About the GTiYO
Founded in 2013 by Yang Kun Song, The Greater Toledo International Youth Orchestra
(GTiYO) is a string orchestra that performs a diverse repertoire, including traditional
and modern Chinese music, as well as Western compositions. Mr. Song was the founder
and the previous music director/conductor of the Toledo International Youth Orchestra
(TIYO). That orchestra achieved considerable musical notoriety over the past 13 years
under Mr. Song's direction as they performed in venues throughout the Toledo area
and abroad.
Mr. Song has a long history of success in facilitating an international exchange to bridge cultural diversity through music.
- In 2007, he took his previous orchestra on a concert tour visiting Toledo's Sister City Qinhuangdao and Beijing in the People's Republic of China. They also visited London in Ontario, Canada later that year.
- In 2008, his group performed in Europe, visiting two other Toledo Sister Cities: Poznan, Poland and Delmenhorst, Germany.
- In 2009, Mr. Song led a trip to Tanzania, East Africa that included a visit to Toledo's Sister City of Tanga. The group performed at the American Embassy in Dar Es Salaam in front of world diplomats for a Fourth of July celebration.
- In 2010, his group competed in the Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival and Competition in Vienna, Austria and visited Toledo's Sister City of Szeged, Hungary.
- In 2011, his group traveled to Korea and our Sister City of Toyohashi, Japan.
- In late June, 2012, Mr. Song's last international trip with TIYO was to South America, touring several cities in Peru, including Lima, Cisco, and Machu Pichu.
To better serve the youth in this region, and redirect his focus and passion of bridging cultures through music, Mr. Song resigned from his position with TIYO, and has gathered some of the finest young Musicians from the region. Many of these talented young musicians have won prestigious regional competitions, scholarships, and numerous other awards. Varied in backgrounds, cultures, and interests, the members of GTiYO share the common goal of increasing their knowledge and understanding of cultures through music.
- In 2014, Mr. Song led the GTiYO in on their first international musical tour through the cities of Toledo, Segovia, Cordoba, Seville, Costa del Sol, Granada, and Madrid in Spain.
- In 2015, The GTiYO traveled to Sister City Qinhuangdao and Beijing in the People's Republic of China.
- In 2016, The GTiYO, participated at the Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival in Vienna, Austria.
- In 2017, The GTiYO traveled to Toronto, Ontario and participated in the celebration of Canada's 150 anniversary of Confederation.
- In 2018 our orchestra will be traveling to Germany and participating in the Fete de la Musique Music Festival in Lorrach. In addition to touring our two sister cities in Germany, we plan on making a stop in Basel, Switzerland.
Starting with our 2016/2017 season, the GTiYO has partnered with the University Of Toledo Department Of Music. Their support of our program is simply outstanding. Building upon our combined success and through the vision of our past president, Mr. David Asselin, we started the "GTiYO Scholarship Fund for The UT Department of Music". In 2017, The GTiYO proudly awarded the first scholarship to a GTiYO alumnus starting their college career at UToledo. We are proud to call The University of Toledo our home. Go Rockets!
Building on this history of success, Mr. Song looks forward to the GTiYO's future as we travel to experience other countries and their cultures in the pursuit of our mission of Bridging Cultural Diversity Through Music.
The Greater Toledo International Youth Orchestra is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.