Youth Engagement – Foreword from Contributing Author Megan Delatour

Many conversations about youth engagement in orchestras center on the need to pull in young people to secure the survival of the orchestra. But in reality, we must ask ourselves: what can an orchestra do for young people? 

The purpose of an orchestra is to share, create, and uplift through our instruments, establishing and preserving a sense of community. Young people, as part of this community, should be afforded the opportunity to share and create. An orchestra can provide young people with the tools to succeed and the chance to thrive. 

This guide shares examples of student-centered learning, advocacy, and mental-health awareness, as well as wisdom from changemakers about what it is to empower youth in musical spaces. We hope that orchestras can use this information to foster inclusivity and create the means for young people to find their voices.

Megan Delatour
Orchestra Director, Talent Unlimited High School
Artistic Director, InterSchool Orchestras of New York at Third Street Music School