(MURFREESBORO)  For The Ethos Youth Ensembles, the pandemic hasn't stopped the music. The Ethos season kicks off at 2:00 o'clock Sunday afternoon, September 12, 2021 with an informational meeting and auditions at First United Methodist Church (265 W. Thompson Ln.).  Interested families should visit www.EthosMusic.net or call 615-274-9647 for more information. 

In a year when many performing arts organizations shuttered doors, Rutherford County's youth orchestra program continued its mission in 2020-2021, offering weekly string lessons and orchestra rehearsals that were masked and socially distanced.

Ethos Executive Director Dr. Brian Russell said, "Not only are we keeping the music alive this year - we're expanding.  We're reinstating our Jazz Ensemble, Wind Symphony, and Philharmonic Orchestra and we've hired two amazing new faculty."

Rutherford County residents and area string teachers Allison Cowan and Laura Shaw bring over thirty years of teaching experience to the table as they conduct two orchestras and teach classes for the Music Academy, Ethos' beginning-level string lessons.

But safety remains paramount, says Russell.  "Last year we took all necessary precautions to keep our students safe.  As we look to this year, all our teachers are fully-vaccinated, all our students and staff will remain masked and socially-distant, and we will continue to follow CDC and local health guidelines.  To keep the music playing, we'll do just about anything if it means keeping our students and teachers safe!"

Ethos offers a Jazz Ensemble, Wind Symphony, three youth orchestras, and a two-year curriculum of classes for beginners.