DCYO's Mission
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Douglas County Youth Orchestra believes music is an essential part of every student's education, and is committed to providing the highest quality orchestral experiences possible for our students. DCYO has been providing Douglas County youth with expert instruction since 2003.
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We ensure our students work with conductors,
coaches, and mentors who are full-time, professional musicians. Students gain musical expertise, self-esteem, and personal growth. Additionally, our repertoire is challenging, ever-growing, and exciting! We are proud to provide an affordable yet excellent experience for our student musicians. |
Kari Ellsworth - DCYO’s Musical Director and Conductor
Kari Ellsworth has been making music for most of her life, having started as a piano student at the age of five. While continuing her piano studies, she added the violin to her repertoire at the age of ten. As a junior high student, she started teaching piano and violin lessons. By the time she graduated high school, she had her own music studio of 20 students. Her parents encouraged her not to get a job at the local hamburger joint, but to teach lessons as her job to build a résumé. At this point, she held two recitals a year, planning recital locations and preparing the refreshments. After high school, her love for music directed her to pursue her higher education in music.
During her university studies, Mrs. Ellsworth studied the violin under Dr. Danwen Jiang while attending Arizona State University and the piano under Lali Breen. She earned her Bachelor of Music in Music Education, violin emphasis from Arizona State University. After her undergrad, she continued her music education at the University of Notre Dame studying the violin under Tamara Stojanovic Albahari. She had the unique opportunity to play for the University of Notre Dame Chamber Orchestra, directed by Dr. Alex Blachly and the University of Notre Dame Symphony directed by Dr. Daniel Stowe.
Mrs. Ellsworth has taught a variety of instruments for more than 27 years: piano, violin, viola, cello, and acoustic guitar. She thoroughly enjoys not only playing and creating music, but teaching others with the hope that they will discover the same joy of music.
Recently for four years, she has been the Associate Orchestra Director for the Colorado Saints Chorale & Orchestra of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Lakewood. Kari is an active member of Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), Colorado State Music Teachers Association (CSMTA), and the Douglas-Elbert Music Teacher Association, (DEMTA). Currently and for the last three years, Kari is also the orchestra director at the Pine Grove Elementary Orchestras.
She resides in Parker with her husband, Josh, and their six children.
DCYO welcomed Kari to the staff during the abbreviated 2019 - 2020 season. She brought her music theory and strings expertise to our rehearsals and conducted during our Fall 2019 Concert, as our Associate Conductor. Since our 2021/22 season, DCYO welcomed Kari as the Music Director and Conductor of DCYO.
During her university studies, Mrs. Ellsworth studied the violin under Dr. Danwen Jiang while attending Arizona State University and the piano under Lali Breen. She earned her Bachelor of Music in Music Education, violin emphasis from Arizona State University. After her undergrad, she continued her music education at the University of Notre Dame studying the violin under Tamara Stojanovic Albahari. She had the unique opportunity to play for the University of Notre Dame Chamber Orchestra, directed by Dr. Alex Blachly and the University of Notre Dame Symphony directed by Dr. Daniel Stowe.
Mrs. Ellsworth has taught a variety of instruments for more than 27 years: piano, violin, viola, cello, and acoustic guitar. She thoroughly enjoys not only playing and creating music, but teaching others with the hope that they will discover the same joy of music.
Recently for four years, she has been the Associate Orchestra Director for the Colorado Saints Chorale & Orchestra of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Lakewood. Kari is an active member of Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), Colorado State Music Teachers Association (CSMTA), and the Douglas-Elbert Music Teacher Association, (DEMTA). Currently and for the last three years, Kari is also the orchestra director at the Pine Grove Elementary Orchestras.
She resides in Parker with her husband, Josh, and their six children.
DCYO welcomed Kari to the staff during the abbreviated 2019 - 2020 season. She brought her music theory and strings expertise to our rehearsals and conducted during our Fall 2019 Concert, as our Associate Conductor. Since our 2021/22 season, DCYO welcomed Kari as the Music Director and Conductor of DCYO.
