About the Weatherford Youth Orchestra:
Mission Statement: To provide an opportunity for young musicians in the Parker County area to grow in their music education through an orchestra experience, and to honor God in the process.
The Weatherford Youth Orchestra was the idea of Mr. Brodie Bushman, the Fine Arts Director for many years at Victory Baptist Academy as a way to expand the orchestra experience for the VBA students, and include more of the community players in the orchestra. Victory Baptist Academy and Church provides facilities for rehearsals and concerts as well as financial support for the orchestra in order to keep tuition costs low for WYO members.
Anyone who is a high school senior or younger is invited to audition for the orchestra. Acceptance into the orchestra is based on ability, and we ask that string players are in at least book three of Suzuki (or comparable playing ability), and that wind and percussion students have at least 2-3 years of experience.
About the Sponsoring School and Church:
Victory Baptist Academy is a Christ-based, PreK-12 school operated through Victory Baptist Church and fully accredited through the American Association of Christian Schools. Since opening in 2007, our mission has been to ensure that all students learn truth. VBA will assist parents in developing Christ-mindedness in their children through comprehensive Bible study, rigorous academic instruction, and structured social interaction so that their children will impact their homes, churches, and communities for Christ.
About the Director:
Lori Smith began playing the cello in 1984. She has been teaching private cello lessons since 1991, and in 1996 she received a Bachelor of Music Education from Texas Christian University. She has taught as the assistant orchestra director of Arlington High School and Gunn Junior High in Arlington Texas, and has also taught beginning strings at Webb Elementary School, also in Arlington. Mrs. Smith taught Suzuki Cello at the Youth Orchestra of Greater Fort Worth, and has taught violin, viola, cello, bass, guitar, and piano lessons out of her home. She is currently the orchestra, choir, and elementary music teacher for Victory Baptist Academy in Weatherford.