The Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra continues to grow and develop in exciting new directions. Here is a list of notable milestones along the road we have traveled so far.

1997-1998 Season
The orchestra is established in May, 1997, with a budget of $8000 and a roster of 17 string musicians. Anne Duvall is appointed as executive director and Susan Mullen as conductor and artistic director. The orchestra rehearses at a portable classroom at Middle Tennessee Christian School. The first season includes two concerts. The orchestra also purchases a bass.

1998-1999 Season
The Preparatory String Orchestra is established in October, with Jean Bills as conductor. The string orchestra expands, and other sections are added, making the MYO a full orchestra. The orchestra purchases two timpani. Performances and rehearsals are moved to the Rutherford County Arts Center. The season's subscription series now includes three concerts. The MYO commissions and premieres Sound Images by David Bridges.

1999-2000 Season
The MYO's premieres Breaking Up Christmas, arranged by Conni Ellisor for dulcimer and orchestra, with Stephen Seifert on dulcimer; Companion Suite for Guitar and Orchestra by Paul Carrol Binkley (commissioned and premiered by MYO), with Paul Binkley on guitar; and Holiday Cheer by Ralph Scott.. In February, the orchestra holds its first educational outreach tour, performing for thousands of children at three Murfreesboro City and Rutherford County schools, thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and the Tennessee Arts Commission. Jim Lichtenberger is appointed as PSO conductor. The MYO performs the first of a series of concerts alongside the Nashville Symphony Orchestra.

2000-2001 Season
Both orchestras move from the Arts Center to the larger space at Middle Tennessee State University's McLean School of Music. Murfreesboro City Cable Channel 3 begins televising our concerts. Andrew Duncan is appointed PSO conductor.

2001-2002 Season
The orchestra premieres the specially commissioned work An American Symphony by Craig Duncan. The orchestra also sponsors its first annual "musical instrument petting zoo." And the orchestra holds its first annual solo Concerto Competitions. Mikelle Budge is appointed PSO conductor.

2002-2003 Season
The orchestra performs a joint concert with the Tennessee Valley Winds in Murfreesboro and performs the first of a series of concerts performing alongside the Nashville Symphony Orchestra in Shelbyville, Tennessee. The MYO premieres Quartets for Orchestra, a series of multi-cultural pieces arranged by Terry Jolley, thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and the Tennessee Arts Commission. The MYO Ensemble performs the Quartets at several Murfreesboro City and Rutherford County schools.

2003-2004 Season
The orchestras now include 97 members. Ellen Gassler is appointed executive director. Sam Oliva is appointed conductor of the PSO. The MYO commissions and premieres Snow Day by Michael Linton.

2004-2005 Season
The Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra scores a resounding community and musical success with its concert featuring Riders in the Sky. Danny R. Jones is named new Executive Director on August 1, 2005, with Laura Reed assuming the position of Conductor of the Preparatory String Orchestra. Rosters of student musicians in both orchestras number 90.

2005-2006 Season
The Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra enjoys another successful season with 87 students on the roster and an ambitious concert repertoire. The MYO commissions Picnic by the River by Tennessee composer Traci Mendel.

2006-2007 Season
It’s party time, and the Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra and Preparatory String Orchestra celebrate with an resounding 10th Anniversary Celebration Bash beginning with a concert on the Civic Plaza in Murfreesboro, with a gigantic cake served to the entire community. This season’s commissioned works by Tennessee composer Jim Wood were Cheyenne 1902, The Stolen Child, and Periwinkles, performed by acclaimed fiddler Tyler Andal with brother Nic Andal on guitar. The MYO is honored with an invitation to perform for the annual meeting of the Tennessee Music Educators Association annual conference in Nashville. Orchestra rosters number 90.

2007-2008 Season
¿El para qué tractores sin violins. This season the Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra went international when an ensemble from the orchestra toured the beautiful country of Costa Rica. This educational and musical highlight enabled our students to become familiar with other cultures, customs and people. Students learned this famous quotation by former Costa Rica President Jose “Pepe” Figuere who led his country to value the arts as an integral part of life when he asked “Why have tractors without violins”?

Rosters of student musicians this season total 78. The orchestra, continuing its long tradition of commissioning works by Tennessee composers, collaborated with jazz pianist and composer Bruce Dudley, and his wife, jazz vocalist Sandra Dudley, to perform Dudley arrangements of Nice Work If You Can Get It and Misty.

Cherri Drummond is named Conductor of the Preparatory String Orchestra, leaving midseason to become a mother. Nikki Owen is named Interim Conductor.

Following an eleven-year run as Founding Conductor and Music Director of the Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra, Susan Mullen retired to pursue other interests. Her love for students and the organization she created continues to manifest itself in many ways. She is named Conductor Emerita.

2008-2009 Season
Following a national search, theMurfreesboro Youth Orchestra names Sarabeth Gheith as Conductor/Music Director of the orchestra, and Laura Price as Conductor of the Preparatory String Orchestra for its 12th season. Orchestra rosters number 69. The annual Music to Go Tour, which takes the orchestra to area schools to promote arts in education and the value of music in life, continues to be a perennial favorite activity for our students.