About Us
GEYSO reflects the understanding of Dr. George D'Angelo of the vital import of the arts in building strong youth and a vibrant community. As GEYSO founder some twenty-two years ago, his generous financial support is his action statement about the power of music education. In recent years, research has further validated the correlation of music education and improved academic performance in general.
About a dozen or so years ago, Dr. D'Angelo and Dr. Verel Salmon began brainstorming how the power of music could be better utilized in our community. Increasing music education in the schools seemed to be a budgetary impossibilty for most school boards. With insight from Dorothy Hamilton and other music educators in our region, the six week In-school GEYSO component was conceived. Every third grader would have a GEYSO violin in their hands for six weeks of introductory lessons taught by a violinist in cooperation with their teacher or music educator. Then low cost instruction would be made available, with GEYSO scholarships for children whose families could not afford it. Instruction would move children to the GEYSO Overture Strings Ensemble. Those with interest in other instruments could move into Sinfonia or Concert Winds. Such opportunities would be made available continuously through the high school years.
A few years ago (2008), an historic agreement was reached with the Erie Junior Philharmonic, with encouragement from the Erie Community Foundation, to unify the highest level of orchestral performance, thus allowing GEYSO to direct all its monies toward music education of all children. GEYSO adminstrative director, Ms. Jamie Niverth, reports GEYSO is now serving over 1500 area children. That is all the third graders in over twenty elementary schools, the farthest being in Ashtabula, Ohio. GEYSO operates the same instruction opportunities at the Boy's and Girl's Club, JFK Center and the Salvation Army. GEYSO success is proven and demand has risen so high, it is exceeding supply - what a great problem! With GEYSO programs, your support of music can indeed change lives for all of us.