What We Do

Group Lessons

We teach violin, viola, cello and string bass simultaneously in group classes using a method designed to have the instruments all play together.  Our programs follow the school calendar year, with special classes offered in summer. Our program is available to all students from 4th through 12th grade.

Youth Orchestras
After two years of class, many students are prepared to join the Junior Orchestra, a preparatory-level string orchestra. Admission is by audition. The Chamber Orchestra is the top-level ensemble, giving players further opportunity to develop their ensemble playing.

All-Program Concerts

Twice a year, in January and May, our students perform in an all-program concert featuring all class levels and the Junior and Chamber Orchestras. These concerts are free and open to the public. 

Community Outreach & Partnerships

We enjoy performing and have performed for many charity and non-profit events and fundraisers. Not only is music our gift to our community, but it provides valuable experience to our young musicians.

 The Mid-Valley Prelude Sinfonia was started in 2007 by parents who wanted to create an opportunity for youth in the Albany area to learn the violin, viola, cello, or string bass. There was no youth orchestra program in the schools, and very few private instructors.

From a single small class in 2007, MVPS expanded its program to five different levels, and the number of students participating grew to over 170! After pivoting to online instruction for the 2020 pandemic, we are excited to return to the classroom in 2021.

2021 also marks a banner year with a name change to Albany Youth Orchestra and a move to a new home in the Browsers' Bookstore building. We are retaining the old business name for business reasons, so you will see both names occasionally. This new location will allow us to offer classes to students from any school, offer a wider range of classes, and be able to serve our growing student population more effectively.

 The Mid-Valley Prelude Sinfonia (MVPS) is a 501(c)(3) registered non-profit organization whose goal is to provide quality, affordable opportunities for youth in the Mid-Valley  area to play violin, viola, cello, or string bass in a group setting.

 Learning to play an instrument has a lasting beneficial benefit on brain development as well as on  social and emotional  development. Most musicians will agree that playing music adds many benefits to their lives.  Our hope is to bring this experience to as many local youth as possible, so that they can experience for themselves the joy, satisfaction and pride of playing an instrument.

No Financial Barriers

 We believe that great music education should be accessible to every child. We provide need-based tuition assistance, as well as financial support , instrumental rental, concert attire, and other support as needed.