Located in Ithaca, The Cayuga Chamber Orchestra (CCO) has announced that the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra Youth Orchestra (CCOYO) has won First Place in the 6th Annual Lowell Mason House Music Education Advocacy Competition.
The Lowell Mason House sponsors programs that advocate for music education in schools across the United States and hosts an annual competition in support of music education initiatives. Lowell Mason, a banker and composer, is best known as the “Father of American Public School Music Education.” He served as a music teacher in the Boston Public Schools for over twenty years and became America’s first Supervisor of Music Education within the district.
The theme of this year’s competition was “How Music Lifts Our Spirits and Our Souls.” CCOYO submitted its video entry titled “CCOYO and the Power of Music (How Music Lifts Our Spirits and Our Souls, Connects People, and Allows for Expression and Communication – Reflections by Students and Staff).” The video features powerful interviews with young musicians reflecting on the impact and importance of music in their lives.
Jillian Caci, CCOYO Operations Manager, shared:
“The young people of the YO are consummate musicians and individuals. Their performances and thoughts on music are inspiring. As we prepare to observe Music in Our Schools Month 2026, I’m grateful to the music teachers who not only got these young people started but encouraged them to continue their journey as musicians, making performances at this level possible.”
The CCOYO was founded in June 2017 by Kirsten Marshall and Sarah Cummings and serves students throughout the greater Tompkins County region of Central New York. Open to students in grades 7–12, the ensemble provides a high-quality symphony orchestra experience for youth musicians, including a fall retreat and four concerts annually.
The mission of CCOYO is to offer an exceptional orchestral experience for young musicians in the Finger Lakes region of New York State, bring live classical performances to surrounding communities that may not otherwise experience them, and educate and engage students as ambassadors of music.
CCOYO students participate in side-by-side performances with the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra and receive sectional coaching from CCO members. The ensemble has performed throughout Tompkins County as well as internationally in Canada and Italy. Throughout the year, students work closely with the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra through dynamic sectionals and concert attendance.
For more information about the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra Youth Orchestra, visit:
ccoithaca.org/youth-orchestra and for the Lowell Mason House, visit here.
Read more about the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra here.
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