Alaska Youth Orchestras

Alaska Youth Orchestras (also known as the Anchorage Youth Symphony Assoc.) is a nonprofit 501c(3) corporation with the vision of building a community where music education and performance are valued and shared.

We provide three programs, both in-person and virtual, to Alaska’s youth musicians. The Youth Symphony is our longest running program and is the foundation of our operations. It is a the only fully orchestral education and performance opportunity available for youth musicians in Southcentral Alaska. Our Symphony School offers professional, individualized instruction to musically interested, gifted and at-risk students in order that they become productive, caring and responsible adults, and to uplift our community with quality music performances. Lastly, our Virtual Symphony debuted in the midst of the pandemic and it continues as we all pursue a new normal, featuring online lessons, online workshops, and even an online opportunity to perform alongside the Youth Symphony!

Alaska Youth Orchestras operates under the guidance and governance of the Board of Directors and under the leadership of Executive Director Denise Brown-Chythlook and Music Director Bruce Wood, Ph.D.

Staff

Music Director
Bruce Wood, Ph.D.

Operations Coordinator
Zach Akins

Executive Director
Denise Brown-Chythlook

Admin/Librarian
Morgan Wilhelm

Performing Directors

AYO’s Performing Directors complete a leadership development program under that guidance of an AYO Board member.

2021-2022 Performing Directors
E Chythlook, violin
Anna Lea Hyer, bass

Board of Directors

President: Nate Berry
Vice President: Elizabeth Klemm
Secretary: Ben Smith
Treasurer: Will Lacy
Jacquie Braden
Anne Connors
Bill Klemm
Margit Jensen-Cook
Sang Schirard

Bruce Wood, ph.d.

Music Director

Bruce Wood, Ph.D.

Dr. Bruce Wood recently retired from the Anchorage School District where he served as Director of Fine Arts. Before arriving in Alaska, Dr. Wood was Associate Professor of Music Education at Texas Tech University.Dr. Wood received his master’s and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his bachelor’s degree from Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa. At Texas Tech, Dr. Wood received over $80,000 in grants for teaching and research projects, including the Texas Tech String Project, which he directed. Dr. Wood has been published by the American String Teachers’ Journal, Strings Magazine, GIA publications, and has written a book entitled, The Yin and Yang of Teaching Music. In addition, Dr. Wood was the founding Music Director of the Youth Orchestras of Lubbock. As ASD Fine Arts Director, Dr. Wood is pleased to announce that Fine Arts high school students in ASD have a ten percent greater likelihood to graduate, and attend school at an eight percent higher rate than the general population. Dr. Wood’s wife, Brooke, works as Donor Relations Manager for the Anchorage Museum.

Denise Brown-Chythlook

Denise was born in the Pacific Northwest and raised in the lower mainland of British Columbia, Canada, she received a bachelor’s degree in psychology and communications from Walla Walla University where she met her husband, Gary Chythlook.

Gary and Denise spent their early married years in the PNW before moving to Anchorage, AK, in 2003. They have three children and are active in the Anchorage community. In 2005 Denise combined her passion for music, her entrepreneurialism, and her degree to establish Adventures in Music, a music education business teaching private lessons as well as classroom music and music appreciation, largely serving the homeschool community.

After 13 years in the for-profit world, Denise accepted the position of executive director of Alaska Youth Orchestras (AYO), a music education and performance 501c (3) nonprofit organization, which has been the home of the Anchorage Youth Symphony for several decades. Since then, Denise has led the organization through a restructuring of the board and bylaws; expanded their programs to reach statewide; instituted a holistic educational philosophy; increased giving, sponsorships, and grants by 300%; started a leadership development program; established a legacy fund; and actively advocates for the arts locally and nationwide.

Denise enjoys creating music and spending time with her time family and friends, riding and caring for her Icelandic horses, and relaxing with her dachshund, Walton.

Denise Brown-Chythlook

Executive Director