earth, I knew I had to perfect it, or get pretty close, at least. Knowing that I needed to make a decision between violin and trumpet going into high school, I chose trumpet in a heartbeat. Freshman year, I decided to audition to play trumpet with HCYO. I have been a part of HCYO's brass section for four years now. I have had the joy of playing in various jazz bands, making 1's for solos and ensembles at State since my sophomore year, making it to the Area level for 5A and 6A TMEA auditions for jazz band and concert band, attending Texas Tech band camp, Texas State band camp, Texas Lutheran band camp, University of Texas Longhorn band camp, and Baylor Band camp through the summers. Aside from the ensembles I have played with, I have also been a Drum Major for Tivy's Marching Band my Junior and Senior years of high school, and have gone to state with the marching band in 2019. I have gone to Fredericksburg United Methodist Church and been an active member and leader in "The Back Porch" youth group since middle school. With the help from my private lesson instructor, Dr. John Carroll, principal trumpet of the San Antonio Symphony, I plan on studying music education at Baylor University while studying trumpet under Professor Wiff Rudd. I am very excited to being my life as a future educator and performer, and would like to thank my parents, my band directors, and especially HCYO for helping me along the way.

My absolute favorite part about the very last season I experienced with HCYO is so dear to my heart. At the very last concert, when Sinfonia had just finished their beautiful first half of their performance, the winds, brass, and percussion where given the cue to enter the stage. I was filled with absolute joy, looking at the underclassmen in the sections around me. I remembered when I was the younger musician, looking up to the leaders. But, observing how talented and driven they all had become, I grinned from ear to ear, knowing that this group was a better version of the group I had entered with. That very feeling of accomplishment and sentiment and love for those around me, is exactly why I couldn't let the cancellation of the spring season disappoint me.

HCYO was a crucial part of the many lessons that led me to my current stable work ethic and discipline. Starting out a musician at a young age playing violin in HCYO, I knew that I would never be without a piece of music to work on. Rehearsals as a 5th grader in string ensembles slowly ended up becoming a normal occurrence. When I began to play the trumpet, I had high hopes that trumpet would be the instrument that would take me to college. With high hopes, came living my dream. In 8th grade, I auditioned to play with the HCYO winds brass and percussion ensemble for Sinfonia, and I fell in love with the music and the section. Although I put away my violin to become more invested in my trumpet practice, I will always cherish my earlier years with HCYO. Without this program, I might have not been as passionate and expressive about my love for violin and trumpet. Without HCYO and the professional encouragement of my directors and instructors, I probably wouldn't have planned to major in music education and study trumpet at Baylor University. Thank you for the many rehearsals and performances that gave me extra experience and the hope to achieve great things in my musical career.