History, Educational Programs & Guild


About The Long Bay Symphony

Founded in 1987, the Long Bay Symphony performs about 15 concerts each year in addition to fundraising events for other organizations. It is the largest performing arts organization in the Grand Strand area and the largest professional orchestra in the region. Musicians come from other professional orchestras, and local communities as well as Columbia, Charleston, Fayetteville, Wilmington, and beyond.

The mission of the Long Bay Symphony is to enhance the cultural and artistic environment of the Long Bay region by providing the highest quality musical performances and programs which entertain and educate patrons of all ages. A key component of its efforts is the educational programming for both young people and adults in the community. The symphony is supported about 35% by ticket revenue, with the balance from business and individual giving, foundation and municipal grants, and operating support from the S.C. Arts Commission.

Educational Programs

In addition to regular concerts, the symphony offers other educational programs for students, schools and the community since music is vital to maximizing a child’s full potential. Students who participate in the arts outperform those who do not participate on virtually every measure.1 The Long Bay Symphony’s Young People’s Concert and the Musicians in the Schools programs are designed to encourage students to join their school orchestra or band, further explore music, and eventually participate in the Long Bay Symphony Youth Orchestra.

In November each year, the Long Bay Symphony presents a Young Peoples Concert for fourth and fifth grade students from area schools to introduce symphonic music and the concert experience. The Musicians in the School program sends individual musicians into the classrooms of area elementary schools for an up close performance of symphonic music, look at the instruments and explanation of how the instruments make sounds and the types of music performed.

The Long Bay Symphony Youth Orchestra, founded in 1990, serves to further the music education, talent development and social experiences of 60 – 75 students. These talented young musicians, ages 9 through 22, are selected through auditions each August then rehearse weekly to prepare for three major concerts presented during the school year.

The Long Bay Symphony Guild

Organized in 1988, the Guild’s purpose is to provide support for the orchestra where needed by holding fundraising events, aiding in concert presentations and promoting community awareness. The Guild also provides many other services including ushering for the concerts, managing the concert concession stand, arranging for and serving lunches o the musicians on rehearsal days, hosting guest artists and providing post-concert receptions.

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