The Sangamon Valley Youth Symphony has a new Executive Director.
Elle Pressly is a clarinetist who majored in music at the University of Illinois. She now teaches music education in the Jacksonville School District.
Her new role will become full time when the school year ends. It will involve marketing, fundraising and handling the day to day operations of the SVYS.
The organization provides orchestral instruction to area youth, as young as 3rd grade.
"Starter Strings is unique in that we go to the local elementary schools. We have teachers we hire to go to the schools once a week," Pressly said. A class also meets at the Hoogland Center for the Arts for home schooled students.
Classes continue into high school and a community orchestra also is available for adults.
A trivia night that helps offset costs for the group will take place this Saturday night at the Hoogland. Details available at the SVYS website.
'We have strong band and choir programs here in our area, but we do not have orchestra programs unfortunately. That was how our organization was born. And we really feel that it's important to keep that alive and keep providing these experiences for the kids," she said.
