Music Outreach Programs

About the Outreach Programs
The Department of Music offers a number of outreach programs in music for prospective students.

UMass Lowell Mary Jo Leahey Symphonic Band Camp
The Mary Jo Leahey Symphonic Band Camp is a residential, musically intensive honors band camp for instrumentalists in grades 8 through 12. Several full and partial scholarships are awarded. Interested applicants may download information from the Web site. Scholarships are available and contingent upon auditions, however auditions are not necessary to be accepted into the camp. The camp accepts approximately 115 student musicians, whose instruments include string, bass, oboe, french horn, piano and guitar. Classes include Concert Band, Honors Wind Ensemble, Jazz Improvisation, Conducting, Sound Recording Technology, Big Band, and Small Jazz Ensembles. For more information please contact the director, Deb Huber at 978-934-4133.

The New England Youth Wind Ensemble
The New England Youth Wind Ensemble is for high school students in grades 9-12. The ensemble meets on Monday evenings from 6:45 to 9 p.m.in Durgin Concert Hall. UMass Lowell's New England Youth Wind Ensembles bring students from the community together with college students from the UMass Lowell Music Department to perform college-level music. This ensemble provides a unique opportunity for the participants. As in the nature of wind ensembles, there is only one individual per part. Students learn to listen, interpret, and perform across instrumental families, and to perform with soloists. Much responsibility rests with each musician, providing a significant challenge for all. Auditions take place in January. The ensemble begins at the end of January and runs through April, with a finale concert taking place in May. Applications can be downloaded from the website. For more information contact the Artistic Director and Conductor Deb Huber at 978-934-4133.

The New England Junior Youth Wind Ensemble
The New England Junior Wind Ensemble is for junior high school students in grades 6-9. The ensemble meets on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 4:50 to 6 p.m. in Durgin Concert Hall. UMass Lowell's New England Junior Wind Ensemble (inaugural year 2007) brings students from the middle-school community together with college students from the UMass Lowell Music Department to rehearse and perform. This ensemble provides a unique opportunity for the participants -- young students are able to perform with those who will be the band directors of the future. Seating takes place in January; students are asked to prepare a piece to play in for a conductor's panel to ascertain seating order. The ensemble begins at the end of January and runs through April, with a finale concert taking place in May. Applications can be downloaded from the website. For more information contact the Artistic Director and Conductor Deb Huber at 978-934-4133.

The UMass Lowell String Project
The UMass Lowell String Project, founded in 2001 by Prof. Kay G. Roberts, offers high-quality string training and creative music classes to Lowell Public School Students, targeting diverse, underserved neighborhoods.

Students are taught by UMass Lowell music majors, distinguished professors, and guest artists. Creative Sound Play introduces participants to music technology, improvisation, composition, and music from different cultures.

The UMass Lowell String Project provides a supportive, creative and educational environment where youth from diverse backgrounds learn to interact, exchange ideas, and make music together. We have created a musical community for parents, teachers, and students, and are an important cultural and social presence in Lowell, bringing free concerts to the community.

The Lowell Youth Orchestra
The UMass Lowell Youth Orchestra (LYO), founded in 2009 by Prof. Roberts, builds on the success of the UMass Lowell String Project, providing an outlet for young musicians interested in acquiring ensemble and performance experience. Under Music Director Ben Parisi, an UMass Lowell alumnus, the LYO explores music from the traditional repertory as well as music reflective of Lowell's community of immigrants. Through music, the LYO and the UMass Lowell String Project contribute to the understanding of different cultures.

The New England Orchestra
The New England Orchestra (NEO), Lowell's professional chamber orchestra, offers diverse musical programming, accessible to all. Founded by Kay G. Roberts in 2004, NEO links cultures through music and celebrates harmony in diversity.

The recipient of a 2010/11 grant from the UMass President's Creative Economy Initiatives Fund, NEO performs in alliance with the UMass Lowell Youth Orchestra (LYO) and UMass Lowell music students at Eliot Presbyterian Church and at Durgin Concert Hall.

For more information about NEO, please visit www.neo-lowell.org.