History

Introduction

For Howard Pence, a Lexington area music teacher, the dream began in 1947 with 14 local high school string players. Pence was hoping to provide quality learning and performance opportunities for talented young musicians and, in turn, to bring cultural enrichment to audiences throughout the state and country. With the help of Thornton Scott, Chester Travelstead and eleven other dedicated citizens, Howard Pence realized his dream as his 14 string players grew to 49 players and a full Youth Symphony Orchestra in 1949. By following his dream, Pence created one of the oldest, independently chartered youth orchestras in the United States.

With each passing decade this dream has continued to flourish and grow, as the Youth Music Society of Central Kentucky became the Central Kentucky Youth Orchestras, today consisting of four orchestras and over 310 talented young people. For CKYO, the many young musicians who have been its members and the community who has steadfastly supported it the last 61 years represent a journey of incredible experiences and spectacular achievements.

CKYO Slideshow

Click below to view a slideshow of images from the history of the Central Kentucky Youth Orchestras.

CKYO Slideshow

CKYO Milestones

  • 2008 Spain/Portugal Tour
  • 2005 Central Europe Tour
  • 2002 Italy Tour, Rome, Lucca, Teatro Verdi, Cortona
  • 1999 Performance Tour, 11 days in Paris, Brugge, Dunkerque, and London
  • 1996 Performance, Kentucky Music Educators Association Conference, Louisville, Kentucky
  • 1993 Performance, Mid-West International Band and Orchestra Clinic, Chicago, Illinois
  • 1979 Performance Tour, three weeks throughout the Soviet Union and Romania
  • 1972 Performance, Mid East Instrumental Music Conference, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • 1970 Performance, Memorial Arts Center, Atlanta, Georgia
  • 1968 Performance, State Department Concert Series, Washington, D.C.
  • 1963 Performance, Youth Concerts for Young People, White House Lawn
  • 1958 Performance, Silver Anniversary conference, Violin and Cello Teachers' Guild, Carnegie Hall
  • 1957 Exhibits and recordings sent to represent U.S. youth at Brussels World Fair
  • 1953 Performance, American String Teachers Association conference, Cincinnati, Ohio