Award-Winning Youth Orchestra to Headline at BYU Education Week

The American Heritage Lyceum Philharmonic, an inspiring youth orchestra, will headline at Brigham Young University’s Education Week August 18-21, 2015.

Performing with The American Heritage Lyceum Philharmoic will be Broadway star Rodrick Covington, who recently performed in Broadway’s The Lion King.

The youth orchestra, under the direction of Kayson Brown, is an award-winning orchestra comprised of accomplished high school-aged musicians of multiple faiths from 30 schools across the state of Utah. Brown told LDS.net,

[pull_quote_center]Our mission is to inspire people through music and inspire the youth who participate. There is a need in the community for Christ-centered instrumental music, so we create music that fills that need.[/pull_quote_center]

The orchestra has not only brought listeners closer to Christ but its young performers as well. One young man who participates in the orchestra joined the Church through “the good done in the program and some remarkable role models in The Piano Guys.”

However, Brown clarifies that the orchestra is not directly affiliated with the Church but is primarily faith-based.

[pull_quote_center]My job as a director is not to proselyte. My job is to educate the heart. To write on their hearts the message of the gospel.[/pull_quote_center]

The Philharmonic is one of five, audition-only orchestras that serve Utah children ages 5 to 18. The participants dedicate their time to this after-school program at American Heritage School in American Fork, Utah.

Not only has Best of State named them the “Best Youth Performing Ensemble,” but the group has performed with The Piano Guys, David Archuleta, The 5 Browns, Alex Boyé, Jenny Oaks Baker, Paul Cardall, Vocal Point and Mark Wood of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

The American Heritage Lyceum Philharmonic will perform Tuesday-Friday at 7 PM in the Pardoe theater. For more information on tickets, go to BYU.edu.