Baldwin County Youth Orchestra Has New Home, To Expand

Juliana White of Foley, Diane Matier of Silverhill and William Morris of Elberta practice before a performance last week at the end of summer camp with the Baldwin County Youth Orchestra. | photo by Allison Marlow via Gulf Coast Media

FAIRHOPE, Ala. — The Baldwin County Youth Orchestra has moved into its new studio on Nichols Avenue in Fairhope after two years of transience after Hurricane Sally destroyed the buildings at Fairhope Avenue Baptist Church it used to call home, Gulf Coast Media reported. The orchestra, which has served more than 500 students over the past decade, is now looking to grow. It plans to begin hosting a Baldwin Youth Chorus, which will add young vocalists to learn and perform at county events, this year, and it plans to host a homeschool band, and choir and guitar classes. "We are on fire. We’re receiving a donation this week, we’re having a ribbon cutting for the building, it’s all just been great," Director Leroy Hughes said. "We try to give college money to every senior in the orchestra."