HHSO Youth Programs
Inspiring the Next Generation Through Music
The Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra is committed to opening doors to music for young people throughout the Lowcountry and beyond.
Through school partnerships, live orchestral experiences, hands-on music instruction, competitions, and advanced training opportunities, HHSO helps students discover the joy of making music while encouraging talented young musicians to continue developing their artistry.
From a child meeting a professional musician for the first time to an emerging artist taking the stage with the orchestra, HHSO Youth Programs create opportunities to listen, learn, perform, and grow.
Bringing Music Into Local Schools
Music Bridges
Music Bridges is HHSO’s signature music education program for elementary students in Beaufort County.
Throughout the school year, HHSO musicians and guest artists visit local classrooms, giving students the opportunity to meet professional musicians, explore orchestral instruments, and experience music up close.
These visits complement the work of school music educators while preparing students for one of the highlights of the program: experiencing the full Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra in concert.
Music Bridges reaches more than 3,000 students and helps turn the orchestra from something students simply hear about into something they can see, hear, and experience for themselves.
After-School Music Programs (Music Bridges)
Foxes Jam, initiated in 2016 at Bluffton’s Red Cedar Elementary in conjunction with principal, Kathy Corley, and music teacher, Nathan Kooi, offers both beginning and intermediate strings and band classes to students in 3rd-5th grades. Participating students are given the opportunity to learn the Violin, Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet, or Trombone through weekly instruction.
Beginning in September 2019, Red Cedar’s model program was expanded to Hilton Head Island’s Elementary Schools. In collaboration with principals Sarah Owen and Gretchen Keefner, as well as the Boys & Girls Club of the Lowcountry, HHSO members and elementary music teacher Dylan Dukes, instruct an after-school beginning violin class twice a week for select 4th and 5th graders.
All students participating in our after-school programs have access to instruments purchased and maintained by the Mary Briggs Youth Foundation.
Young Persons Concert
For many students, the Young Persons Concert is their first opportunity to experience a professional symphony orchestra live.
Following classroom visits and musical preparation through Music Bridges, participating students come together for a special performance led by HHSO Music Director John Morris Russell.
The concert introduces orchestral music in an engaging and accessible setting while showing students how the instruments, musicians, conductor, and music come together on stage.
Summer Programming at SoundWaves
Under the expert guidance of international children’s chorus master Guillermo Brazon, this past summer’s inaugural Music Factory for Kids encouraged participants ages 5-12 to explore their own creativity while discovering the empowerment of musical expression.
The camp was offered four days a week at SoundWaves and helped to continue our long-standing partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of the Lowcountry which provided access to the program for numerous students.
Connecting Students With International Artists
Hilton Head International Piano Competition School Ambassador Program
The Hilton Head International Piano Competition brings extraordinary young pianists from around the world to Hilton Head Island, and its School Ambassador Program extends that experience into local classrooms.
Participating competitors visit area schools to perform, talk about their musical journeys, and share stories about life and culture in their home countries.
Middle and high school students may also have opportunities to attend early rounds of the competition, offering an up-close look at young musicians performing at an exceptional international level.
During BravoPiano! Festival years, visiting artists continue this tradition by bringing live piano performances and educational experiences into area schools.
Supporting Exceptional Young Musicians
HHSO’s commitment to education extends well beyond introductory music experiences.
Through regional competitions, intensive training, and performance opportunities, the orchestra helps serious young musicians take the next step in their artistic development.
HHSO Youth Concerto Competition
The HHSO Youth Concerto Competition brings together exceptional young string musicians from across the southeastern United States.
Finalists perform orchestral repertoire before an audience and a distinguished jury of musicians, competing for prizes and recognition. The first-prize winner earns one of the competition’s most significant opportunities: an invitation to return as a featured soloist with the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra.
The competition reflects HHSO’s commitment to encouraging young musicians to pursue ambitious musical goals and experience performance at the highest level.
Hilton Head Chamber Music Institute
The Hilton Head Chamber Music Institute offers advanced young string musicians an immersive experience centered on the art of chamber music.
Designed for accomplished violin, viola, and cello students, the program combines intensive coaching, masterclasses, individualized instruction, workshops, rehearsals, and live performance opportunities.
Working closely with experienced professional musicians, participants deepen both their technical abilities and their skills as collaborative artists.
Hilton Head International Piano Competition
The Hilton Head International Piano Competition is among the premier international piano competitions in the United States and has helped launch the careers of outstanding young pianists from around the world.
Its rotating schedule includes competitions for young artists and emerging professional pianists, along with the BravoPiano! Festival, which brings acclaimed performers and past competition participants back to Hilton Head Island.
Together, these programs create opportunities for remarkable young artists while giving Lowcountry audiences and students access to musicians performing at an extraordinary level.
Emerging Artists on the HHSO Stage
Young and emerging musicians are also an important part of HHSO’s regular concert programming.
Throughout each season, the orchestra welcomes exceptional guest artists whose careers are developing on national and international stages. Many arrive from leading conservatories, universities, competitions, and festivals and bring remarkable artistry to Hilton Head audiences.
By presenting these musicians alongside established artists, HHSO provides meaningful professional opportunities while giving younger musicians in the community inspiring examples of where dedication to music can lead.
Making Music Accessible to Young Audiences
HHSO believes young people should have opportunities not only to study music, but also to experience great music live.
Discount Student Tickets make select HHSO performances more accessible to students and help introduce a new generation of listeners to the excitement of a live symphony orchestra.
Building a Lifelong Connection With Music
A first concert, a classroom visit, an instrument lesson, or a performance on stage can become the beginning of a lifelong relationship with music.
Through its Youth Programs, the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra works alongside schools, families, educators, donors, and community partners to ensure young people throughout the Lowcountry have opportunities to discover where music can take them.
Whether they become professional musicians, lifelong concertgoers, or simply carry a greater appreciation for music into adulthood, every young person deserves the chance to experience its power.