FW Youth Orchestra Italy Tour 2014

Orchestra Trip to Italy June 2014!

The Fort Worth Youth Orchestra is heading to Italy in June 2014! The talented musicians will perform three concerts and tour such cities as Milan, Cremona, Florence, and Rome. Please help Laena realize her dream of playing the violin with her favorite orchestra on an international tour!

Each student is working to raise $3,700 as their share of the cost of the tour. The cost includes airfare, meals, lodging, guides, excursions fees, and local travel for 9 days. Here is the link with detailed information about the trip.

Please consider making a gift to support Laena's participation in this amazing opportunity. Any gift, no matter how small, would be a tremendous help for her and greatly appreciated. Your gift would also show your support and commitment for the youth and arts in our community.

“For 49 years, the Fort Worth Youth Orchestra has been providing young musicians unparalleled musical instruction, unique performing opportunities, and a chance to study and experience classical music with their peers in a chamber or full orchestra setting.”

Fort Worth Youth Orchestra Official Website

Thanks so much for your support!!

The Batchelders ~ Mark, Faeda, and Laena




Laena's Road to Italy

Laena started taking Suzuki violin lessons 10 years ago. Wow! When she was 6 years old, we would drive up to Orchestra Hall twice a week - on a weekday afternoon for a 30-minute private lesson with Miss Michelle and on Saturday morning for the group class.

During one of these early times at Orchestra Hall, we picked up a brochure for the Fort Worth Youth Orchestra, which also met for rehearsals at Orchestra Hall. Yes, Laena thought it would be neat to play in the orchestra. But what caught her eye in the brochure was mention of their international tours to wonderful places like Mexico (1976), England (1987), Taiwan (1992), Austria (2004), and (yes) Italy (2001).

The Fort Worth Youth Orchestra program has four orchestras. And through the years, Laena has played with each orchestra and finally 3 years ago, she joined the premier group. And all this time, she has loved playing with the orchestras and has hoped that one day she could travel with the orchestra to an international destination.

Economic times have been difficult and the FWYO hasn't had many trips in recent years. But now they are planning a trip to Italy in June 2014. Yay!!

Laena is very excited about going to Italy. We hope you can help us make her dream come true.

Please listen and watch this wonderful orchestra :-)
Fort Worth Youth Orchestra playing La Vida Breve by de Falla