In 2011, veteran educator and community staple Janet Grizzell suggested that the Tulare County Symphony League sponsor a youth orchestra that would give the advanced students in the county an opportunity to excel at their craft beyond the classroom, as well as serve as a feeder ensemble for the College of the Sequoias Symphony Orchestra.
At her suggestion, Jeff Fritz began preparing plans for this new ensemble. Paramount to his vision was that this orchestra would feature not only the very best and dedicated string players in the region, but also wind and percussion players to create a truly symphonic ensemble. On March 8th, 2012 we had our first rehearsal at La Joya Middle School.
On April 29th, 2013 both the Junior Symphony and COS Symphony shared their first combined concert together, which showcased the already evident upward migration of performers from younger ensemble to the next.
On February 13th, 2014 the program expanded yet again with the creation of the Junior Strings – an all strings ensemble for youngest players in the community directed by Lisa Fritz. This ensemble was intended to capture the youngest players hearts and love for music early on, and nourish it right from the very beginning in an advanced ensemble.
In early 2020, due to AB5 being passed, the Junior Strings and Symphony were forced to undergo a growth spurt and become completely self-sustained. At this time, the orchestras also underwent a name change to the Sequoia Strings and Youth Symphony to show cohesion and reflect the ultimate goal for the entire program: for the performers to be qualified to perform with the Sequoia Symphony Orchestra.
Today, the three-tire Sequoia Youth Orchestras program features over one-hundred and fifty of the very best, brightest, and budding musicians from Tulare County, and regularly holds concerts at the Visalia FOX Theater to crowds of over 1000 proud parents and teachers.
