The Crow River Area Youth Orchestra, also known as CRAYO, has served area musicians, 21 or younger, since 1998.

The orchestra program provides a quality-based, reasonably priced musician opportunity that entertains and enriches its members and audiences.

CRAYO offers young musicians a symphony orchestra, chamber orchestra and string ensemble. The program attracts members from a 60-mile radius of Hutchinson. Beginning with 17 string students in 1998, the orchestra’s membership has steadily increased with more than 100 students participating during some CRAYO seasons.

The symphony orchestra is open to brass, percussion, string and woodwind musicians. The group rehearses Sunday afternoons at the Hutchinson Middle School. The symphony orchestra performs high school- to college-level material that includes classical to contemporary composers.

The chamber orchestra and string ensemble are open to bass, cello, viola and violin students. The two groups are designed for young people who aren’t quite ready for the full orchestra program, or who can’t rehearse on Sunday afternoons. Both groups meet Saturdays, at the Hutchinson Middle School.

The Crow River Area Youth Orchestra season is divided into two semesters — fall and spring. Each semester includes a public performance by each orchestra, plus outreach concert performances at area schools.

In addition, the orchestra program provides enrichment opportunities that include a concerto contest, a music camp scholarship fund and discount tickets to professional performances.

For more information about Crow River Area Youth Orchestra, call Marie Nelson at (320) 593-7243, e-mail jmnelson@hutchtel.net, or visit its Web site at www.crayo.org.