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The Betty Utter Community Impact Award

Celebrating Local Change Makers in Youth Orchestras

Betty Utter, co-founder of the Fort Worth Youth Orchestra and founder of the League’s Youth Orchestra Division (YOD), was a tireless advocate for young musicians. She believed youth orchestras could be engines of transformation—not only for students, but for their entire communities. Known for her energy, determination, and grassroots leadership, Betty worked behind the scenes to launch, sustain, and champion youth orchestras nationwide.

To honor Betty’s legacy in this 50th anniversary year, the League invites youth orchestras to celebrate their own “Betty Utter” — a local changemaker who has made an extraordinary impact on their community. This person could be a:

  • Stellar parent volunteer
  • Dedicated board member
  • Inspirational local teacher
  • Or another unsung hero who has gone above and beyond to advance youth orchestras
Submit your honoree

How it Works

Each youth orchestra identifies and celebrates their community’s “Betty Utter” at their final concert of the 2025–26 season. Orchestras submit their honoree’s name, photo, short bio, and description of impact via an online form. This award may be given posthumously.

The League will provide an award certificate template that orchestras can personalize and present.

Participating youth orchestras must be member orchestras of the League of American Orchestras. Not a member? Learn more about member benefits.

Sharing the Stories

All honorees will be recognized on a dedicated League webpage celebrating the Betty Utter Community Impact Awards.

A Symphony magazine feature will highlight select stories and offer inspiration for cultivating local change makers.

This initiative will amplify the often-unseen contributions that sustain youth orchestras across the country, while reminding us that behind every thriving program are dedicated individuals like Betty Utter.

Why it Matters

Just as Composing Our Tomorrow celebrates the creativity of young composers, the Betty Utter Award celebrates the passion, persistence, and local leadership that fuel the youth orchestra movement. Together, they form two sides of the Youth Orchestra Division at 50 celebrations: honoring the voices of the future, and those who make that future possible.

Expected Outcomes

  • Celebrate Unsung Heroes: Shine a national spotlight on the local volunteers, teachers, and advocates whose behind-the-scenes contributions sustain youth orchestras.
  • Strengthen Local Recognition: Provide youth orchestras with a meaningful way to honor and thank community members publicly at their own concerts.
  • Build National Visibility: Collect and share honoree stories on the League’s website and in Symphony magazine, demonstrating the breadth of grassroots support for youth orchestras across the country.
  • Inspire Others: Encourage orchestras to think intentionally about cultivating local champions and provide models for how individuals can make a transformative difference.
  • Connect to Legacy: Honor the pioneering spirit of Betty Utter by empowering orchestras to identify “the Betty Utter in their own community.”
  • Create a Lasting Record: Document the people who make youth orchestras thrive, ensuring their contributions are remembered alongside artistic milestones.
  • Deepen League Engagement: Create opportunities for youth orchestras to be celebrated by the League, building stronger connections, increasing participation in League initiatives, and supporting long-term membership growth.

Questions?

For additional information, please contact Member Services at member@americanorchestras.org.

Photos and news clippings of Betty Utter provided by the Utter family

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