Currently in its sixth year, the GBYO's Bridges program provides high-quality string education to youth in Baltimore City Public School at no cost to students.

The Bridges program currently serves seven schools in Baltimore City:  the Baltimore Montessori Public Charter School, Calvin Rodwell Elementary, Edgewood Elementary, Govans Elementary, Thomas Johnson Elementary, Waverly Elementary, and Wolfe St. Academy.



Main Program Components: 
There are two main components to the Bridges program:  group classes and string orchestra rehearsals. 

• Students receive two group classes weekly, during which they learn to play one particular string instrument - violin, viola, cello, double bass, or harp.  These classes are held at the individual schools in the program. 
  
• During the Sunday rehearsals, students from all seven schools get together to play in large string orchestras at the Baltimore Montessori Public Charter School.  There are two Sunday Bridges Orchestras: the Prelude Orchestra (for beginning students) and the Encore Orchestra (for returning students).

Performances:
There are two main Bridges performances each year – one in December and one in the spring. These performances showcase both the Encore and Prelude Orchestras, as well as our Violin, Lower Strings, and Harp Choirs.  Bridges students are also often invited to play in other Baltimore City events, such as performances at Morgan State University, the Walters Art Gallery, and the Wolfe Street Festival.

Bridges students and their families are also invited to attend all Greater Baltimore Youth Orchestra performances at no charge to hear and observe our more experienced students.

Further Opportunities: 
After students complete the two- to three-year Bridges Program, they are assisted in finding continuing instruction, invited to join the GBYO’s Sinfonietta and are loaned an instrument for use as long as they continue to participate in the orchestras of the GBYO. We are very proud to announce that eighteen students have now graduated from the Bridges Program and moved into our orchestras, including thirteen in the Sinfonietta, four in Sinfonia and one in the Concert Orchestra.

The Greater Baltimore Youth Orchestras has made a long-term commitment to Bridges students to provide scholarship assistance for membership through all the orchestras in the GBYO program, to be sure that they continue to have an instrument and to help in finding continuing private instruction.

Funding:
The Bridges Program relies on funding from site partnerships, government and foundation grants, and the generosity of many individual donors. Several GBYO families have donated instruments for use in the program; these instruments provide a very real connection for Bridges students to other members of the GBYO. We are always grateful for the donation of instruments in all sizes, as our enrollment has expanded to include many first-graders, as well as many students in their middle school years.


For further information on the Bridges Program, or to inquire about cash or instrument donations, please contact us at info@gbyomusic.org, or call the GBYO office at 410-617-1524. Thank you!