About DCYO

Douglas County Youth Orchestra is an organization designed to provide opportunities for students to be involved in music outside of the school setting. We believe that music is an essential part of every student's education, and we are committed to providing the highest quality orchestral experiences possible for our students. We rehearse under the direction of our seasoned, professional conductor on Saturday mornings from 10:00AM to 12:00PM and perform concerts at the end of each semester (one in the Fall and one in the Spring). ​

Established in 2005

DCYO expands instrumental music education through instruction and performance for young musicians in the Douglas County area. DCYO is a Colorado 501 (C)(3) non-profit, non-discriminatory organization that brings together Douglas County youth to participate in an affordable, educational program. The DCYO was started in 2005 by a group of music teachers seeking to provide orchestral ensembles in order to foster students' musical understanding, social growth, and self-esteem at a reasonable cost. We are not affiliated with the Douglas County School District.

Meet our Conductor

Thomas A. Blomster
Conductor

Mr. Blomster is Music Director of the Colorado Chamber Orchestra and the Douglas County Youth Orchestra. He continues to be a freelance musician throughout Colorado. He has performed in Mongolia, New Zealand, Mexico, Germany, across the USA, and has numerous recordings as composer, arranger, conductor, and percussionist. He has led the following ensembles on the podium: the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, the Denver Chamber Orchestra, the Boulder Brass, the Mile High Community Band, the Youth Orchestra of the Rockies, and was founder and Music Director of the Mercury Ensemble for eleven years.

Thomas began his percussion studies at age four with John Galm at CU Boulder, and during high school spent four summers performing at the Aspen Music Festival, where he worked with Aaron Copland, Elliot Carter, Krystof Penderecki, and members of the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, and San Francisco Symphony. After high school Thomas studied with members of the Berlin Philharmonic and then began his college studies at the University of Louisville, KY. He joined the Louisville Orchestra, working with composers Karel Husa, Morton Gould, Michael Colgrass, Lukas Foss, David Amram, Claude Baker, Maestro Lawrence Leighton Smith and many others. Thomas has a BM from the Metropolitan State College of Denver and a MA in Conducting from the University of Denver. Thomas’ baton once belonged to Frederick Fennel and is a gift from his mentor and teacher Dr. William Nichols, who received it as a gift from Dr. Fennel.

Recently Maestro Blomster conducted the premiere of his composition "Postcards To Mongolia" with the Morin Khuur Ensemble in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. For more about Mr. Blomster please go here: ​cochamberorchestra.org/