Charles County, MD – On Sunday, May 19, the Charles County Youth Orchestra (CCYO) celebrated five graduating seniors during their concert. The honored students, Dia Bonsu, Sydnie Bumbray, Haley Gruwell, Lailah Toppin, and Dorien Williamson, were recognized for their dedication and achievements in both music and academics.
Haley Gruwell, a flutist, and Lailah Toppin, a bassist, have committed to pursuing music in their college careers. Gruwell will attend the Eastman School of Music to major in flute performance. She expressed, “I always knew I wanted to be a flutist, but it was not until I joined CCYO that I realized I wanted to pursue an orchestral career.”
Toppin will attend Towson University to major in music education. Reflecting on her time with CCYO, she said, “I want to share my love for music and inspire other young musicians. Being in CCYO was such an amazing experience. It became an outlet for me during personal challenges. Being surrounded by so many talented individuals was very motivating.”
Dia Bonsu, the orchestra’s tympanist, will attend the University of Maryland to major in applied math with a minor in music. Bonsu shared her journey, stating, “I joined CCYO in my sophomore year after my percussion teacher informed me about an opening. Initially, I was unsure, having only band experience. However, I found that being in an orchestra was a great fit for me and an invaluable experience. I love this community and am grateful to be a part of it.”
Sydnie Bumbray, who plays both bassoon and flute, will attend Towson University to major in Digital Art and Design with a minor in music. She fondly recalled, “I really enjoyed playing in Encore Band and later in CCYO. The new pieces and the challenges they presented were exciting. It challenged me in ways that I wasn’t in my high school band.”
Dorien Williamson, a violinist, will attend Virginia State University (VSU) as a Mechanical Engineering major and plans to continue training in golf and track & field. Musically, he has been invited to audition for the VSU large ensemble strings/orchestra. He remarked, “The Charles County Youth Orchestra has broadened my appreciation and love of music. My private instructor encouraged me to audition, and CCYO allowed me to grow musically and be part of a wonderful community that I will miss dearly.”
Dr. Osman Kivrak, Director of CCYO, expressed pride in the graduating seniors. “The success of our graduating seniors demonstrates the importance of practicing, hard work, and good study habits. I am enormously proud of all of them and wish them a successful and exciting journey in the next part of their educational lives. We will miss them!”
The orchestra’s upcoming performances include a concert on June 8 at 12 PM at ArtsFest at the Indian Head Village Green, followed by the Annual Concerto Competition Concert on the same day at 3 PM at Christ Church, La Plata. Additional performances are scheduled for June 29 at 8 PM at the Alice Ferguson Foundation in Accokeek, and the CCYO Chamber Music Festival concerts on July 20 and 27 at 8 PM at Christ Church, La Plata.
Auditions for the next season will take place on September 14 from 9 AM to 3 PM at Christ Church, La Plata. Musicians of all levels and instruments, except piano, are encouraged to audition.
CCYO has recently been spotlighted in an online film by the Charles County Arts Alliance and featured on WTOP radio. Additionally, two CCYO String Quartets were finalists in the prestigious Washington Performing Arts Society Misbin Chamber Music Competition in Washington, D.C.
Throughout the year, CCYO presents two large concerts and several smaller ones, a two-week Chamber Music Festival with two additional chamber concerts, a Concerto Competition Concert, as well as masterclasses and sectionals for students in all four of CCYO’s ensembles. The orchestra has performed at various venues including the Port Tobacco Courthouse, the Maryland Veterans Museum, and the Alice Ferguson Foundation.
As one of the largest youth music organizations in Southern Maryland, CCYO provides music education and performance opportunities for young musicians aged 8 to 18 in Charles, Prince George’s, St. Mary’s, and Calvert counties. The organization is supported by grants from the Charles County Arts Alliance, the Charles County Charitable Trust, the Maryland State Arts Council, and other local organizations and individual donors.
